These days the average tire width is 225mm and up and alloy wheels measure a minimum of 7.5" wide, for that fat beefy butch look with the larger rounder body stylings. SUVs really go overboard in tire width falsely advertised as a safety feature, to mimic the looks of Monster Trucks. Most SUVs and vans, if you look, have a shallow central tread pattern that is there for quietness on the road...the outer edges are chunky in appearance only and have no effect on snow & gravel grip other than hopefully making the consumer feel they have a true off road Jeep. The contact patch does the work, not the decorative piecrust knobbly edges.
Fat wide tires are a relatively recent phenomenon is basic consumer road cars...for the look.
This is fine in all season radials for most of the year but of course the wider contact patch, soft spring and strut rates and low tire pressures for that Barcalounger ride actually lower your fuel economy. But who cares? It's summer and the cruisin' is smooth. If they were really that chunky with tread blocks, channels and sipes across the whole patch the noise would be unbearable.
But winter snow, ice and rain driving needs are a whole different ball game/sport, as we who live outside the urban environment know all too well.
A thinner tire patch is the way to ensure the tire will sink in and bite better in snow & mud as well as secure straight line maneuvering. Great advances in block sipes and rubber grit compounds for ice conditions have come a long long way, too. Up here in Kanada (and no doubt the US border states, the rule of thumb is to put on snow tires that match the OEMs in diameter but reduce the width to 205 or less. A small difference of 10mm width makes a huge difference in performance and confidence in adverse conditions.
Older vintage rwd and fwd cars with bias ply tires were actually on the narrow dimension - check the sidewall information - and this can account for their nimble handling in winter conditions, for the reasons stated above.
All season tires are a misnomer when recommended for vehicles used north of middle latitude America.
Most folks I know swap their summer donuts for winter treads on their own dedicated winter rims. It's worth the small extra cost and garage storage for much higher safety percentage.
Employed this way in 6 months changeovers, new rubber tires are said to be good for 5 years before the rubber begins to deteriorate and wear down faster whatever your driving style and habits.
Dave
