Can I Put Bigger Tires On My Car?

Car enthusiasts make certain modifications to their vehicles to make them look sportier and enhance their performance. If you are searching for an answer on whether you can put bigger tires on your car or not, the answer is yes. However, replacing normal tires with bigger ones comes with some benefits and drawbacks.

Before we go through this complete guide to help you decide whether to equip bigger tires on your car or not, let’s understand the difference between upsizing and plus-sizing tires.

Upsizing Vs Plus-Sizing Tires
Although it is not recommended to deviate from manufacturers\’ vehicle manuals, certain modifications can help increase vehicle performance. Speaking of that, car owners also prefer bigger tire sizes on their vehicles. Let\’s learn the differences between upsizing and plus-sizing tires on a car.

Upsizing
When vehicle owners equip their cars with bigger tire diameters, it is called upsizing. Upsizing affects the speedometer as it functions by calculating wheel turn speed. And, upsizing will require reprogramming the speedometer sensors.

Plus-Sizing
Plus-sizing doesn\’t affect the tire\’s diameter. In this, neither ground clearance is increased nor the speedometer is affected. The increase in the diameter of wheels with a low-profile tire that has the same diameter is called plus-sizing. Speaking of that, plus-sizing improves the cornering and handling of the vehicle.

Pros And Cons Of Installing Bigger Tires On Your Vehicle
Installing bigger tires comes with its advantages and disadvantages. Although it\’s always recommended to follow manufacturers\’ guidelines, certain situations such as off-roading require you to change car tires. Here are some pros and cons of equipping your car with bigger tires.

Pros
The following are the advantages of equipping bigger tires on your car:

Increased Clearance
The most significant benefit of upsizing tires is the increased ground clearance. This enhances the road grip and drivers can see farther on and off-road.

Better Off-Road Performance
Additional ground clearance results in a better off-roading performance. Drivers will be able to pass through tough terrains easily when the bigger tires are installed.

Enhanced Performance
Higher ground clearance helps the driver to clear and pass through the curbs conveniently without touching the bumpers.

Cons
Alongside benefits, upsizing has the following drawbacks:

Handling Changes
Bigger tires in your car increase height and make a higher center of gravity. Speaking of that, it affects the handling, cornering, and alignment of the vehicle. Moreover, the alignment issues result in the recalibration of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).

Lower Fuel Efficiency
Bigger tires have more weight. That said, it lowers the fuel economy. Also, bigger tires mean higher rolling resistance and traction which requires the vehicle to work more and increases fuel usage.

Higher Cost
Finding the right customizations can cost you more. These bigger tires can be expensive and later cost you more on maintenance.

This wraps our guide to using bigger tires on cars. If you ever install bigger tires, it will require you to recalibrate speedometers, TPMS sensors, and ADAS. Besides, if the TPMS sensor isn\’t working properly, you can find high-quality tire pressure sensors from the leading manufacturers-Porcsi.