Wide Tires Are Trendy

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

More and more drivers are opting for wide tires. However, these tires not only offer advantages. Problems can arise especially in winter.

The wider a tire, the better it sits on the road. Industry and motorists have recognized this, and car manufacturers are releasing more and more wide tires for their models. The trend towards “big slippers” does not stop at winter tires either.

Better braking behavior

A wide contact area ensures better cornering and braking behavior. Wide tires with their numerous sipes have particularly good grip on snow. And when it comes to rolling resistance, with optimized compounds and profiles, they no longer show any difference to narrow tires.

But the thick tires also have disadvantages, especially in winter: Due to their width, they are more prone to aquaplaning and push a large wedge in front of them in deep snow. So far, therefore, particularly narrow winter tires have often been used, which could "cut" through the snow better.

Nevertheless, at least for those cars that use wide tires in summer, the use of wider tires is also recommended in winter. Then, according to Holger Lange from the tire manufacturer Continental, the driving behavior on dry and wet roads will remain similar to that of summer tires.