# Re. Wide Vs Narrow Tires - I rest my case **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [March 18, 2025, 6:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522 "2025-03-18T06:45:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![CapriRacer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capriracer/32/22_2.png) [@CapriRacer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapriRacer)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 11:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/441 "2025-05-02T11:39:52Z")
Doing my part to reach 500!! ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 12:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/442 "2025-05-02T12:41:37Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > Lower unsprung weight provides a better ride, a better ability to keep the tires on the ground in a bumpy corner and allows the shock to better smooth out the bumps. +1 And a big +1 to reaching 500 posts! ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 12:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/443 "2025-05-02T12:49:46Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > And a big +1 to reaching 500 posts! … even though the person who started this thread is now under suspension for two months, as a result of his consistently combative nature. 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 3:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/444 "2025-05-02T15:31:29Z")
500, Popular length, in miles, for NASCAR. Now that I brought up NASCAR, I want to see an end of season race where drivers race showroom stock versions of their race cars. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/445 "2025-05-02T19:04:29Z")
Is there anything stock on their race cars? ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 7:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/446 "2025-05-02T19:36:42Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > 500, Popular length, in miles, for NASCAR. Darlington, Daytona and Talladega (2), 4 races out of 36. > [@Purebred](#): > > I want to see an end of season race where drivers race showroom stock versions of their race cars. Sounds unnecessarily dangerous and ghoulish. ---
**Author:** ![JoeMario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JoeMario](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JoeMario)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 12:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/447 "2025-05-03T00:31:36Z")
Out of curiosity, I extracted (cut-n-pasted) the text from this long thread, and ran it through one of the free online AI sites, and I asked it to summarize it. None of the poster’s names or pictures were copied. Just the raw text of each post including the highlighted inlined quoted reply sections: After about 5 seconds of digesting it, here’s what it returned: ` ********************************************************* ` **Summary** : This document is a lengthy, informal forum discussion centered on the technical and subjective merits of different tire sizes, profiles, and brands-especially as they relate to handling, ride quality, and vehicle safety. The conversation is sparked by a review of a Chevy Spark and quickly broadens into a spirited debate involving several experienced automotive enthusiasts and engineers. **Key Themes and Arguments** 1. **Tire Size, Aspect Ratio, and Handling** 2. **Brand, Pressure, and Tire Type** 3. **Suspension Design vs. Tire Choice** 4. **Objective Data vs. Subjective Feel** 5. **Tire Trends and Vehicle Design** 6. **Historical and Generational Perspectives** 7. **Additional Tangents** **Conclusions and Takeaways** There is no single “best” tire size or type for all situations; the optimal choice depends on the vehicle, intended use, and driver priorities (comfort, handling, snow performance, aesthetics, etc.). Tire performance is a complex interplay of size, profile, construction, brand, inflation, and-crucially-vehicle suspension and alignment. Modern trends toward larger, lower-profile tires are driven as much by style as by engineering, and may not always serve the best interests of ride quality or practicality for everyday drivers. Objective data and engineering principles are important, but subjective preferences and real-world experience also play a role in tire choice. The discussion illustrates how strongly car enthusiasts feel about tires, and how debates on the topic can be both technically rich and deeply personal. **In summary** : The document is a sprawling, passionate debate among car enthusiasts and engineers about the effects of tire size, profile, and type on vehicle handling and ride, blending technical expertise, personal experience, and generational perspectives, and ultimately underscoring that tire choice is a nuanced, context-dependent decision. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 12:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/448 "2025-05-03T00:46:15Z")
I can’t believe you actually did this but that would shave about three hours or reading time and 400 comments. Plus might reduce blood pressure a little. In other words everyone should do what they want and shut up. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 1:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/449 "2025-05-03T01:09:40Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > I want to see an end of season race where drivers race showroom stock versions of their race cars. Ford wins because they run a “Mustang”. There are no more Camaros, and the Camry is, well, a Camry! ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 1:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/450 "2025-05-03T01:36:25Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > Is there anything stock on their race cars? No, not for a very long time. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 1:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/451 "2025-05-03T01:40:01Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > Sounds unnecessarily dangerous I used to race in the SCCA’s Showroom Stock class B back in the 90s. There was also a pro Showroon Stock series that ran 4, 6, 12 and 24 hour races. Install a roll cage, sticky street tires and.go racing. Lots of fun. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 1:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/452 "2025-05-03T01:49:57Z")
> [@JoeMario](#): > > moderators stepping in at times due to combative exchanges. That was the most important part for me ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 1:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/453 "2025-05-03T01:51:15Z")
> [@JoeMario](#): > > After about 5 seconds of digesting it, here’s what it returned: I don’t know if I am impressed or scared of what the future will bring . ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 3:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/454 "2025-05-03T03:35:24Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > > [@jtsanders](#): > > > > Is there anything stock on their race cars? > > No, not for a very long time. I stopped watching NASCAR after Dodge pulled out, mainly due to working every Sunday, and haven’t followed it at all in a while… But I turned it on the other day and thought gee those wheels look bigger and the tires look much wider and lower profile (started in 2022?).. OK cool whatever, then I watched a pit stop and was like, wait, did I see that right, one hit with the wheel gun?? Next pitstop shown looked a little harder (man they are fast lol) and thought, wow, those look like Centerlock hubs/wheels?.?..? Looked it up and was like yupers, those are them there fancy type of wheels them F1 guys are running (and many others)… Next they will be going to the incar jacks I recon… And wow has the drivers changed since around 2005 when I stopped watching all the cup races, I watched most of the night races when I could up until around 2012ish when Dodge finally pulled the plug and now if I ever channel surf over to it for any length of time I watch the Camrys… But yeah, I think the 15" 5 lug wheels were about the closest thing left to being stockish that NASCAR had left, and now it’s gone… Yes I know alot of cars haven’t had 15" wheels in a while, just saying… But the cars do look better with the 17"s (?) and wider/lower tires… I think they are wider anyway, might be wrong on that, hadn’t looked it up… lol ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 3:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/455 "2025-05-03T03:38:08Z")
> [@JoeMario](#): > > Out of curiosity, I extracted (cut-n-pasted) the text from this long thread, and ran it through one of the free online AI sites That was pretty cool, thanks for taking the time to do it, it was interesting to say the least… ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 11:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/456 "2025-05-03T11:14:41Z")
Yes, both impressive and scary at the same time. 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 11:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/457 "2025-05-03T11:20:39Z")
When Hudson was a major contender in stock car racing, allegedly some racers would drive their car to the race. As the 50s progressed NASCAR allowed modifications to creep in, NASCAR’s position, no it isn’t stock, but it is necessary. Mustangman got my point, a showroom stock Mustang GT vs a Camry, I think most of us could predict the winning brand. Been a long time since I watched any racing. I remember in the 60s, in drag racing there was all sort of variations of “stock”. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/458 "2025-05-03T13:10:22Z")
Thanks for the response, and it was a rhetorical question. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 1:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/459 "2025-05-03T13:14:12Z")
Gonna put Cliff Notes out of business (if they are still around). 😊 ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 1:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/460 "2025-05-03T13:20:13Z")
If the straight stock races take place, Toyota could substitute a GR Supra with a supercharged V8. It would be the homologated edition, just like the old days! [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522.md?page=22) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522.md?page=24)