How big should the wheel be?
Very few readers probably noticed it right away, but last week we reported on two cars that couldn't be more different—especially in one aspect: wheel size.
While the American Underslung had 40-inch wheels, the Honda Z600 made do with 10-inch rims. From today's perspective, both seem extremely outdated. Most of us grew up with cars that had rims with a diameter of 12 to 15 inches. The Golf, for example, had 13-inch wheels.
In recent years, however, wheel diameters have been steadily increasing; modern supercars and SUVs often come equipped with 22- or even 23-inch wheels. That said, these wheels are often paired with ultra-low-profile tires.
In principle, larger wheels offer lower rolling resistance and often greater comfort – one reason why no one sells cars with 10-inch rims anymore. However, the wheels must also fit within the wheel wells, where they compress and, in the case of the front wheels, must also pivot sideways to accommodate cornering movements. Consequently, there are limits to their size. 40-inch wheels, like those on the American Underslung, would result in rather bulky car bodies today.
It's also interesting to take a look at bicycles, for those who are familiar with them. Recently, there have been gravel bikes and mountain bikes equipped with large 32-inch wheels (instead of 28 inches – that is, 10 centimeters more in diameter). Here, too, the focus is on comfort and rolling resistance. However, aesthetics take a back seat; by conventional standards, the wheels are simply too large in relation to the frame. But as we all know, you get used to a lot of things…
