Tires and wheels plus-sizing

Tires and rims plus-sizing: Changing the look also changes the performance.

The approach offered by plus-size tire selection offers you benefits both in terms of appearance and performance. While maintaining the original equipment tire overall diameter (necessary to allow proper operation of the speedometer, ABS, traction control and vehicle stability control systems), plus-sizing allows you to install large rim diameters, wider tires and tires that feature shorter sidewalls.

From an appearance standpoint, this means that you can feature more rim and less tire sidewall height, providing a "sporty" to "extreme" visual statement.

From a performance standpoint, this allows you to utilize a wider tire (which means a larger tread contact patch for greater traction) and a shorter sidewall. The shorter the sidewall, the less compliant the tire will be in turns, where lateral forces are at work. This means quicker steering response and crisper handling.

Keep in mind that this isn't an invitation to run any size package that you might wish. Limitations will include tire size availability and available body and chassis clearance. Also, generally speaking, the shorter the sidewall, the stiffer the tire will be, so if couch-comfort is the goal, you can create a less-than-desirable harsh ride by choosing a notably shorter sidewall. In addition, you need to be aware of the road hazard potential. After all, the shorter the tire sidewall, the closer the wheel rim will be to the pavement (a Plus-One fitment places the wheel rim one-half inch closer to the pavement; a Plus-Two places the wheel rim one inch closer to the ground, etc.). This translates into a less-forgiving environment when encountering potholes and other road obstructions, because the closer the rims are to the ground, the higher the chance of rims damage.

Running a substantially larger diameter rim mated to a short-sidewall tire definitely looks cool, but you need to be aware of the potential shortcomings if you get too carried away.