Column - Why is even a Renault Scénic these days on 20-inch wheels?

Laurens van den Acker - the Dutch design director of Renault - wanted to rid the midi MPV of its dull image at the time, and those huge light-metal jets were the ideal instrument for this. The fact that the interior space of the Scénic experienced an inversely proportional growth turned out to be of secondary importance. A textbook example of form for function; how so 'multi purpose vehicle’?

In the 1980s, 13 inches was the standard size

And it goes on and on; especially with electric cars. Many medium-sized EVs are at least 19 inches, but lease drivers eagerly check the optional 20- and 21-inch wheels. That gigantic growth has gone fast. In the seventies and eighties, 13 inches was still pretty much the standard size. Saab was an outsider, mounting 15-inch wheels as standard.

Alloy wheels were then called 'sports rims'

Alloy wheels were rare and were still called 'sports rims'. These were usually combined with extra-low 70 series tires, with the height being 70 percent of the width, instead of the usual 80 percent. Around today's extreme wheels are often 40 or 35 series tires ...

"They've gone mad at the factory!"

The big wheel craze started in the late 90s. At the time, I worked for a car importer and I can still remember the head-shaking colleague who had just tested the new top model. “They have gone mad at the factory. It sits on 18-inch wheels - with those flat tires there is nothing left of the suspension comfort!” Apparently he thought the increased steering precision, the improved grip and the shorter braking distance on a dry road surface were less important. Although there was something to be said for a car with 360 hp.