World's ultimate low profile tyre
2009-11-16 06:20
Wheels and tyres. Not only do they keep you rolling along, they’re a vital factor in the style coefficient of any car.
The general rule of thumb amongst enthusiasts is to wrap the lowest profile rubber attainable on the most generously sized wheel rims available.
However wide of the original engineering specification said tyre/wheel combination goes is of no consequence.
Despite the unintended consequences of appalling ride quality, a voluminous increase in road-noise intrusion and inevitable compromises to geared performance, if it looks good, it looks good - period.
If you have an expert eye for spotting potholes at night, these are the ultimate in low-profile tyres.
SEMA madness
During the recent SEMA show in Las Vegas the most renowned wheel and tyre manufacturers showcased their latest and greatest wares.
At a show as elaborately themed as SEMA one expects to see some outlandish wheel and rubber combinations, yet nobody could quite prepare attendees for what was showcased at the Nexen stand.
Nexen, a rather low-key South Korean tyre manufacturer (Koreas oldest too), wrapped a tyre of such cartoonish dimensions around a 24-inch alloy wheel, it truly beggared belief.
The tyre in question was the company’s 15-series product. Sound rather inconsequential, until you take in the sequence of numbers running along the sidewall – 365/15R24…
Factor in the 365mm tread width (we can hardly imagine traction being an issue) and 24-inch diameter and that 15 profile number renders as being simply astonishing.
In a world where one winces at the possible ride quality characteristics of 35 profile tyres on 20-inch wheels, the Nexen 365/15R24s must be the most masochistic road tyres, well, ever…
