Board Logo

Low Profile
Riaan - August 10th, 2004 at 10:33 PM

Hey hey everybody, i was just wondering what some 17", or 18" Low Profile tyers are worth, i know im not really describing it but i dont know much about tyers, so if you could give me any info or prices i would be very appreciative.


fullnoise - August 11th, 2004 at 08:45 AM

You need to knkow what you want to achieve by going for a specific tyre size.

Lower profile tyres are known as ultra high performance tyres and have a number of benefits;
Sharper steering response,
Better cornering ability,
Better stopping ability &
Lower rolling resistance.

However here are some of the trade offs;
Harsher ride,
Tramlining (depending on tyre design) &
Greater expense.

Generally the low profiling or inch-up theory means your tyre becomes wider as the rim and the profile becomes lower as your rim diameter increases. So the bigger the rim (18in) the more difficulty you will have fitting the wheel and tyre package under your guards.

You can buy cheap tyre for looks but they are likely to be built to a price and missing key ingredients in their consturction that make up a true ultra high performance tyre.

What sort of car do you drive? Assuming it's a beetle or similar you want to maintain a tyre overall diameter of + or - 25 mm from 630mm.

Judging by some Yokohama techincal specifications that I have in front of me here are some sizes I suggest you look at;
205/45R17
215/45R17
225/45R17
225/40R18

Beware of cheap tyres that come with tyre and wheel packages. Your tyres are more important than any other handiling aspect of your car.
Beware of the weight of the new tyre and wheel package. It is likely to be heavier than stock and will place more strain on your suspension components.

Get advice from a reputable tyre dealer and not just people that are trying to sell you something. There are a lot of horror stories out there.

15 or 16 inch porshe rims are a safe bet for weight, strength and offset.

Good luck. CT


vw54 - August 11th, 2004 at 04:41 PM

Well said CT thats good Oil


Cam - August 11th, 2004 at 05:35 PM

CT is the man! Take his tire advice as Gospel... I heard somehwere that tires can account for 40% of your vehicles handling and in turn safety.


Riaan - August 13th, 2004 at 06:22 PM

Thankyou very much:), i was acculy looking for some for my golf, but i just wanted to know how much they cost, cause i gotta plan out teh reso of my cash.


PurpleT3 - August 13th, 2004 at 06:35 PM

For decent, brand name tyres of that size expect to pay a minimum of $200 each, upto $400 each. Of course you will also have to pay for the wheels on top of this, assuming you don't already have a set.