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What is the relative comfort and durability like between 65 and 55 profile tires?
I am looking at a new car where the base model has 65 profile tires but the model I want has 55 profile tires. My current car has 60 profile. My understanding is that while handling improves with lower profile tires, comfort and durability go way down. I see too many cars by the side of the road with low profile tires shredded by potholes I have hit more than once with my 60 profile tires with no ill effects. My present car handles just file with 60 profile. My first car had 80 profile and handled well enough.
So please no people telling me I need the lower profile for handling. Stick to the point of comfort and durability.
At at my age I want a comfortable ride and I would like to be able to get 40,000 miles out of a set of tires.
Or am I worrying about this too much?
What are your thoughts.
I care nothing about improving handling or grip. I care about whether the lower profile will give me an excessively harsh ride or need replacing a lot more often. I got plenty of grip and handling in the days of 70 profile tires.
By the way, I do not "want" 55 profile tires. To get the model with the safety equipment I want the manufacturer put on alloy wheels with 55 profile tires. The lower model with steel wheels and 65 profile tires is not equipped as well as I want.
5 Answers
- Mark FLv 73 years ago
Buy whichever of the two you feel drives better and don't obsess over a minor detail.
- ?Lv 73 years ago
Automotive engineers and designers most definitely consider comfort and durability, as well as handling, when determining a vehicle tire diameter, tread width, and sidewall aspect ratio. When you have a shorter sidewall aspect ratio don't immediately assume ride comfort will be compromised. If fact, because of the lesser aspect ratio the composition and overall quality the tire is generally superior.
If you want "40,000 miles" and "a comfortable ride" the tire quality is more representative of ride quality relative to the tire's sidewall aspect ratio.
- boy boyLv 73 years ago
like the rest of the world i would struggle to tell the difference between a 65 and 55 profile when it comes to comfort ..its when you get to 45 and 35 profile you notice it ..but a 65 profile tends to understeer more than a 55 ...and as for more miles before wear ..no difference ..
- Skoda JohnLv 73 years ago
Why do.you want 55 profile tires?
The ride is harsher and you are more likely to damage the rims with lower profile tires.
Manufacturers tune the suspension to go with the tires.
Any change has to be notified to insurance as a modification.
The difference in handling will be minimal and on a road you should not be pushing a car that hard
Most US cars handle like a barge anyway due to dreadful suspension and chassis design.
- 3 years ago
How many real race cars have low profile tires? None. Your handling isn’t going to improve enough to make up for the loss of grip.
