Can someone point me to a discussion on this topic? I'd like to understand why they did this. Just curious. I just got a 2017 and am planning to get two new wheels and tires to match the rear wider wheels/tires and have thicker tires all around. I'm just curious as to the possible implications of doing this.
Why are the front tires skinnier?
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I have the similar plan to get all 4 tries and the same size. The larger rear size worries me because it seems like it would stick out. Hope someone has tested this out
Go answer your question I believe it's because the front wheels turn nearly 90°. Clearance may be an issue.
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I just bought a couple of books on the history of the Smart and back in the beginnig of testing they made the front and rear track the same width and the handling was bad and under certain conditions the car could roll over. So they widened the back track and it greatly improved the handling and greatly cut the risk of a rollover.
There is a good 4 part series on You Tube that covers the beginnings of the 450 and on one of these 4 videos there is a section that they show the testing of the handling of the 450 on a test track. You will find it answers some of those early handling questions. Here is the first of four. The others should be linked through you tube after you watch the first one. DCO
There is a good 4 part series on You Tube that covers the beginnings of the 450 and on one of these 4 videos there is a section that they show the testing of the handling of the 450 on a test track. You will find it answers some of those early handling questions. Here is the first of four. The others should be linked through you tube after you watch the first one. DCO
Elk/Moose Test
NO 453 experience but been running 4-square on our 451 for over 8 years - probably the least expensive mod with the highest payback?
And a blast from the SCoA past (451 era) that still reads true today . . .
http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/f64/dangerous-change-tire-size-stock-31339/
See Moose Test . . .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moose_test
While we can't fix the nut behind the wheel - safety (from litigation) requires the bicycle tires up front so as to create understeer as noted by BMercer94.
NO 453 experience but been running 4-square on our 451 for over 8 years - probably the least expensive mod with the highest payback?
And a blast from the SCoA past (451 era) that still reads true today . . .
http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/f64/dangerous-change-tire-size-stock-31339/
See Moose Test . . .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moose_test
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Handling on the 453 is a whole different ball game. After almost 14 months I have no desire to change front tires to match rears. Yes, it would make rotation to even out tire wear possible but I really didn't have any problems with tire wear on my leased 451. Understeer is reduced considerably on the 453. A wider tire might reduce it even further but I don't see the need. Just my take on it.
Probably prudent as the 453 has improvements over the 451 that may negate such a change or maybe even make things worse?
smart is not the only production vehicle delivered with an OEM stagger.
Often this is done on rear-wheel drive vehicles especially those with a mid or REAR-ENGINE configuration. With the weight/power out back they sometimes need a bigger rear tire.
With FWD, most of the braking, all of the power delivery and most of the weight is being carried by the front tires and when pushed the tendency to understeer can sometimes cause the vehicle to plow straight ahead in spite of the steering input saying to turn.
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