50R17 wheels would be fine if that was what cars actually had. Instead the fitments are like 40R19 and 45R20. The trend of bigger wheels and smaller sidewalls i

50R17 wheels would be fine if that was what cars actually had. Instead the fitments are like 40R19 and 45R20. The trend of bigger wheels and smaller sidewalls is not going away either. 19s and 20s are giving way to 21s and 22s. Around 5-6 years ago we passed better grip and handling and moved well into harsh ride, bent wheels, and higher unsprung mass territory. I’m convinced one the the major factors driving the SUV revolution along with high driving position and CAFE light truck regs is higher aspect ratio tires compared with the equivalent sedan or wagon. The SUV has huge wheels but also has higher aspect tires, so you still get some sidewall flex and acceptable ride. The sedan equivalent has rubber band tires that crash on even reasonably maintained pavement (a bar many cities cannot reach), so of course the better ride wins even if the vehicle is far heavier and more expensive.