Why are van wheels so small? Why are van tires narrower than sedan tires?

Vans can be seen everywhere. Many people use them to carry goods, and some also use them for small passenger transport. If you look closely, you will find that the wheels of vans are smaller and narrower than those of ordinary cars. So why is this?

Why are the wheels of the van so small?

The tires of a van are small to ensure driving force and body height.

Vans generally use small-displacement engines, and their power is not outstanding. In addition, most domestic vans are used as passenger cars or trucks. It is relatively rare for one person to drive, and they are basically fully loaded. As a result, vans have poor power but often pull heavy loads, because torque is equal to force × lever arm. Under the premise of a certain output torque of the half shaft, the larger the tire, the larger the lever arm, and the smaller the driving force obtained on the tire. Therefore, vans generally use smaller wheels to ensure power.

On the other hand, most vans are rear-wheel drive, but due to limited space and cost reasons, their chassis are not too complicated. Like rear-wheel drive cars, the drive shaft is generally designed in a recessed position on the chassis, while the drive shaft of a van is right under the chassis. This creates a greater vertical distance between the axle and the chassis of the van. If tires that are too large are used, the ground clearance of the chassis will be too large. Vans have a large center of gravity, and increasing the ground clearance will affect stability.

Why do vans have narrower tires than cars?

Narrow tires are mainly considered for cost and economy. Narrow tires are cheaper, which is the simplest reason. In addition, the design speed of vans is not high, and many vans do not have power steering. If wide tires are used, the steering wheel will be heavier. In addition, wide tires will also increase rolling resistance and increase fuel consumption. Therefore, under the premise of meeting the load-bearing capacity, manufacturers will of course choose the narrowest tires.

Why aren't there any black vans?

1. Dirt-resistant

Among the colors on the surface of a car, black is the most dirty, while white and silver are less dirty.

2. Security

According to expert survey data, in traffic accidents, black cars occupy the top proportion, while white and silver cars are at the bottom. This is because black is a dark color and absorbs sunlight, so we often visually find that black cars are later than cars of other colors.

3. Endothermicity

Of all the colors, black absorbs the most heat, and vans are often of lower quality, so when you drive a black van out to pick up goods or do work in the summer, it's like being in a sauna.

4. Cost Issues

Generally speaking, the formula of black paint is more complicated and the process is more troublesome, but the manufacturing cost of the van is relatively low. The gray paint process is simpler and the cost is low.