Low-profile tire are the tires with the size of sidewalls surpassing the width of its tread area. In other words, the relation of sidewall height towards tread area width is over sixty per cent or more. The tire profile is indicated on its sidewall with the help of “standard”, “performance” (low-profile) and “high-performance” (sports) lettering.
The history of low-profile tire begins in 1937 when Michelin Tire Company launched the tire that became the prototype of modern low-profile tires. It was the tire of the 88th series, but due to different reasons it didn’t become popular anywhere else except for racing tracks. Tech specs of vehicles didn’t allow for it; moreover, the roads in that time were in a poor state.
After 40 year in 1977 Pirelli Company unveiled its P6 and P7 tire models that became truly popular among customers and won confidence of a wide audience of car owners. From then on every earnest tire manufacturer ensured to add low-profile tire models in its line-up.
Nowadays such tires are widely used with different car types including trucks. In Western Europe more than a half of main road trucks are equipped with low-profile tires in order to increase the useful load capacity while the vehicle’s overall dimensions remains unchanged.
With the development of automotive industry the requirements to the cars’ technical specs have increased, so low-profile tires became more and more widespread. They can provide modern powerful and high-speed cars with enhanced traction while improving their braking performance.
Why does it affect braking so much? The size of a braking disk is restricted by wheel rim diameter. So if you want to increase the size of a braking disk you should firstly make your wheel rim bigger. This, in turn, increases outer diameter of a tire, otherwise the tire will features less air in it. At the same time the car size remains unchanged, which altogether affects the tire stiffness. That’s why the developers decided to increase the tire tread area, which enhances traction and improves the tire carrying ability while at the same time smaller sidewalls reduce the possibility of lateral skid when going round corners.
Low-profile tires have high speed ratings, as a rule. They usually have H (130 mph), V (150 mph) speed ratings. Sports low-profiles tire have even higher values – W, Z and Y. (more than 150 mph)
Low-Profile Tires – Disadvantages
For low-profile tires are stiffer than high-profile so you will feel all road irregularities like pits and pot-holes as the cushion effect is not enough to absorb all the hits. In addition, suspension elements will wear quicker. Lower level of driver comfort is also coupled with that fact that it would be harder for you to turn the steering wheel in case your car is not equipped with a hydraulic booster.
The increased contact patch area makes the level of noise higher. At the same time, low-profile tires have a shorter life span than that of standard ones. That’s why it’s possible to conclude that low-profile tires would suits people loving a dynamic driving style and using mostly smooth asphalt highway roads.
If you are still for buying a low-profile tire set, take the below mentioned into account:
While all tires are subject to deformation when not in use, for instance under long-term static load, low-profile tires deform quicker than standard ones. When your car has to stay in a car park or a garage for a long time, this process becomes irreversible. That’s why after a long downtime period it is necessary to increase air pressure to the value recommended by the manufacturer before going out the road.
Constantly watch your tire air pressure. Low-profile sidewall coupled with a large tire bead can cause sidewall deformation, and the deformed sidewall may come in contact with road surface, which speeds up tire wear. So try to maintain the necessary level of air pressure and check it monthly on cold tires.
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