Low profile tyres

16 Jun, 2006 6 Comments

Low profile tyres

Low profile tyres have excellent grip on dry roads but are stiffer than ordinary tyres and therefore provide a firmer ride. These tyres have a greater width ratio to cope with the demands of higher performance vehicles. “Profile” refers to the height of the sidewall compared with the width of the tread, expressed as a percentage. A number of 60 or lower is considered low profile.

Disadvantages are:

Much more road noise
A stiffer ride, far harder than conventional tyres
Less resistance to aquaplaning due to the amount of rubber on the road
Price

The key advantages of low profile tyres are:

Better handling and grip
Far superior traction and braking power compared to ordinary tyres
Looks

Ultra-low profile tyres (tyres with a number below 50) generally require a higher inflation pressure than taller profile tyres. This is due to Ultra-low profile tyres having a smaller internal volume and hence in order to carry the same load, these tyres require more pressure. However a problem that arises due to this is that lack of pressure can cause serious damage to tyres and is usually not obvious to the driver as the car still tends to behave normally evne if the tyre is inflated or even flat. Once the tyre has been damaged due to inflation it is usually irreparable.

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6 Responses to “Low profile tyres”

kanav Says:
January 18th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
I WANTED TO KNOW THAT WETHER THE LOW PROFILE TYRES ARE SUITABLE FOR INDIAN ROADS OR NOT.AND HOW MUCH INCH ALLOY WILL BE SUITABLE FOR SWIFT

YOURS SINCERELY,
KANAV
(Report)
No Name Says:
January 18th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Hi Kanav
That all depends on the state of the road, and what you want, Alloys tend to pass more of the road surface imperfections through the cars chassis more, hence more noise. Also with rough road lower profiles give a much more uncomfortable ride.
(Report)
Oz. Says:
January 18th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
They could of used a better picture for an example of a low profile tyre. A tyre on a “19 or “20 inch rim would of been a better example!
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No Name Says:
January 18th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Yeh that looks like a 60 series sponge.
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Wolverine Says:
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:06 am
Hi,
I have a 2003 FORD/HD F-150 (5.4ltr supercharged).It currently has 295×45x20 tyres & i’m looking at 295×30x22.
What are the serious purist considerations to bear in mind when considering this change in both tyre profile and rim dimension i.e. upgrading to 22″.
In addition, i’m looking at GAS Koni shocks and upgrading the braking system.
My other question is this; Do i need to increase rotor size when increasing the Wheel diameter?

Any helpful advice would be really useful before i buy.

Thanks,
Peter
(Report)
VR Says:
June 9th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Hi,
Just a quick question you quys might be able to answer. Im looking at upgrading my wheels and looking at the pros and cons. Nobody has answered this question yet.
Do low profile tyres (eg. 19 inch) have the same life span in kilometres as a standard stock (15 inch) tyre?

Thanks
(Report)