15-, 16- ,17-inch Tires Compared: Who's the Winer?The usage of the tires of different diameter
 Almost all the modern automobiles allow to install the tires of different diameter. At the same time huge low-profile tires are often the privilege of more expensive cars. But is it better to install wide low-profile tires? Or give the preference to narrow high-profile tires?
To get the answers to the questions a tire test has been conducted. The tire model was the same - Bridgestone Turanza ER300, but the size was different - 185/65 R15, 205/55 R16 and 215/45 R17.
Bridgestone Turanza ER300
185/65 R15
Overall mark 8.3 out of 10
Narrow tires cope with aquagliding quite well – at a straight line or in turns they seem to cut through the water. While braking the difference with the wider tires is minimal. In turns narrow tires work worse and on uneven surface you have to brake more frequently. At the same time the manner of driving on narrow tires is more easy-tempered than that on wide’s.
In general the narrow tires got the first place in the test, first of all owing to the resistance to aquaglining.
Bridgestone Turanza ER300
205/55R16V
Overall mark 8.2 out of 10
16-inch tires were the best in respect of noise and softness of movement. The size is optimal as concerns the control over the vehicle. If equipped with 16-inch tires, the car rarely reacts to gauges, moreover it shows the best results in braking on a wet surface. At the same time in maneuverability the gap is not that huge: the adhesion is better, but the car is more difficult to control. On a dry surface the tire win owing to more precise reactions to the control.
205/55R16 tires is a great compromise between comfort and adhesion.
Bridgestone Turanza ER300
215/45R17Z
Overall mark 7.4 out of 10
Wide low-profile tires have advantage on a dry road. The reactions of the car get more precise which stimulates more active driving. On a wet surface the adhesion is obviously better. But while braking 17-inch tires lose to 16-onch. As for the comfort, it could have been worse: wide tires lose to the narrow ones, but the gap is not that huge.
The major drawback of the wide tires is low resistance to aquagliding – that’s why the mark is the lowest.
Of course, on other cars the results of the test could have been different. But the general pattern is likely to remain the same. If you want sport maneuverability – chose wide low-profile tires; adrenalin in turns – narrow ones. The middle size is a compromise for the fans of comfort.
Automotive Parts Articles From Around the WEB - September 15-22, 2007
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