The differences between 17, 18 and 19 inch tyres tested and explained

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Will moving to a smaller wheel size improve comfort? Will moving to a bigger wheel size improve handling? I've been finding out exactly what changes when you change your wheel size at Mireval, Goodyear's test facility in the South of France.
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[@tyrereviews]

The video was meant to be 5 minutes, but it turns out we shot 15 minutes of talking. This has been edited down to 10 minutes at the loss of details on braking and aquaplaning, so be sure to check out the link in the description for the full details. Any questions please feel free to ask :)

[@mituc]

15 minutes of good educative talking. Thank you!

[@tyrereviews]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@19RedLineR74]

Pro tip... Do these tests blind. Stay in the car (blind folded if you have to), have the tyres changed to an unknown size. Then test. Just removes bias. Try to guess the size that's on, just for fun. Same for any test you do. Be it brands or whatever.

[@aca9616]

Tyre Reviews michelin pilot super sport would be best for the test

[@vladvld3433]

19RedLineR74 you re joking , right? can you drive blind folded?

[@gbin21]

Quality content, no clickbait, no all caps title, subscribed!

[@tyrereviews]

Thank you :)

[@kotufmrshbre5531]

Well it clickbait me, better title for this video is: The differences between 17, 18 and 19 inch RIMS tested and explained

[@Zane-ur8mz]

that pretty much sums up youtube

[@edwardirvine9671]

It's shit

[@JuhaEerikki]

Same.

[@Motorsportsgeek]

17s you get tire bubbles over pot holes, 18s you pop tire, 19s you crack rims, if you live around shitty roads remember this.

[@tyrereviews]

A unique way of looking at it!

[@hellatightdude]

Except that it's not all conclusive. I hit a massive pothole on the highway going above 55 and all I got was a very small tire bubble. For reference, I drive a '16 GTI with 18's.

[@Motorsportsgeek]

weight of the car and different suspension setups obviously factor in, its a generalization.

[@hellatightdude]

I suppose as a generalization, it's true. Especially with smaller cars with bigger wheels where what gets sacrificed is sidewall height. Good tip.

[@Motorsportsgeek]

Yes but what I know, dont get cheap fake wheel on heavy vehicles, unless you like going threw mags more then tires, on light vehicles its not as much of a concern unless they are really really cheap.

[@histriamagna1014]

I remember back in the 95 or 96 we tried this with a Clio 1.8 16v and the factory 185 55 r 15 tire was almost as fast in corners as the 195 45 r 16. Now the comfort was better with the smaller wheel and in the tight cornering also. The larger tire was better on long turns and at faster speeds. My friend opted for the larger ones just because of the looks.

[@MikeGratis]

Good info - I always hear folks debating optimum tire size; but, as you pointed out, there are SO many variables. Much like choosing "the best tire", your vehicle, driving habits, road conditions, weather, needs, wants & expectations come into play.

[@SurvivalReview]

exactly the video i've been looking forward - was feeling peer pressure to go to 19s (lol) but now I'll be sticking with 18. thanks!

[@joshuadoliveiro]

Finally there's these kind of tyre videos on KZbin! Thank you!

[@tyrereviews]

Thank you, I'm happy I'm finally making them! Lots more to come!

[@zaharianicolae9828]

That's why i love this channel. Good quality , ENOUGH details to answer the question . A remarkable content as always. Great job and keep it up.

[@tyrereviews]

Zaharia Nicolae thank you :)

[@zaharianicolae9828]

...and engagement with the viewers , on top of that. Cheers !

[@rafaelmoreir]

Another great review. Direct, honest and detailed in such a way that pleases the average car driver and also the enthusiast. Keep the great work!

[@zacharyparis]

also worth mentioning that 17" tires are the cheapest to replace and 19" the most expensive.

[@tyrereviews]

Always a good point!

[@RobertLeBlancPhoto]

Yes, and isn't that odd since if the circumference remains the same, the 17" tire actually has more material than the larger wheeled tires. 🤔

[@scottmurphy4946]

Not a expert but i recall someone saying that the bead of the tire is the reason for the cost vs material.

[@gravemind6536]

@@RobertLeBlancPhoto Yes but the sidewalls have to made tougher with a tighter bead which costs more money and then there is supply and demand, economies of scale means the 17 inch ones are cheaper because more people will buy them whereas there is less demand for the 19 inch ones meaning the cost of production is higher.

[@gravemind6536]

@J name That would be even cheaper since the sidewalls do not need to be as strong and since there is more demand for 16's

[@gazman9468]

Great video! I've been waiting for someone to do a test like this for years. As I suspected there seems to be a real sweet spot for road use. Hope to see more stuff like this in future!

[@tyrereviews]

Gazman thank you, I'll be doing my best to make more! There's a few very interesting videos in the pipeline!

[@raadyusuf6763]

Just bought an '18 golf comfortline a couple weeks ago with 17" rims and I can agree they are comfortable. I could even go on a road trip with my new car!

[@joepopes7923]

Have 18 on now and had 17 before. Driving normal roads to work and all day driving, the 17 are by far the best.

[@ethans6.0]

lighter rims could mean faster acceleration and faster breaking

[@peterfarkas672]

This is the most detailed review in this kind of topic I have ever see. Gratulation.

[@tyrereviews]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@Quartz-GT]

First video I've seen from your channel, and it was brilliant. It had the information I wanted to hear, explained clearly, and was well presented with fair tests, both objective and subjective. Liked and subscribed!

[@tyrereviews]

Thank you very much, really appreciated :)

[@rogeronslow1498]

17" = no rim damage 18" = slight rim dent 19" = destroyed rim and suspension

[@michaeljordan7446]

It depends in with car tho this doesn’t apply for every vehicle

[@Veikra]

any size in Montreal = destroyed rim, suspension and car

[@ericinfante1885]

I don't get it

[@josem1596]

How do I avoid the slight rim dent?

[@codyriko3719]

@@josem1596 don't drive at all that is the only way

[@UniversalVibesTV]

A most excellent, honest, informative and thorough review. Definitely coming back for more.

[@tyrereviews]

Thank you :)

[@asiffarooqui6789]

What a superb video. And the reviewer was straight to the point. Loved his delivery. Spot on.

[@tyrereviews]

Asif Farooqui thank you, really appreciated :)

[@asiffarooqui6789]

Tyre Reviews Any time Sir 👍

[@roxximusik8958]

The most thorough and potentially real world evaluation I've yet come across. Not the most televisual of subjects, so - well done !

[@tyrereviews]

Thank you :)

[@adams.gestwicki5292]

Amazingly helpful. I bought a 2015 GTI recently, and thought about going down in wheel size, since the city I live in doesn't have the greatest roads. Definitely will be looking at what tires I can by rather than changing the wheel size. Great review.

[@ryanstorrs4026]

An important factor to note is what size wheels the car was developed for. On a car developed with 17" wheels as a target, the suspension and damper tuning would typically reflect the additional damping from a thicker tyre profile. For example fitting high profile tyres and small wheels to a Golf GTI Performance would make the handling less predictable and precise, while fitting large wheels and low-profile tyres to a base Polo would cause it to become twitchy and less settled over rough surfaces. Great video, nonetheless. I wish every car creator on KZbin was as well informed as you.

[@davidamow]

Great vid! Followed your advice and run 17's for my winter tires and 19's for my summer tires. The 17's rides very comfortable in the snow, slush and ice. When the hwy is dry in the winter, the 17" Falken winter tires are quiet and comfortable for a winter tire. In the summer, the 19" Goodyear tires provides great road feel and is spot on!

[@tyrereviews]

Glad to hear it!

[@daviddavidson4579]

Thank you for doing these tests! As you mentioned, the same tires was used, but to be really precise you had to use also the same wheels. I weighed difference between 16" and 18" (the same company, different design) and the difference was 5 kg per wheel (20 kg of unsprung mass on a car). What I learnt from your video was that stifness of tire sides is more important than weigth...

[@BavarianM]

He can't use the same wheels obviously

[@chrislee6853]

Thank you for providing such a comprehensive comparison video!!

[@KC-lg8qf]

This is a great general compairison for when all things are pretty equal. Some other things to keep in mind though is tire quality, and weight/manufacturing process. You can have a 19 inch wheel that weighs signifcantly less than an 18 inch whee(especially if the 19 is forgged or flow formed), and that change could balance out the smoothness of the ride a bit... as unsrung weight is reduced. You might also skip a bit of the ride , and wet handling penalty in upsizing wheels depending on the tire category(summer, all season, winter, touring, uhpas etc) and Manfacutrer of tire you put on. Theoretically you could most likely achieve the best combination of everything in the 18 inch diameter(if everything is speced perfectly) BUT it is not a garauntee. A low budget 18 inch setup is unlikely to perform a well though out higher priced 19 inch setup if wheel choice and tire are chosen wheel (and likely not cheap). You can have a 20 pound forged, or flow formed 19 inch wheel vs a 18 inch 28 pound cast wheel. The differnce in weight should negate much of the ride quality penalty, while inproving dry performance, and maintainng good wet performance IF specked correctly. One thing is for sure, you are likely to pay signifcantly more for the 19 inch setup. Wheel width can also play a huge roll as a more narrow 19 inch tire may best a wider 18 inch tire in the wet....again depending on what tires you run.

[@davidelliott5843]

My car factory spec is 195-45-R15. Control is good. I fitted 50 series tyres to improve the ride on rough roads and did notice a slight reduction in steering feel. However the big issue is the wheels are prone to buckling the 45s were just too skinny. I ended up with steel wheels and the 50 tyres. They have not buckled in over 30,000 miles and will soon be getting a new set of 195-50-R15.

[@danieltait3917]

You deserve so many more subs, content is amazing!

[@tyrereviews]

Thank you! It's growing slowly.

[@adebowalesolarin52]

Actual research in action. Top marks for the way you discuss the physics of the differences in performance in dry and wet conditions, your use of data and the clarity of your method.

[@tyrereviews]

Thank you, appreciate the feedback :)

[@davidviner4932]

Great video, many thanks for the comparison. Interesting that I've had fewer punctures from cars with wider sidewalls than cars with much lower profiles too

[@tyrereviews]

This seems to be a trend as there's less deflection in the apex and shoulder

[@kristianhermann5971]

Wonderful test, thanks! I've found dropping rear tire pressure by 2-4 psi adds more comfort too - car labels in NA generally state the full load pressure only (for safety), unlike EU where you'll frequently see normal and full load - most people rarely drive at full load

[@Alex-cn9uj]

Thank you so much for the review! I needed this review to help me decide a new purchase.

[@tyrereviews]

Pleasure :) what did you end up picking?

[@Alex-cn9uj]

I downsized from 19" to 17" for the Wet performance and smooth ride.

[@tomahawk1556]

Thank You So Much for the Efforts & for sharing this informative video on Tyre Sizes Test! Stay Safe & Stay Grateful! 🌷🌿🌍

[@geetarwanabe]

18inch are the best compromise. Less impact issues but still good comfort and not ridiculously expensive for new tyres. Anything above is not worth it.

[@teme5529]

Planning on doing 17 inch on the Celica because the current 18 are too loud! :( Edit: The tyre threads have significant sound differences when it comes to manufacturers.

[@ThomasNing]

"what's the best wheel size overall?" *10 minutes later* "It really doesn't matter nearly as much as what tyre you choose."

[@trido1986]

Agreed.I found out almost all video review just bla bla bla..then not a clear cunclusion at all.

[@ThomasNing]

@@trido1986 well I mean, this is the clear conclusion I pointed out. And it's not just bla bla the information is interesting if you care, I was just poking fun at the pointlessness of the question in hindsight.

[@crhu319]

He's wrong

[@PLiWorx]

First Tyre Reviews video i've watched and was freaking Legit! Keep up the good work 👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾

[@tyrereviews]

Thanks, mega appreciated :)

[@sinphoenix]

THIS is what I was looking for as a new car buyer. THANK YOU

[@clebermelo25]

Excellent video. Quality content. Very good to know how the car behaves with the change in rim size.

[@tyrereviews]

Cleber Melo thank you, I appreciate the kind words

[@humzahakbar2086]

Channels like this is what the car community need!

[@tyrereviews]

I'm glad I could fill a niche :)

[@nosurrender4321]

you can fill my niche anytime 😉

[@haykodjan]

I drive BMW 735 IL e38 I changed from 18 inch to 16 inch and what a huge difference!!! The comfort i have now is awsome! Never going back to 18 inch!!!

[@tyrereviews]

Glad the switch worked out :)

[@onefastcyclist]

Good review and a well reasoned collusion. Some years ago Car & Driver Mag. did a similar comparison on a VW Gulf that included acceleration runs as well. With aluminum weighing more then rubber, basic physics applied and the 17" was the fastest and the 19" wheel was the slowest in the acceleration runs. For those of us who drive on poorly maintained roads, the taller side wall makes more since too.

[@Geoff0711]

This is true and over all grip is also better with lower unsprung weight.

[@sheldonm3535]

Great tests and great car to test it in. I own a MK7 GTi Performance Pack. I honestly upgraded my rear sway bar, coilovers and kept the stock 18” wheels. I did upgrade the tires to 235 over 225. I have zero desire to go 19”. Esp with NYC potholes.

[@gravemind6536]

I know someone with big wheels who keeps having to replace tyres all the time where everyone else waits until they have 2mm they just don't seem to get it.

[@jz2981]

Thanks for video and comments. Unless I am driving on a track, big wheels are pointless! Sure they look very pleasing but low profiles make for a very bumpy ride on real roads and expensive damage to tyres, rims, and wheel couplings is far more likely.

[@tranjen]

Incredible review. I always wanted to you this information!

[@tyrereviews]

+jen tran thanks, glad you liked it :)

[@WilliamWardlaw]

Was looking for this exact video for 225 options. Super helpful!

[@timothybracken1728]

I love this channel, tires are underrated!!

[@tyrereviews]

We agree!

[@ricksalva1124]

Such an under-rated channel, hopefully you guys hit 100k subs!

[@AudiophileTubes]

GREAT video! I've been waiting for a vid like this for a long time. I put 17's on my R32, and am very happy. I don't drive like a maniac, and the comfort level and decent handling I get with the 17's is perfect for me. Over the years, i've had Fulda, Falken, Dunlop, and Good Year 17's on the car, which now has 209,000 miles on it!

[@tyrereviews]

209k! That's crazy! I love the sound of the R32, must have the best v6 note ever

[@AudiophileTubes]

I hear that a lot (pun intended)!

[@IBANEZGUITARCENTRE]

It would be great if you could state cold and hot psi especially on the dry track. Most of us doing track days find this the biggest question to be answered. I appreciate your reviews, always well done 10/10

[@andrew78969]

The video was top notch, with in-depth analysis

[@tyrereviews]

Thank you :)

[@Andrew-mb8nq]

I stuck with the 18"s on my new Golf R and very happy I did so now. It does feel a lot more refined than my Scirocco on 19"s and a hell of a lot quieter. Great vid thanks 👍🏼.

[@tyrereviews]

Glad you're happy with your choice, and great car!

[@AhriCRose]

I was thinking of upgrading from 18 to 19 on my scirocco but idk

[@soundsystem00]

I love this video, it helped me a lot. I have 17s and was going to go 19. Thanks to this video I am for sure going to get 18s.

[@tyrereviews]

Glad it was useful :)

[@danrayment1]

What a fantastic video! Real Eye opener for me im seriously considering getting myself a set of smaller 18" alloys for the winter now!

[@tyrereviews]

Thank you!

[@HeartFire_]

Very interesting also something worth mentioning if you're after the best straight line speed and don't mind sacrificing some cornering a smaller wheel is better. It can take more of a launch without slipping bc it's got more tyre to crinkle and absorb the shock of a launch. They also weigh less, less rotating mass = better acceleration

[@Zickcermacity]

One thing I noticed about wider tires with lower profile side-walls on taller rims is how easy - some times too easy! - they are to steer. Almost twitchy. To me, handling isn't just about how easily a vehicle can be steered, but how well it tracks a straight line when steering isn't required. And 'old school' narrow tires with higher profile side-walls fit that bill quite well. I feel more weight when I steer narrower tires, given same overall diameter of tire+wheel package.

[@dickiedollop]

These videos become addictive 😁 you learn so much

[@tyrereviews]

Glad you like them!

[@adekunleolamilekan2094]

Quality content, I’m glad someone actually gives this detailed content about tyres and rims, I use a Camry XLE V6 10’ and will be switching my rims soon thinking of getting a 16 or 17 inch rim any advice on this for this type of car?

[@Kamcams]

I found the same with 19" summer tyres v 17" winter tyres on my 3.0d X3 M Sport. The difference in road noise is amazing, plus the softer compound of winter tyres really suited the 4 wheel capability of the SUV. I remember taking corners and fast bends a lot quicker than other drivers in similar vehicles. Just wished it was down to driver competence :-)

[@tyrereviews]

It could be down to both ;)

[@MrChielo007]

Awesome video, lot's of lessons learned, thanks!

[@tire_reviews]

Glad you enjoyed :)

[@tyrereviews]

Glad it was useful :)

[@alexisbendelamousseauchocolat]

Thank you for this detailed, beautiful review. A lot enlightening. God bless you.

[@tyrereviews]

Thank you!

[@brainwashingdetergent4322]

Good video! Thanks for taking the time to make!

[@FlyingTaurus]

Great Video , very informative and well deserve a good thumbs up ! I'm detail type of guy myself, would like to see a video of comparison "wheel offset " and "J" in how affects the daily use , I think the real point to this video is not the 17" 18" or 19" wheels, but the 45" 40" or 35" tyre wall size , in other words , the "40" it's the best choice for sportiness without compromising a lot to the comfort side of things. Here in England I recommend "45" due to poor road conditions and build quality!

[@tyrereviews]

Thanks :) A few people have commented the same so I'd like to do a wheel weight, offset and tyre width video. These things take time, but keep an eye on the channel and hopefully I'll get it done in the not too distant future :)

[@GG-gk7jn]

Thanks for the review 👍🏻 I would love also the same kind of test with of the offset settings of the rims 👌🏻

[@jgardner83]

Excellent, excellent video! Thanks for the great lesson on tire sizes!

[@brrrrr_1]

Super valuable test. Thank you.

[@tyranelewis6936]

thank you on this very informative video. it help me decide to stay with the 225/40/18 size versus moving up to 19" or 20"

[@johngraydon506]

I have 19” on GTI performance, hate them, mainly because its almost impossible not to damage them even turning around a rough road or cobble street, so lots of places they can get marked up the santiagos are soft, so looking to get forged alloys in the near future !

[@roknroller6052]

Tyrane Lewis, Stay, You don't want to go any lower profile then that. Unless it's only about aesthetics and not performance. (performance then read my comment in the main page)

[@tyranelewis6936]

@@johngraydon506 Thank you for the confirmation John. I went looking for 19" and sales person tried to sell me on 20" because 19" is odd size to get in tires. I'm glad I held off. I'll keep 18" on this MK7.5 and lower it. I'll just exchange out for 18" more to my liking

[@tyranelewis6936]

@@roknroller6052 Thank you i will stay with 18" I'll just change wheel design and maybe a lower offset (ET35 or ET38) for aesthetics.

[@roknroller6052]

Tyrane Lewis, Trying to sell you a 20" .. What with spinners 🤣🤣 Wise choice, one very mild pot hole and kiss goodbye to a wheel... Yeah lower offset will look good...

[@scunnerdarkly4929]

At current UK prices the 17” Asymmetric 5’s are around £25-30 cheaper per corner over the 18” version, may swing it for some. Smaller rims are also less prone to cracking and distorting if you drive on shitty pothole-filled roads, and less expensive to replace if a wheel is trashed. Something to think about if you’re currently on 17” rims and thinking of upgrading.

[@Sukhariev]

thank you for an honest comparison of 17 and 19 inch wheels. That was my personal concern of downsizing wheels for my honda accord

[@ShashvatKumar]

TOP REVIEW, easily understood by a noob like me. Subscribed !

[@jasonlewis5484]

Really it just shows that its drivers choice on what terrain they drive most. I had 15s on a commodore that did alot of unsealed roads, definitely wouldn't of gone larger in rim size as tire would act as a damper for pot holes. Now I have moved and drive all sealed roads, I now drive a lowered falcon with 18s for better control and grip. As you can see from this, one better for unsealed and the other better for sealed. BTW try hitting a pothole with 22s $$$$$ for replacment.

[@GreatGrandmasterWang]

Jason Lewis what the hell is a sealed and an unsealed road anyway?

[@luke6271]

Bruh, I got a Commodore wagon on superlows with 17's. Unsealed roads are a nightmare I sometimes have to slow down to 10kph if it's bad enough. Mistakes were made.

[@TassieLorenzo]

@@GreatGrandmasterWang Sealed road = tarmac, unsealed road = gravel.

[@mayurnarayan1]

In India we hardly see 17 , 18 , 19" in normal cars , because of poor road conditions here manufacturers use 15 , 16" . Sometimes you can see 14" as well on base models.

[@Osprey1994]

One problem you can't fit anything below a 17 on a GTI with the PP.

[@mic400uk]

that's if your lucky enough to find a road 🤣 small wheels and a soft suspension is what you need 👌

[@RaduGiurgiu]

True. Always small rims will be the better confort and also overall better for the car and rims!

[@ozxocx]

This one was one of the most useful reviews about driving in KZbin. Thank you so much! However, I hope you do something similar with other cars, especially SUVs. Golf GTI is indeed a sports car. Most people drive more "average" cars. I wonder if 17in would be best in a Nissan Rogue, Toyota Rav4 or Honda HRV.

[@kokoscom]

great reviews, informative unbiased... Subscribed!

[@tyrereviews]

Thank you :)

[@gaycha6589]

this is a great review, and goes along way to explain relative dry/wet/nvh benefits, scaling up or down diameter sizes. The one thing stopping it from being 100%, is the complete lack of reference to relative unsprung weight of the naked 17/18/19 rims. I have a Golf R on 19" flow forged Pretoria rims, and previous had exact same model, but fitted with 18" cast Cadiz rims. the 19" wheel and tyrs combo fitted with excellent Michelin PSS is about 2 Kg a corner lighter with the 19"s, than was the 18" package. This affects primarily the relative bumps/crash handling and rebound ride comfort. My perception is that the 19" wheels perform better every where than did the 18"s, with the sole exception of high wet steering and balance, where the softer wall of the 18" makes car a little more relaxing in steering response. My caveat is also to go for the lighest alloy that is appropriate. 19" cast diamond cut alloys are weighty things. Top review anyway.

[@tyrereviews]

Thank you :) I agree I should have discussed wheel weights, it was a rushed days testing and filming and somethings were left out. Weights have been pasted in a few comments now, here they are again :) 17” -> 19.92kg (10.82 rim + 9.1 tyre) 18” -> 22.41kg (13.28 rim + 9.13 tyre) 19” -> 20.61kg (11.5 rim + 9.11 tyre)

[@briank10101]

The wheel and tire combination can also be looked at as a sprung/unsprung weight system in its own right with the tire tread in contact with the road being the unsprung weight and the rest of the tire and wheel being the sprung weight. On a comfortable tire the unsprung weight may be 50 to 300 grams - the lower the % of the total tire/wheel sprung weight the better. . This low tread unsprung weight is ideally suited to absorbing high frequency road imperfections but it's ride improvement effectiveness depends also on sidewall stiffness and air pressure amongst other things.

[@applejuice5272]

TL;DW on the tyre used in this test (Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3), the 18" tyre is the best all-rounder with the car tested (VW Golf Mk7 GTI).

[@OhZjuchi]

Thanks for the video and changing all 4 wheels and doing wheel balancing for the video

[@justsomeguy3467]

Thank you for this video you answered all my questions!!

[@devashishtoor]

Wonderful Informative Video 👌👌👌

[@freeeagle7893]

I would go with 17 inch. Because comfort is my priority and it is also able to achieve enough sporty characteristic for my driving conditions.

[@keithaverill4696]

Great test and review, thank you!

[@tyrereviews]

Thank you for the kind words

[@klackon1]

Tyre Reviews: Top review, thanks a lot.

[@tyrereviews]

Thank you for your kind words :)

[@AdnanEbrahim]

This is the in-depth tyre content us nerds have been praying for! Awesome video. However totally useless for someone on 20 inches! ;)

[@tyrereviews]

Dat GTR life

[@iwaswithyourmom9410]

Yep!! 20s are TOTALLY useless!!! ;)

[@darrelltuttle8298]

P Taushick, depending on the Vechicle. 20's are EXTREMELY useful and help the car perform BEAUTIFULLY.

[@pumpuppthevolume]

but to be really nerdy .....now u need 10 drivers to get use to all 3 sizes and than do blind tests

[@benjaminbutton2897]

I have 21s on my A7

[@goldblade84]

Thank you very much for this video, it confirms some of my real world experiences with an OEM 18" vs. an Aftermarket 20" Tire. Specifically the part about Dry vs. Wet performance. With a brand new tire, the OEM 18" could cruise at very high speeds during a rain storm and not even feel like it is driving on wet roads. Where as the 20" is quite twitchy, and requires much more concentration even at half the speed. One other thing I'd love to see from tire tests in the future (and I don't think anyone has done this) is straight line highway stability. By which I mean the 18" (thinner) tire actually felt more glued to the road, and able to brush off small bumps and imperfections on the road without disturbing the ride. Whereas the wider 20" was superior in cornering, the straight line stability of the car was notably affected and you feel more twitchy at 20-30 mph slower than the softer and thinner 18" tire.

[@tyrereviews]

Glad our findings match :) Straight line stability certainly is affected by wheel size, and you also tend to get more tramlining / issues with road camber the larger you go.

[@goldblade84]

Yes! I never knew the word (just googled / KZbind it), but there's a place on the way home with uneven road and it always pulls to the right when I brake. Thanks.

[@dporrasxtremeLS3]

Outstanding information!

[@ll-rb7or]

Thorough review, thank you!

[@BoredGeese]

Came from 205/50 R17 and upgraded to 215/45 R18 I just have a slightly lower PSI on my rear wheels to 'ever so slightly' increase stability and comfort. Thanks for helping me make the decision.

[@alanbooth7280]

Very informative, thanks

[@tyrereviews]

Alan Booth thanks for the feedback

[@piotr2951]

I liked the review a lot , its was very detailed and well prepared.

[@tyrereviews]

Thank you :)

[@misha8896]

Great review! Finally a reviewer who understands that tyre choice is a compromise, with sometimes quite a small difference in characteristics between two products and how important is to get your priorities straight, when choosing a right tyre. Keep up a good work, old boy :)

[@tyrereviews]

Thank you but less of the old :(

[@misha8896]

Terrible sorry if I had offended you :) It could just be me having a habit of a middle-aged men to call everybody old boy :) Keep up a good work! Idea for a test - real-life endurance test of winter tyres, to see how their characteristics change during the life cycle... ( ...Michelin would not be happy with a result... ;) )

[@fatboy19831]

I have driven BRZ's with 17, 18, and 19" all different brands and rims under different conditions. The best size I have experienced on the Stock suspension is ultra high performance summer rubber on the Stock 17" rim. Good ride, excellent traditions smooth progressive brake away. The 19s had more grip and transitioned at the limit just as nicely as the 17's The overall balance was just not as nice. On 17's the wet Braking performance on the BRZ is just a tad worst than dry. Its pretty amazing. The 19" do look sweet.

[@tyrereviews]

We were hoping to do this test using a BRZ / GT86 but sadly it didn't work out!

[@guusbouwmans5667]

Learnt a lot from this video.

[@tyrereviews]

I'm glad

[@Geoff0711]

Really enjoyed this review I feel you managed to deliver and explain the concept really well. Obviously this is a real world sort of comparison where the actual overall wheel and Tyre diameters (rolling diameter) remains virtually the same but the wheel size and profile combine to achive this for different size wheels. In absolute wheel size matters (Ie same depth of profile but different overall wheel size/rolling diameter) the larger wheel rides out bumps better - like a very small wheeled cycle or a huge wheeled cycle - the small wheel will get caught on holes in the road worse. Anyway, It is really helpfull to know how these differences affect a given tyre but it is also a good point that different tyres have differenbt characteristics - so yes a good amout of research is needed if all this really matters to you..

[@thurst6510]

Thank you for the test. I am in the market for a Toyota and trying to decide between a 16" or 18" rim wheel. Your video has help me decide which wheel diameter I would like.

[@Fastfitnesstips]

great video! but I wish you had tested fuel economy too, assuming there is a difference in either weight or rolling resistance

[@tyrereviews]

You can use the EU fuel label to give an approximate idea. As far as I know all three tyres are C label.

[@roxximusik8958]

Aha - rolling resistance : yet another can of worms !

[@roxximusik8958]

Did someone mention tyre pressures and/or temperature ? This is getting kinda complicated.

[@munchiesNcrunchies]

i really liked your findings but i thought it would also be beneficial to know the difference in gas mileage as well as price per tire, and change in acceleration. i went from a 16 to 17 on my previous car and it definitely made a difference in those little yellow speed bumps and dips for the better.

[@JustinStrife]

I bet you weren't using the same brand and model tire when you switched.

[@andyxox4168]

If you’re worried about ‘gas milage’ get 155R15 😂😂😂

[@munchiesNcrunchies]

them speed bumps would make me wobble wobble and shake shake XD@@andyxox4168

[@gplusgplus2286]

Awesome video. Confirms my plan to upgrade to 18 for summer tires and put winter tyres on my 17s. Audi TT mk1 225

[@gm3750]

Excellent informative no BS review

[@IncptnLive]

This was great video, thanks for including objective and subjective thoughts!

[@tyrereviews]

Thank you :)

[@KCnLex]

THANK YOU!! Honest to Pete I have spent hours today learning more about tires than I had in all the years of my life combined. Part of the dilemma was size selection. There were 17, 18. 19 choices in the build and I went with the 18 but the run flats all weather will only be used a few months as it doesn't get that cold here. The remainder of the year will be on some size non run flat performance oriented summer tires and I had picked the tire (finally) and just couldn't decide whether I should go up/down in size.....based on your findings, I am sticking at 18 and calling it a day.

[@tyrereviews]

Sounds like a good choice :)

[@IvanKolic]

Thank you. Great and consise video. Just what I wanted to find out and learn.

[@zumezoom9593]

that testing track looks line so much fun