At present, things in life are developing towards a larger trend. For example, mobile phones have developed to the point where it is difficult to put them in pockets, and desktop computers have become the representative of performance machines. The same is true for auto parts, rim sizes are trending larger, from 18 inches to 22 inches, and the growth of large tire sizes has been in double digits since 2015 until today.

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Tire companies believe that the popularity of larger-sized tires has changed because of the development of SUVs and CUVs. Tire companies must not only ensure the rigid performance requirements of tires, but also pay attention to the appearance of tires.

"The growing demand for larger vehicles and the increased focus on vehicle design has ultimately led to a dramatic increase in the demand for large-size tires over the past 10 years," said Nippon Toyo Tire's national training manager.

As North American SUV and CUV sales have grown over the past decade, consumer demand for these vehicles will become more specific. To complement a modern SUV or CUV, tires require a higher level of grip, comfort and driving sophistication – more demanding than performance requirements in small and medium-sized vehicles. On top of that, automakers say they're building larger cars with larger rim diameters to support heavier vehicle weights, while also accommodating larger tire appearances.

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Part of the reason for the recent surge in tire sizes is the popularity of the SUV/CUV market, said Bryce Jones, technical program manager for Pirelli North America. New car makes and models require new tire sizes. The same goes for the increase in rim diameter size, which is also updated with the trend.

"Because OEMs are tuning performance for individual vehicles, they're choosing to use larger wheel diameters for multiple uses," Jones said. “As an example, a larger wheel and tire kit will provide more responsive handling than the same diameter tires and smaller wheels. This is why usually a larger wheel diameter kit will be paired with the vehicle’s upgraded performance options. Used together. Essentially, consumers prefer one thing.”

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JJ Park, vice president of marketing for Hankook Tire, agrees, saying, "Upsizing the tire improves the overall profile and performance of the tire, such as ride stability, while providing great satisfaction in terms of appearance."

Drew Dayton, senior product planning manager for Yokohama Tire, said the trend toward larger-diameter wheels is also evident in the growing EV market.

"Genuine tires on electric vehicles do focus more on rolling resistance to help improve the vehicle's range," Dayton said. "The demand for electric vehicles is driving tire manufacturers to improve tire performance to meet the high torque requirements of vehicles, while maintaining rolling resistance and wear at a balanced level."

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Manufacturers such as Hankook Tire say that as electric vehicles (EVs) become more common, so does the need for larger rim diameters.

"Electric vehicles need tires that can withstand the weight of the vehicle, because batteries are very heavy," Parker said. "When electric vehicles first appeared on the market, fuel efficiency was the biggest challenge, so there was a huge need to reduce the weight of tires and rims."

Fundamentally, the concept sounds difficult. To keep up with the growth of electric vehicles on the market, manufacturers need to make tires that are both lightweight to save fuel and strong to support the weight of electric vehicles.

However, manufacturers like Hankook are trying to create such tires.

"Electric vehicle tires sold to the average consumer are not much different from normal tire sizes," he said, "so instead of looking at narrow and large rim sizes as lightweight tires, we are researching and developing tire size in a way to reduce weight.”