Rim width

The nominal distance between the rim flanges. The width of a rim is an important factor in the handling characteristics of a car: a rim that is too narrow in relation to the tire width will cause the tire to distort sideways under fast cornering. Unduly wide rims on an ordinary car tend to give a rather harsh ride because the sidewalls of the tire have insufficient curvature to make them flex properly over irregularities in the road. See also nominal rim width.