How important is tyre thickness?

[InternetSwag]

Referring to a non sports car here.

Just curious since my Palio has thin tyres, will thicker tyres make much of a difference?

 

[HavocXphere]

Wide tyres give better grip but will increase the fuel bill slightly.

 

[InternetSwag]

Wide tyres give better grip but will increase the fuel bill slightly.

Whaaat? It can increase fuel consumption? That's amazing I never knew that.

So would you recommend wider tyres vs narrow tyres even on a 1.2l?

 

[OGroteKoning]

Yes it would

 

[supersunbird]

Yes, it would increase fuel consumption slightly, since more rubber is on the road to resist rolling. But your grip will be increased for braking and turns IN DRY WEATHER.

If you car is a light one and you fit wider tyres, you are more likely to aquaplane in wet weather, than with the thinner tyres and all other things being equal in my opinion. So in the wet one has to drive more carefully.

 

[MKFrost]

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you go wider you might also change the profile of the tyre i.e. the height which will have an affect on your speedometer reading i.e. it will either read faster or slower depending on the change in the profile.

 

[Rocket-Boy]

Yes, it would increase fuel consumption slightly, since more rubber is on the road to resist rolling. But your grip will be increased for braking and turns IN DRY WEATHER.

If you car is a light one and you fit wider tyres, you are more likely to aquaplane in wet weather, than with the thinner tyres and all other things being equal in my opinion. So in the wet one has to drive more carefully.

Was going to mention aquaplaning but you covered it already.
I fitted wider tyres to my uno back in the days, that thing used to ski all over the place when it got wet

 

[silver6933]

1. wider tires usually increase fuel consumption because they are heavier. Also people generally put on larger rims. = more weight. Metal weighs more than rubber

2. Generally wider tires are better stickier rubber. Hence more rolling resistance. = more fuel used. However you get better braking and cornering

On a Light car. eg ATOS

3. Assume you keep the the same rim and same exact tire brand and model. But you up sized the width.

The area of the contact footprint will remain the same. The shape of the footprint will change. You will no really see an improvement in handling or braking. But aquaplaning can happen at a lower speed.

Thin tire

F front
[]
r rear

Wider tire

F
_
[_]

R

Area is same.


here is a link

http://www.roadandtrack.com/motorhead-university/thing-you-thought-you-knew-points-of-contact-tire-patches

Excuse the diagram, ascii art can only do so much.

To answer your question.

A better quality tire, will improve handling and braking.

 

[InternetSwag]

Shiiit, this is more complicated than I thought.

 

[OGroteKoning]

Shiiit, this is more complicated than I thought.

What is currently on there and what do you want to replace it with?

 

[InternetSwag]

What is currently on there and what do you want to replace it with?

I don't know and I don't know