Are tires with larger rims more susceptible to damage?

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Kamdoon

Kamdoon

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Khamdoon
My wife has an '11 VW cc with 17" rims, which is much larger than we are used to (used to drive Ford Taurus -- not sure the size, but they sure weren't 17's). She has gone through three tires now running over potholes (I assume that's what she is doing). She has never had a problem before, even during bad winters (which this one is). First we were using Continentals (the factory tires) and now she just blew a Michelin. Does it have something to do with the larger rims? Any other factors which I should consider, like using a lower pressure in the winter or something? Like I said, she never had problems until this CC, and we're on 3 and counting...

By the way, NTB has a good tire hazard warranty!
 
I'm guessing when you went up in wheel size you went for a lower profile tire which is more easily damaged by potholes. Also remember that in the winter the ambient temperature will be lower. When the car sits for a while the pressure in the tires will drop. If you fill up your tires with air after they have been sitting they will take in more mass of air than they would if it were warmer. When the tire warms up as you drive the pressure will rise more quickly than normal. This is dependent on the temperature.

In short, drive your car a bit before you fill the tires with air and avoid potholes.
 
If larger rims mean lower profile tires, then yes. Lower sidewalls can't absorb as much impact (going through sharp potholes or maybe mounting a curb), they get pinched against the rim and torn in that place and if you're going through 3 tires per winter I'd say go with smaller rims and bigger tires before you have to shell out on the rims as they can get just as damaged in such events. Not that it doesn't happen to your everyday 185/55 R15's but they can take a bit more beating before failing. Also, as Zenith said, try to avoid potholes as much as possible.
 
I run particularly low profile on my rims (Not by choice, can thank the delicious previous owners for that..) and I haven't had any issues, the key thing is to avoid kerbs, potholes and anything with any sort of sharp, drastic edge.

It sounds like your wife isn't bothering to avoid such things and as such due to the lower tolerance of the smaller sidewall is blowing them frequently.
 
UrieHusky
I run particularly low profile on my rims (Not by choice, can thank the delicious previous owners for that..) .
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Nothing wrong with buying a different set of wheels, I bought 19" wheels for my car, and kept the 17" for winter tires.
They are a bit firmer to drive and you have to watch out for kerbs but other that that I've had no problems at all.
 
poolhaas
Nothing wrong with buying a different set of wheels, I bought 19" wheels for my car, and kept the 17" for winter tires.
They are a bit firmer to drive and you have to watch out for kerbs but other that that I've had no problems at all.
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???

Have you seen my car? the previous owner put two different cheap chinese brands on the front with a profile of 40 while the rears are Potenza's with a profile of 50.

Never said there's anything wrong with buying aftermarket rims - just the choices of my cars previous owners are quite questionable.
 
UrieHusky
???

Have you seen my car? the previous owner put two different cheap chinese brands on the front with a profile of 40 while the rears are Potenza's with a profile of 50.

Never said there's anything wrong with buying aftermarket rims - just the choices of my cars previous owners are quite questionable.
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Ah I see, missunderstood you on that.
 
Dont lower profile make it so the tire can handle more g-forces or something cause the tire doesn't flex as much.
 
45 is about the limit that I'd go for street use, it's a good compromise 👍
 

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