Why were wagon wheels bigger in back than in the front? (like an old stagecoach)?

Question

Why were wagon wheels bigger in back than in the front? (like an old stagecoach)?

Answer 1

It had to do with the difference between the way a wagon steers and a car steers.  In a car, the front axle stays in the same place and the wheels pivot on either side of the axle.  In a wagon, the axle itself pivots around a central point.  This works better on a towed vehicle, which a wagon is.

Because the axle pivots, the wheels go -under- the wagon when it goes around a corner, so they need to be smaller.

Answer 2

Add in some comments from the answers already listed....and then....

Think of a modern day farm tractor.

Answer 3

The front wheels were smaller because they were fitted to the steering mechanism. If the steered wheels were too large they would just hit the carriage body when turned left or right, being smaller makes them fit under the body and allows them to be turned.