High Or Low Profile Tires?

There's a lot of hype these days about a certain type of tire. Many people want a sporty, racecar look to their vehicle and just the sound of the words 'low profile tires' bring thoughts of sharp and fast to mind. But do you really know what low profile tires are, and are they the best choice for your vehicle? You may find that there's a lot more to your vehicle’s tires than just looks.

They do look differently than their higher counterparts, being lower and wider than high-profile tires, but remember that when you're hurtling down a highway at 60 miles an hour, looks aren't that important. Considering that all that's holding your car on the road is four patches of rubber totaling a square about the size of a large pizza box, good tires are an important consideration.
 
What counts in a tire is how much contact and grip your vehicle has between tire rubber and road. High-profile tires have a long, narrower contact patch with asphalt, whereas low profile tires have a contact patch that is wider, but shorter. What does that mean for you and your vehicle? 

Basically, your car will handle differently on the road with these types of tires. Vehicles with wider tires have more cornering force, whereas higher tires have the disadvantage of not being able to deflect side loads and the steering of the car is less responsive in curves.

Another advantage, besides cornering force, is that the rubber takes up less of the overall diameter of the wheel and tire, which means the wheel can be larger. What does this mean for you, as a driver? Well, bigger wheels mean bigger brakes, and stopping power is an excellent thing to have when you're driving.
 
There are, of course, disadvantages to having these on your car. A vehicle that's been designed with a narrower tire in mind won't be as stable with low profile tires. Also, wider tires with shorter sidewalls tend to ride rougher on bumps in the road, and almost seem to seek out the worst parts of the road. A rough ride isn't just hard on passengers; it's also tough on the tires and your car.   

The last word is that, unless you're looking to improve your vehicle’s handling on roads with a lot of twists and turns, there's no reason to switch to low profile tires. Most people today drive on straight highways and don't need the extra cornering force low profile tires provide. However, if you live in an area that has a lot of tight turns and demands heightened control, low profile tires may just be what you're looking for in tire load capacity and handling characteristics of your vehicle.