Bigger tires (these are wider with shorter sidewalls) are in style for many car owners, but even when they're not in style, there's an advantage to getting slightly bigger tires than the ones your car came with when you bought it. Note that these are not giant tires that elevate you above traffic, but maybe just an inch or so bigger. This slight increase in width holds a number of advantages for your car and for your driving.

More Stability for Light Cars

First, if you drive a very lightweight economy car, you may have noticed how strong winds can make handling the car a pain in the rear, and your arms and shoulders. Upgrading to a slightly wider tire gives your car more stability and makes handling the car easier, which means you have an easier time driving it in windy conditions. You may still have to keep a strong grip on the wheel, but you won't be fighting your car as much if it tries to change lanes due to wind pushing it over.

Better Road Grip in General

That same grippiness will help you in general even if your car weighs more and doesn't normally have handling problems. You'll notice that the car just seems to drive more smoothly and handle a lot better, especially around corners. The wider tread increases the grip of the tire on the road's surface, so your car becomes a lot more responsive to your handling of the steering wheel and brakes. And again, you don't have to increase the tire size by a lot. Just getting something a little wider can help noticeably.

Shorter Sidewalls = Less Opportunity for Cracks

If you've ever had a flat tire, you likely know about the worry that the sidewall will be cracked, making the tire impossible to repair. While you'll still have sidewalls with wider tires, the sidewalls will be a bit shorter. You'll end up with less sidewall real estate that could cause a problem. That's unfortunately not a guarantee that nothing will happen, but it's still something that may make you feel calmer should you encounter that situation again.

Go to a tire shop or check their catalog online to find tires that are compatible with your car. Ask the staff there about how customers seem to feel about each option (you may find reviews on the store's website, too), and choose the tires that will be safest to use on the road for your car.