Smart car wheels aren’t what most Americans are used to with a small car. The standard factory wheels fit a 155/60R15 front tire on a 4.5Jx15. The rear wheel is a 5.5Jx15 that fits a 175/55R15 tire. This was in the engineers design from the start. A larger wheel is capable of obtaining better fuel consumption. This is basic physics that most small car manufacturers forgot about in the past.
From the factory, these cars are made to fit a 15-inch wheel, but that hasn’t stopped aftermarket companies from offering owners more options. With the recent development of low-profile tyres, 16-inch and 17-inch wheels can be fitted to a smartfortwo car without any body modifications. This requires a very low profile tire like the Pirelli P Nero Zero in 195/40/17. Some owners have complained about periodic rubbing, but that’s to be expected when putting a wheel 2 inches larger than stock on a car.
The aftermarket 16-inch wheels are made with the same bolt pattern to fit the smartfortwo car as the standard 15-inch wheels. The biggest complaint is that the ride is not that smooth. What most owners don’t realize is that a low-profile tire removes some of the shock absorption that a regular tire absorbs. The ride is stiffer with these low profile tires, but cornering ability is increased with a more stable tire surface. There is a give and take. Deciding which you prefer is a personal choice when it comes to the wheels on your smart car.