Tires with Thicker Sidewalls

[bps4]

Does anyone run tires with thicker sidewalls? I live in NYC and the roads are covered by tire popping suspension breaking potholes and was exploring options. TIA

[rtl5009]

Take the metro

[wednesday]

Here is my personal view on this:

While thicker sidewall may give you the added benefit of saving suspension or other parts, it also makes for a slightly harsher ride. Run flat tires are commonly associated with thicker sidewalls and more mass as well of course. This is because tire manufacturers are expecting all of the car's weight to drop on to the sidewall if tire goes flat (in run-flat tires of course).

What about running bigger sidewall tires instead of thicker sidewall - 50 instead of 40 and so on.. Cushioning effect will soften the impact from pot holes if city driving is what you do most.

[james 408]

correct, ride will be harsher. wrc made this change in 2014 when they disallowed the runflat technology -- forced the teams to soften up the spring/damper rates to compensate.

run flats also handle worse.

Just get a tire warranty. every tire store in the world (including tire rack) offers a road hazard protection program. this is an additional purchase that you must make, and is not covered under the manufacturers mileage warranty.

afaik there are no street tires that have beefed shoulders, although I suspect there are some variances between tires.

softer suspension and taller sidewalls (smaller rims) will help as mentioned above.

[airjawed]

Read the tire specs... you can find the sidewall ply information. Look up the specific tire because depending on size the construction will be different. Also look at cornering ratings and load...this can give a clue to the sidewall design.

My experience is that depending on the hole in the ground this may or may not help you. If the hole is big and takes your entire tire in then you want the tire softer otherwise your suspension takes the hit... if the hole is smaller then you want the tire harder otherwise the tire gets damaged.

Proper air pressure and insurance is the way to go.... you can also get money from the city for damage... but you need to go to lower manhattan and also have a report and pics. Good luck with that because it takes a year to happen.

[ilyafil]

Does anyone run tires with thicker sidewalls? I live in NYC and the roads are covered by tire popping suspension breaking potholes and was exploring options. TIA

What tire size are you running now?

[bps4]

What tire size are you running now?

Stock

[Redneck_S4]

Lol @ living in nyc


Sent from the woods

[_drew.potts]

Same here, I've gotten 3 bubbles in the last year on stock tire size. BQE is garbage

[ilyafil]

Stock

WOW! NYC streets must be really bad. Move to Cali.

[bps4]

Same here, I've gotten 3 bubbles in the last year on stock tire size. BQE is garbage

exactly this - I've practically memorized the pothole layout

[nynoah]

This is why I like my 17s and don't want 18s or larger.

[julex]

get a higher load tire (these are stiffer and more sturdy) and no, stiffer tire won't save your suspension - the opposite actually since stiffer tire will be less flexible and more vibrations/shocks will travel through the rubber to suspension.

And move out of that garbage city. With millions of square miles to choose from, people still choose to live in cities - I don't get it - they even defend it... rats like it in garbage piles too so maybe why. I got out the moment I had an opportunity, once I turned adult and went to live on my own.

[bps4]

so it sounds like a tradeoff between punishing tires and suspension - I guess I'll just buy insurance the next time around and deal with it for now.. thanks for all the great info!

[nynoah]

Always buy the insurance