Back in the old days  when automobiles were first being made, the wheels had large diameters.  While most were 21 inch wheels, some were over thirty inches.  This was necessary because the roads were very uneven.  But, as the roads got better, cars started moving towards smaller wheels.

By the 50s, the standard wheel diameter for most passenger cars was 14 inches with 15 and 16 inch being the norm for trucks.  And smaller cars had 13 inch or even 12 inch wheels.

But lately, many passengers cars are now equipped with 17 inch wheels with some as high as 20 inches.  While I realize that the larger diameter wheels ride better, as the roads continue to deteriorate, they may be needed.