Is bigger better? Why you should avoid large rims on your 4x4

From the purple low-riders of Los Angeles to the blingedout SUVs in rap videos, we’ve all seen the trend. Huge wheels are now an intrinsic part of motoring culture and modern car design. While giant rims with painted-on tyres may look great stuffed under a wheel arch, they have several drawbacks which are most obviously highlighted off-road.

Take the new Land Rover Discovery, for example. Its standard fitment wheels range from 19- to 22-inch, a trend echoed on many premium four-wheel-drive SUVs.

This makes a mockery of the 4x4 capability of these vehicles. From personal experience and simple common sense, we know that