Low Profile Tire Safty - Hyundai Performance Forums

ftwvampftw · 10-07-2003, 12:50 AM

I had no idea where to post this.. but low and behold.. I put it here.

I want to get 17" rims for my car. I can get all 4 w/ tires for 300 dollars from a friend. But my dad pulled a statistic out his ass saying that "those types of tires are unsafe". So... I am here. I tried to pull ish up off of google to see any safty issues but didnt find any. If anyone can help me put together a argument to let me put them on the car and the safty issues, please do so.. Im hyundai family.. I need to rep some non stock rims. Here is a pic from a camera fone..

http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/12/web/384000-384999/384764_28_full.jpg

The rims have scratches and normal wear on them. But I can go to a shop and have them all fixed to brand new for 100 dollars.. but I can do that any time.. I dont care right now. But they arnt bad. They are pretty rad for only 300 dollars for rims and tires.. and he'll even give me a type of payment plan.. like 100 dollars a month too. Any help would be very appraciative

dweet · 10-07-2003, 09:40 AM

well low profile tires blow out easier... i took mine off because i hit a pothole and they got one of those nipple things you get like when you kick a basketball. but as far as handling and traction they are just as good as any other tire

MadHatter · 10-07-2003, 10:38 AM

Lets put it this way...

In my low pro's I can go 90 miles an hour around my friends lake (just a big circle kinda weavy). I tried it with my stock tires, and i ended up almost killing myself. I did almost 2 360's at 80 some mph. My car would have rolled had it not been lowered. (or it would have never happened had i not put on the stock rims/tires)

AUTOBOT · 10-07-2003, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dweet
[body]
but as far as handling and traction they are just as good as any other tire
[/body]

Actually, as far as handling goes they are better and safer since the side wall flexes less.

I also don't know about them blowing easier since I never heard anything like that but I suppose that could be true. However, it would be easier to bend a rim if hit something like a pot hole.

03tib · 10-07-2003, 05:22 PM

They don't blow any easier, but your suspension has to work a little harder to absorb impacts, biggest problem with low profiles is that people do not check the air pressures, they can be almost "flat" and still look inflated.
so low air and big pothole = blowout and that would be the same for any tire.

ftwvampftw · 10-07-2003, 06:40 PM

I feel like im in school again.. making up a "report" for my parents to give them to read.. lol.

My friend says he's had his low pro's for 3 yrs and no problems.. unless you hit a rock.. and still then you only get a bubble.. and it doesnt pop.. But you'd still need to buy a new tire.. But any more places to look or more info and your own experience w/ Low pros would be very helpful.

AUTOBOT · 10-07-2003, 07:50 PM

I have never gotten a buble with a low profile tire but I have with others. Sure, it is possible with a low pro but more likely it will happen with a regular tire.

Low profile tires offer better stability and handling. This is why all your high end sports cars use them.

dweet · 10-07-2003, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AUTOBOT
[body]

Quote:

Originally posted by dweet
[body]
but as far as handling and traction they are just as good as any other tire
[/body]

Actually, as far as handling goes they are better and safer since the side wall flexes less.

I also don't know about them blowing easier since I never heard anything like that but I suppose that could be true. However, it would be easier to bend a rim if hit something like a pot hole.
[/body]

my brother blew one of his low prof's on a pothole.. i almost popped mine doing 14 miles of hairpin turns...
and my 15" falkens which are not low prof handle just as well as my 17" low prof kumhos

AUTOBOT · 10-07-2003, 10:55 PM

who is to say that your brother wouldn't have blown that tire anyways? Or maybe that tire was just bad. Dunno

How do you mean you ALMOST blew a tire? You either blow them or you don't.

As far as equall handling from 15" tires with a higher profile, there may be other facters involved that cause that but if you have equal width, offset, tread, and tire compound, a low pro will handle better around corners.

Also, he lives in Vegas so potholes are not much of a concern since there are almost none.

ftwvampftw · 10-07-2003, 11:28 PM

yea, not too many potholes... only thing i'd see would be pedistrians.. I dont make it a habbit of hitting them. Also I spoke with my "parental units" and my dad said he's take a look at them and their condition.. and we'll go from there. Sucks though, im paying for the car (but they put the down payment..) but i've paid the payments thus far. I still have money to pay 2 months.. plus to get those rims. Specially if he'll give me a 100 a month deal on em. So not bad.

Oh if your saying.. why dont you buy them and just put em on.. "I'd have no car to have them on if I bought them and put them on". Man.. Imma have to get outta this house if I wanna lower the car.. lmfao.

Oh BTW, I used a lot of what you guys have told me in a "constructive" argument. So.. thanks everyone! Also my friends with a Civic and Golf both have low pro. and have had no problems.. i used that too.

[Edited by ftwvampftw on Oct 7, 2003 7:30 PM]