Low-Profile Tires vs. Potholes | Consumer Reports

Big wheels and low-profile tires are a popular way to add style to your car. But do tires with shorter sidewalls have any performance benefits? And how do they stack up when faced with the scourge of winter and spring driving - the pothole? CR experts evaluate how a low-profile tire on 18-inch wheels handles a pothole on our test track compared to a more traditional 16-inch wheel with a taller sidewall tire. We also share tips on how you can avoid suffering a blowout or tire damage when driving in pothole-prone areas.

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[KarlLetcher]

In my opinion, low profile tires are pure fashion over function. They make a sedan ride like a truck, and the rims they’re mounted on are expensive and easily dented or bent. The advantage of sharper handling is a dubious trade-off at best.

[holmiumh]

Thank you CR.
I've been waiting for this since YouTube was born.

[worldrallynut]

Why not make pothole survivability part of the standardized testing for new cars? A failure in this category might get automaker's attention similar to how you affect scores for other safety related aspects like AEB, etc. I'm thinking you could use a simulated metal pothole that could survive and/or be replicated easily for the car to drive through at a set speed but thats just a starting idea.

[jjl]

My experience over the two decades; low profile tires always damage the aluminum wheels. It happens no matter how much you're being careful as long as you share cars with wife or reckless teens. And usually I figure it out after spending whole lot of money on unnecessary balancing, alignment, and even axels.

[gpaull]

Northern Alberta: “You call that a pothole?!?! 🤣”

[anotheran]

Wish you tried a 18 inch run flat or a 20 inch for more extreme contrasting

[marekw.]

Feeling pretty smug about the 16" steelies on my Camry.

[LionRunner]

100%..!! Exact reason I changed stock 20" wheels on my 4Runner Limited to 17" wheels. Bought stock 17" 4Runner wheels from TRD ORP trim.

[bigbean]

This is why I love steel wheels with hubcaps. There’s always plenty of cushioning tire on those, and we need it here around Detroit!

[stevewise]

Thank you, much needed information! I’m driving a performance car with low profile tires and sometimes can’t spot a pothole in my path and my entire car violently rolls over the potholes. I do check them when I get home or pull over.

[raffimanion]

Great video, but it would be nice to know what happens to the suspension also.

[MrMRGamer]

Thank you for the video CR, I'm tired of these oversized wheels with minuscule tires. If I'm on anything but a dedicated sports car give me a tiny wheel and a nice large tire.

[rightlanehog]

Save Sidewall!!! We have two road seasons where I live - POTHOLE and CRATER. In either season sidewall is imperative so hopefully this low profile craze goes away sooner rather than later.

[Roddy]

A pretty good short take on a very interesting and important topic. Just adding, if you suspect wheel damage, or there is obvious wheel damage, immediately remove the wheel from service and have it inspected by a professional. You never ever use a hammer to "straighten" the wheel lip. The damage on an aluminum or alloy wheel can be deceiving and may lead to a sudden or catastrophic base material failure. Even damage that looks just like your typical curb rash may have a crack that you just can't see or may be cracked on the inside.

[RobertLeBlancPhoto]

I recently went from a low profile summer tire in OEM size of 235/35R19 to a UHP AS tire in the same size and have found the AS tire to far better cope with potholes than the summer tire.

[tbvv]

Good video. It would be nice to know how low the sidewalls can be to increase the risk of damage to tires and rims. I am against the current trend of car manufacturers making increasingly large rims + low profile tires as standard equipment on most models. Most large low profile tires also have reduced tread life besides cost more to replace and reduce ride quality for a small trade off in improved handling.

[microminiskirt]

Bring back regular tires and wheels for better comfortable ride, less repairs in curb rash, bent wheels from potholes, and theft of tire and wheels that are targets of car thieves. Also those tires cost more to replace and wear out faster🤑. It's purely a money maker for the auto industry in repairs and sales at initial purchase. Purely cosmetic to make those with $$$$ happy.

[louislopez]

This video is a nice way of telling drivers they are making a mistake when buying those low profile, rubber-band tires. I’ll be more blunt; installing 22” rims on a SUV or pickup truck is just stupid. But with many new vehicles, if you choose a higher trim package they automatically come with 19” (or larger) wheels and you don’t have much choice other than having to buy smaller wheels and new tires afterward. I don’t think many buyers will do that.

[superbird]

A very good video that everyone should watch.

[jstephens]

Maybe I missed it, but I did not hear "do NOT brake" once you hit the pothole. Stopping the wheel allows one spot to hit the pothole with full force, whereas rolling over it distributes the force. It is more likely that a wheel will be damaged if braking occurs at the moment of impact.