View Full Version : Do 24-26" wheels NEED bigger brakes?


J.P.
11-15-03, 07:38 PM
Watching monster garage, jesse was capping on people rollin 24-26" wheels without upgrading the brakes.

Yes I would assume this should be done, but how big of a deal is it? I don't own a ride with 24"+ but I see 10-15 people a day around here who do, and NONE of them are running bigger brakes.

Just what I need, some idiot in a 80,000,000lb SUV rear ending me because he had to put 26's and be a balla and needs 400ft to stop from 40mph

Captain Bone
11-15-03, 08:31 PM
I would imagine if the OEM stopping power was probably for a 17" wheel, then a 24" wheel would take MUCH longer to stop due to weight and volume, thus creating a "accident waiting to happen" for those who assume it's the same amount of time to stop. However, if these wheels were forged and 19", I doubt there would be a problem, as most aftermarket wheels that are forged or lightweight tend to be lighter than stock even though they are bigger.

EDIT: Has anyone ever thought about Limo's? They have stock brakes but weigh much more and need more stopping distance. Very interesting

-Anthony

bluelex
11-15-03, 08:36 PM
i would also agree that it would probably b better if they did......

bitkahuna
11-15-03, 09:06 PM
Originally posted by Captain Bone
EDIT: Has anyone ever thought about Limo's? They have stock brakes but weigh much more and need more stopping distance. Very interesting

Fortunately limo drivers are usually very careful and drive defensively.

Jmai22
11-15-03, 09:29 PM
speaking of breaks, ever driven next to a semi truck going down a hill or when he downshifts and you have your windows down. man that scared the living crap out of me.

BuyERTS
11-16-03, 12:10 AM
Originally posted by jpa2400
Watching monster garage, jesse was capping on people rollin 24-26" wheels without upgrading the brakes.

Yes I would assume this should be done, but how big of a deal is it? I don't own a ride with 24"+ but I see 10-15 people a day around here who do, and NONE of them are running bigger brakes.

Just what I need, some idiot in a 80,000,000lb SUV rear ending me because he had to put 26's and be a balla and needs 400ft to stop from 40mph

I saw that episode (they added the StopTech BIG brake kit to the caddy).

Jesse did say that the bigger brake kit was necessary because of the additional weight of the larger wheels. It had nothing to do with the larger diameter, per se, but the fact that they weighed more than the stock wheels.

mr who
11-16-03, 12:30 AM
I saw the episode too. Those wheels were huge 26" chunks of metal. Nothing light about em. Add the weight of those 26" tires and like Captain Bone said, that seems like an accident waiting to happen if you don't upgrade the brakes.

These are the wheels are on the Escalade tailgate machine-

liquid forged (http://www.jessejameswheels.com/popup/liquidforge.htm) 26x10 model 357 $2200

http://www.jessejameswheels.com/images/357wheel.jpg

LB Lex
11-16-03, 01:20 AM
I thought that if your wheels are very large the diameter would reduce the stopping power because more force is needed to slow-down the car since the larger rims act as a longer more powerful lever, which requires more force to counter-act it and to stop.

mooretorque
11-16-03, 06:23 AM
I thought that if your wheels are very large the diameter would reduce the stopping power because more force is needed to slow-down the car since the larger rims act as a longer more powerful lever, which requires more force to counter-act it and to stop.

That is exactly correct. The fact that most of the wheels are also heavier (and remember that most of that mass is concentrated at the rim, where it's contribution to inertia is HUGE) makes a bad situation worse. Obviously, the effects are just as detrimental to acceleration..................

J.P.
11-16-03, 07:35 AM
Originally posted by BuyERTS
I saw that episode (they added the StopTech BIG brake kit to the caddy).

Jesse did say that the bigger brake kit was necessary because of the additional weight of the larger wheels. It had nothing to do with the larger diameter, per se, but the fact that they weighed more than the stock wheels.


Man did you see those brakes? They are HUGE

Then again you have all these crackheads tossing $2000 24's on these trucks with no money left over to upgrade the brakes.

On the other hand if your dropping 7000-8000 on wheels, whats another $3000 for brakes.... IF you have 50k for a truck and 7k for wheels, you should be able to afford the brakes.

squarehat
11-16-03, 12:37 PM
Originally posted by mooretorque
That is exactly correct. The fact that most of the wheels are also heavier (and remember that most of that mass is concentrated at the rim, where it's contribution to inertia is HUGE) makes a bad situation worse. Obviously, the effects are just as detrimental to acceleration..................

Two words: Flywheel Effect :D Have fun getting those 76lb wheels up to speed :egads: I'd love to see weight numbers for some of the cheaper, cast 26" wheels.

1SICKLEX
11-17-03, 12:42 AM
20" wheels plus require brake upgrades, IMO.

ATSOU
11-17-03, 01:24 AM
I think some of us with 20s on our GS & LS need big brakes too. Not that our brakes are bad but I do feel the braking distance has increased with my 20 inch BRABUS (my LS has 2 piston calipers up front.) I also drove my friend's GS400 with 20 inch AutoCouture Supreme, and the brake was mushy:(

LXOGOOD
11-17-03, 06:04 PM
I'm glad this topic came up... This year at the SEMA show Manaray and I noticed many SUV's with 22" wheels and up rolling on stock brakes. However, all the import cars with 17" wheels and up, upgraded their brakes and rotors. It goes to show you that the "bling" factor is more important than the saftey factor. Scary IMO....

bitkahuna
11-18-03, 05:02 PM
With my 19's, upgrading my front brakes (to StopTechs) has made a HUGE improvement in brake feel and responsiveness. The brake pedal feel was definitely mushy before. No more!

Manaray
11-19-03, 05:02 AM
The way I look at it, most of these SUV guys aren't about performance in ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. They just watch MTV Cribs and see "ballers" rolling in their H2's with some 28's so they think if they put some 24's on their '92 Ford Exploder, they too can be "ballers".....

Larger wheels should definitely be accompanied by larger brakes....can't wait to get my new ones. Remember Ken...and Steve...and Ed...it's our little secret... :)

D2-AUTOSPORT
11-19-03, 05:13 AM
Originally posted by Manaray
They just watch MTV Cribs and see "ballers" rolling in their H2's with some 28's so they think if they put some 24's on their '92 Ford Exploder, they too can be "ballers".....


Thats is sooo funny!! I once saw a guy with a 92 Ford Explorer and he had 20" wheels with add on spinners!! He also had a stereo and monitors. Sad part was the truck was a junk heap, it was all faded and stuff. He was sitting up in there leaning like he was driving a Cayenne or something!!

I have seen MANY custom shops recommend larger brakes for the guys with the 22+ sized wheels. I think it may be even more so, because the vehicle is so heavy to begin with, has a very high center of gravity, etc. Add those 26" wheels, and the problem just got worse!! Plus the stock brakes look FUNNY behind a 26" wheel!!

ATSOU
11-19-03, 12:39 PM
Originally posted by Manaray
The way I look at it, most of these SUV guys aren't about performance in ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. They just watch MTV Cribs and see "ballers" rolling in their H2's with some 28's so they think if they put some 24's on their '92 Ford Exploder, they too can be "ballers".....


I'm not the only person here in ClubLexus who hates MTV Cribs:D
Good one Mike.....:thumbup:

D2-AUTOSPORT
11-19-03, 12:50 PM
Originally posted by Lonely Toothbrush
I'm not the only person here in ClubLexus who hates MTV Cribs:D
Good one Mike.....:thumbup:

I dont hate MTV Cribs at all, somepeople on there have nice things and taste, like Babyface or Baby from Cash Money (his beach home is nice, not the house with the stupid fur bed spreads). The bad thing about MTV Cribs is it promotes a lifestyle that the average joe cannot attain, but rather than work hard and aspire to greatness, these lames out here go buy the cheapest, fastest, baller on a budget start up kit:

1. Older beat up car in bad mechanical condition, needs a tune up, brakes, a paint job etc.

2. Rather than repair said vehicle they spend money on
wheels (cheapest, shiniest thing avail at the time),
add on spinners (same as wheels)
a stereo (with the wires hanging all over) to rattle the loose body panels on that old car)
if they really wanna ball 1 gooseneck TV with fuzzy reception and interference from the cars
altenator!

THAT is what I dont like about cribs! LOL

Oh yeah, then they pull up next to you and give that "I'm ballin in a Lex too" nod! I just love that!

99GS300
11-19-03, 01:16 PM
a secondary issue I have about these 24-26" wheels is the width. The wheels keep getting taller, but not any wider, so I think this creates a huge safety concern. From the research I have done, your wheel should be 1/2 as wide as it is tall, so these new wheels should be 12 or 13" wide, and I don't think they are.

Am I correct in my logic?