Interesting article from the Detroit News for you:
http://www.detnews.com/2004/au...8.htm In the world of “plus-size†wheels, what goes around comes around. The custom wheel market has become a multibillion-dollar business, fueled by the growing practice of installing supersized, often chrome bedecked, wheels on cars, trucks and SUVs. So large and ornate, a set of four — plus the tires — can cost nearly $20,000. But the stylish swagger afforded by these accessories also compromises driving safety, vehicle maintenance and ride comfort. Installing large wheels without accounting for the potential effects on a vehicle’s performance limits can exaggerate the risk of hydroplaning or cause brakes, shocks and springs to wear out more rapidly than usual, experts say. But consumers are often blinded by the bling-bling. “A lot our clients, they don’t care,†said Ryan Friedlinghaus, whose California-based company, West Coast Customs, partners with Detroit-born rapper Xzibit on the MTV vehicle makeover show, “Pimp My Ride.†“They just want the biggest and best that’s out there.†Automakers and parts suppliers are responding with aftermarket brake system upgrades and a high-pressure approach to education. The term “plus-size†refers to a wheel diameter increase of one size, from 16 inches to 17 inches, for example. Plus-two is an increase of two sizes, and so on. The term “dubs†has caught on as the shorthand for 20-inch wheel rims. Consumer Reports, which only recently began testing the larger wheels, recommends that vehicle owners stick with a manufacturer’s wheel specifications. But if the allure of chrome is overwhelming, the popular shopping guide suggests moving up to plus-two, and no more. Plus-size wheels offer some benefits in driving dynamics, according to Eugene Petersen, Consumer Reports’ tire testing program manager. “We saw some slight, minor improvements in braking distances,†Petersen said. “We also saw better emergency handling.†The latter finding is a function of the low-profile tires with which plus-size wheels must be fitted. As wheel size increases — sometimes up to 28 inches — tire height from rim to tread must decrease so their combined diameters do not exceed the space available in a vehicle’s wheel well. The crisper response observed by Consumer Reports occurs essentially because there is less rubber through which steering inputs must be transmitted. But bigger is not always better, Petersen warned. “As you go out further into the plus-two and plus-three, you’re really going to a tire that produces larger sacrifices,†Petersen said. “You essentially end up with a tire that’s less capable in all weather conditions.†Without specifically designed tread patterns, low-profile tires are more prone to hydroplaning. It occurs during wet conditions when tires actually lose contact with the road and ride on a cushion of water. Then there is the comfort factor. Despite their elegant appearance, plus-size wheels can make everyday travel a bone-jarring experience because low-profile tires are less able to absorb even moderately sized bumps and potholes. “You actually transmit that into the wheel and then, in turn, into the suspension and then into your gut,†Petersen said. The result is increased suspension wear. But there’s more. Shorter tires are less able to protect wheels from damage — a sobering thought considering they range in price from $1,500 to $20,000 for a set of four. “You really have to drive around potholes instead of over them,†said John Rastetter, director of tire information services for tirerack.com. For many dub lovers, it’s an ironic development because hardy SUVs such as the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator and Hummer H2 are among the vehicles most likely to be fitted with plus-size wheels — a trend inspired by the hip-hop culture, Friedlinghaus said. The phenomenon began about five years ago in California, where vehicle personalization reached new heights. Since then, retail sales have surpassed the $3 billion mark and are rising still, the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association says. The popularity of these products, combined with their formidable price tags, has also spawned unique marketing approaches such as renting or leasing. “Somebody who has an extra $50 a month, that is their spending money,†said Troy Foust, general manager of Rent-a-Wheel in Southfield. “They don’t have $2,500 to drop up front. So they budget in $50 a week.†He and other retailers warn customers against arbitrary upgrades. “You start hitting 24, 26 — and they’ve even got 28s on the market — you’ll definitely need the oversized brakes,†Foust said, adding that larger, heavier wheels require more stopping power. On an SUV such as the H2, it could mean an investment of up to $9,500. Ignore the advice of professionals and conventional brakes can wear out after just 10,000 miles — more than twice as quickly as normal. For this reason, and to ensure safety, General Motors Corp. is responding to the trend with approved plus-sizes. “Our dealers were receiving requests, so we’re starting to get in that ballgame of providing some up-sizes that we know will work,†said Richard Gratz, engineering group manager for GM tire and wheel quality. You can reach Eric Mayne at 313-222-2443 or
emayne@detnews.com