How to avoid the wheels of misfortune

DEAR CAR TALK: A b u d dy o f mi n e j u s t b o u g h t a n e w L e x u s E S 350, and he ordered it with 19-inch wheels. Is there an advantage to having larger wheels on a car? CAR TALK: Well, most people think they look cooler. I think that’s the prime motivating factor.

They do also improve handling. Generally speaking, the opening for the wheeland-tire combination (the wheel well) is only so large.

So when you use a larger wheel, you usually pair it with a tire that has a shorter sidewall. Tires with short sidewalls are called “low-pro- file” tires. And when you turn, those low-profifile tires have less sidewall that can flex. That makes the car’s t urni ng re sponse a l i t t l e sharper. So if you have a car that’s not known for its sharp handling — like a Lexus ES 350, or a Lincoln Navigator — you can improve the handling a bit by getting larger wheels and having sidewalls that flflex less.

The downside is that those low-profifile tires degrade your ride quality. All that extra sidewall, with its greater f l exibilit y, helps soak up bumps and road imperfections, which softens your ride. So it’s a trade-offff.

Exquisite style meets exceptional performance in Chrysler 200. Featuring three recently introduced trim levels (Touring, Limited Platinum and 200C Platinum), the Chrysler 200 provides an abundance of exciting features including: Uconnect 8.4 touchscreen with SiriusXM Radio, leather steering wheel, 18-inch wheels, HID headlamps with LED daytime running lamps and LED fog lamps as well as an Alpine 10-speaker, 506-watt premium audio system.

The 200 exceeds expectations for a midsize car with an elegant exterior design, a thoughtful, beautifully crafted interior and an exceptional driving experience. With 60 available safety and security features, an available, best-in-class all-wheel-drive system, easy-to-use, state-of-the-art technology, the 2017 Chrysler 200 is a car that customers will be proud to own.

The Chrysler 200 delivers beautiful craftsmanship using high-quality materials, understated elegance, is loaded with state-of-the-art technology and safety features and delivers highway fuel economy of up to 36 miles per gallon.

The 2017 Chrysler 200 features pioneering drivetrain technology, including a standard nine-speed automatic transmission, state-of-the-art electronic shifting and an all-wheel-drive system with an automatic, fully disconnecting rear axle, improving fuel economy by reducing parasitic loss when all-wheel drive is not needed.

The 200 LX model is powered by the 2.4-liter MultiAir2 Tigershark I-4 engine, which produces 184 horsepower and 173 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to the nine-speed automatic transmission.

The 200 Limited model features a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine that produces 295 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque..