Let G be a finitely generated group equipped with a finite symmetric generating set and the associated word length function | · |. We study the behavior of the probability of return for random walks driven by symmetric measures µ that are such that ρ(|x|)µ(x) < ∞ for increasing regularly varying or slowly varying functions ρ, for instance,ǫ , ǫ > 0. For this purpose we develop new relations between the isoperimetric profiles associated with different symmetric probability measures. These techniques allow us to obtain a sharp L 2 -version of Erschler's inequality concerning the Følner functions of wreath products. Examples and assorted applications are included.