Quote:
Originally Posted by CapriRacer
I think you are referring to a thing that started when
they took asbestos out of brake pads. The
easy fix was to increase the diameter of the rotor -
and that meant increasing the diameter of the rim -
and since you don't want the load carrying capacity
of the tire to go down, AND you don't want the
diameter of the tire to change (might interfere with
suspension components), the only solution is to go
wider with a lower aspect ratio. And if that meant
changing the fender a bit, that is a whole lot easier
than trying to redesign the suspension.
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I am familiar with that aspect of the whole wider, larger diameter wheel to accommodate larger brake elements. I did not know the additional reasoning behind it - replacing asbestos brakes with non-asbestos that had less braking ability per square inch. Larger discs to help control and disperse heat buildup from braking.
It is unfortunate, though, that it led to giant rims/wheels becoming ‘a thing’ in the off-track passenger car segment.