What Car? Q&A - Tyred and confused

Q: I want to fit low-profile tyres to my Vauxhall Corsa, but I’m not sure what effect that would have on how my car handles. What are the problems with doing this?
Paul Hardcastle

A: A car is designed to use a specific size of wheel and tyre, and any deviation from this could result in a change in how the car drives and handles. The suspension may feel hard, and the car may not ride bumps and joints in the road very well. The car might also be harder to steer, especially at low speeds, and it could lead to increased wear of components. The speedometer would also read incorrectly, making it difficult to keep your car on the right side of the law.

It is possible to change your wheel and tyre combination so that the overall circumference is the same as the standard wheel but while this would result in the speedometer reading correctly, your car could still suffer with a change in driving characteristics.

If the car is still under warranty, fitting non-standard wheels could invalidate any claim that you make.