17" versus 14" tires

Something else to add to the whole low profile discussion is tire width. Not everyone wants a wider tire, I know. But it is a direction I lean and I know others as well.

As I reflect on that, I realize that this is a bigger factor to my view of the performance direction that a car reflects than just "it has low profile tires". Much like a big tire under the back of a car implies that the car is capable of big acceleration, a big tire under the front of a car implies high lateral g's.

The thing about a wider front tire though, is that on an A-Body, you need to push the tire in to get the additional width, and that requires a bigger wheel to clear the suspension and such, assuming a lower stance is also part of the plan. And stance is part of that implied performance direction.

My last thought on the big wheel and low profile combination is proportions. Personally, I think a 14" wheel looks like a roller skate on an elephant, just too small for the body. I used to think a 15" was a good size proportionally, but that was when 15" wheels were the big wheel available to normal folk and 16" wheel were reserved for the rich crowd. Now I find that in my opinion a 17" or 18" wheel fits the body better. I could see even a 17"/18" or 18"/19" combo front and back on a Duster fitting really well with how the body seems to get bigger at the rear. I don't think a 19" wheel on the front is an option just because the sidewall would have to be too small, and I think a 20" is just goofy looking. But it's all just my opinion.

Like everything, there is a range. And like everything else, not everyone sees or likes it the same. And I am ok with that.

Truth is, I didn't build my car so other people can like it. I built it so I like it.