This, of course, is an article talking about performance improvements (handling) of plussing up the rim size while reducing the tire profile. As opposed to those who, ummmm . . . . up the rim size for a 'certain' donk look.

The "not too bright" ones here in the LA area put these big 26" wagon wheels on cars like Lexus LS 400, Chevy Monte Carlo (1981-87) - and Regal, Cutlass Supremes, SC400, 1979 era Impala and other "great" cars.

They use cheapo Chinese tires like Sunny (yes there is a Sunny tire) or other no name junk. These cars look like a joke as they drive down the street. Those wheels must be pretty heavy, so unsprung weight increases. Super thin sidewalls mean no protection for the rim and no cushion for the suspension. Of course that doesn't matter when you have 4 18" subwoofers rattling the deck lid loose!

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

If you do put larger wheels on your car, make sure they are of high quality. Cracking rims is a big problem and those cheapo off brand wheels could mean big trouble, an accident and damage to the suspension of the car.

I put some 17" (not considered that big) AC Schnitzer wheels on my 540i. 235/45/17's that give me a lower profile than the factory tires and AC does a great job making the rims look bigger than they are (they look like 18's). Most importantly, they are strong and help the handling of the car. I like the performance increase and the style of the rims. This was one of my upgrades that turned out good.

I am 100% in agreement with the author of this blog. That was the very first thought that crossed my mind when I first saw low profile tires on a car. I knew that the wheels would be easily damaged from pot holes and curb jumping. Some people want the "cool" look. If they can afford it that's their problem. I am smart enough to know better. Even with regular profile tires, my son was able to bend a wheel when he ran off the shoulder of the road with my truck; new wheel; $120.

A couple years ago, I was driving my M45 on a canyon road and I hit a pot hole with the right front tire. It wasn't a big pot hole and not too deep either. Since I was on a canyon road, I couldn't have been doing more than 45 mph. Right after hitting it, I heard a scraping noise as I went around corners.

I took the car to the shop and my mechanic showed me that I had bent the wheel. Where the bend was, it was rubbing the strut, so we rotated tires and the noise went away. The bend was on the inside edge of the wheel, so my thinking is that it bent when I was coming out of the pot hole. About a year later, the tire started leaking air. I thought I had a nail in it, so I brought it to the tire shop and he gave me the bad news. Where the bend was, the wheel began to crack. It was a factory wheel, which was chrome plated, so the replacement cost was pretty high. The interesting this is that the tire did not bubble or show any signs of damage.

The wheels are factory 18's with 235/45/18 tires. Slightly low profile, but nothing like those crazy 26" 25 series tires.

"...Beyond following the trend, it seems a decent way to firm up the ride, add some cornering manners, and update the look of your ride, all in one swell foop...."

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I don't know if 'swell foop' was intentional or accidental, but either way, it has brightened my day.

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I use to think the phrase was 'fowl swoop'... I knew the original reference was from Shakespeare and that it had to do with a bird of prey swooping down to kill, but I mixed up the correct wording somehow.

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I have run across a couple people who either thought at that time or had previously thought the phrase was 'foul swoop' or 'full swoop', but never in my life have I see this particular incarnation; 'swell foop'.

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Just in case anyone is wondering the proper term is 'fell swoop', so perhaps 'swell foop' was just a spoonerism typo. Until I know otherwise, I'm going to be on the listen-out for people talking about accomplishing things in one swell foop.

You mean like a "smart feller"

...or a 'whole nuther'. Actually 'whole nuther' is one of my favorites to hear. I have to resist the urge to inquire if fractional nuthers are available or if availability is strictly quantized.

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...oh wait, you mean the spoonerism. Yeah, like that.

One fell swoop = to achieve all the things with one action.

Thank you. I understood the meaning even of 'one fell swoop' when I thought the term was 'one fowl swoop'....which actually isn't that unreasonable given its source referencing a hell-kite.

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'Swell foop', as it appears in the article, isn't quite the same thing.