![]() 05/06/2016 at 13:39 • Filed to: Tires | ![]() | ![]() |
I saw a Macan S this morning and noticed that the rear tires were crazy wide! The thing makes 340hp and yet has 295 mm rear tires when equipped with either the 20 inch and 21 inch wheels. A Bentayga may have a set of 285/40R22 when topped out (which is a reasonable large vehicle/large wheel width). Motorsports Utility/Activity Vehicles (MUVs and MAVs as I like to call them) have ridiculously wide rear tires. Keep in mind that I consider the top end for front tire width to be 305 mm/12 inches (Z/28) and the rear tire width limit to be 355 mm/14 inches (Viper).
*It’s worth noting that the Lamborghini Aventador SV runs 355/25R21 rear tires, which means the Viper can no longer market having the widest rear tires in the market (355/30R19). The Viper still has the largest displacement engine in the market though at 8.4 liters/513 cubic inches. Your 305 and 392 badges are still adorable though!
*Also worth noting, the Shelby GT350R runs 305/30R19 tires up front which takes away the Z/28s superlative for widest front tires on the market.
Thinking about an X6? If it has 20' wheels then you’re probably looking at 275 mm in front and 315 mm in the rear. The X6M does up both of those metrics to 285 mm up front and 325 mm in the rear.
The GLE pretty much matches the same wheel and tire sizings as comparable X6 options.
If there is one thing people forget to check before buying a car, it’s the tires. Research the tires on your vehicle, especially if it is something known for performance. Less because performance tires are expensive, more because you will need summer tires in order to exploit the vehicle’s personality and a set of winter/m-s tires for all other occasions.
![]() 05/06/2016 at 14:03 |
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I always find it funny when I see a 3.0d X5 with huge supercar sized tyres on the back, it makes no sense to have such huge expensive tyres on something like that!
Your point of checking the cost of tyres when looking at a car to buy rings true with me, o
ur Citroën DS4 (a medium sized 200hp hatchback) has 225/40R19's on it, the Pilot Supersports on it now cost £210 each (fitted, all 4 wheels) last year, plus it needed the alignment doing as well (is why all 4 needed replacing!). It stung a bit in the old wallet!
![]() 05/06/2016 at 14:11 |
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It’s definitely the oddest thing in the industry right now. Everybody is complaining about $500 repairs that occur once in the vehicle’s life, however everyone is ok with all these new vehicles coming out with larger wheels, wider tires, less tread life, and AWD/staggered wheels. If you plan to purchase a vehicle from 2012 or newer, the tires have become a $1,000+ maintenance item that occurs every 24 months now!
![]() 05/06/2016 at 14:12 |
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Huge tires are the only way to makes SUVs handle anywhere near as good as a family car from the 1990s.
![]() 05/06/2016 at 14:14 |
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Counterpoint: The Macan S is ridiculously good looking and the tires make a positive contribution.
![]() 05/06/2016 at 14:24 |
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I’ve got 60,000+ miles out of tires before, most leases are up or cars traded in before that, so the original purchaser may very well never have to pay to replace them.
![]() 05/06/2016 at 15:08 |
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Great example, thank you! I live in New Mexico and our average annual mileage is just over 18,000 miles. So on average most people in my state would go through a set of tires in 40 months, which is definitely a second owners problem. The situation that would raise an eyebrow for me is when it comes to cars like the Lexus IS since you could end up with staggered wheels and a 340-400 UTQG treadwear grade from the showroom floor.
![]() 05/09/2016 at 16:55 |
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Motorsports Utility/Activity Vehicles (MUVs and MAVs as I like to call them)
You’re giving these things far too much credit. They aren’t for motorsport and will never be used for motorsport. Ever, by anyone. A 370Z is a sports car, an Alfa 4C is a sports car. By comparison these are fat, heavy, high riding wagons.
So call them sports if you must. But until they get to Lotus Exige levels of commitment, they’re
S
UVs at best.