Will moving to a smaller wheel size improve comfort? Will moving to a bigger wheel size improve handling? I’ve been finding out exactly what changes when you change your wheel size at Mireval, Goodyear’s test facility in the South of France.Tyre Reviews
source/image(PrtSc): Tyre Reviews
Bigger wheels look cool, but wheel and tire size has a huge effect on ride, handling, and noise. And unfortunately with wheels, you can’t usually can’t test drive them before you make a purchase. This video by Tyre Review is so helpful, it allows you to see how the different sized tires perform in the real world.
The sizes chosen were simple, they’re three OE options for the Golf. 225/45 R17, 225/40 R18 and 225/35 R19 all have the same tyre width, and the rolling radius differs by just 0.4% meaning they should have a near identical footprint.
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The smaller 17-inch tires represent the most comfortable ride thanks to the larger sidewall.The 18-inch tires create a bit more road noise, and this is further exacerbated when the car jumps up to the 19-inch wheels and tires.
