Hi guys, is it true that having a bigger wheel size 18" rims versus 16" or smaller is more fuel efficient?
The rationalization is that for every rotation of the tire it equates to the size of the wheel in distance.
Thoughts?
Hi guys, is it true that having a bigger wheel size 18" rims versus 16" or smaller is more fuel efficient?
The rationalization is that for every rotation of the tire it equates to the size of the wheel in distance.
Thoughts?
On the opposite the wheels and tires will be heavier. Thus requiring more power and fuel to propel.Originally Posted by Kaelito;[URL="tel:1338876"
2010 Black Mazdaspeed 3 - Lightly modded
You're thinking of overall diameter. Changing overall -diameter- of the wheel and tire combination can affect fuel economy. If you keep the same diameter combination and increase wheel size, you should use a slimmer profile tire to compensate.
If the diameter is the same then changing wheel size can go either way because you need to look at the overall weight of the wheel and tire combination.
Let's say your wheel is 20 pounds and your tire is 20 pounds. The total weight is 40.
If you move to a heavier 24 pounds wheel (regardless how big it is) but your tire drops to 16 pounds, the total is still 40. Fuel economy would be neutral, and in general fuel economy would be as well. But this is rarely the case, you usually end up slightly heavier.
This is assuming that the contact patch stays the same size and you don't change the tire compound (wider tires and grippier tires will use more fuel in general).
Side note: heavier setups will impact acceleration (marginally, like fractions of a second), steering response, and braking distance due to the increased force needed to give them momentum and to reduce said momentum when braking. You could, in theory, improve these things by keeping the tire the same and moving to an identical size, but lighter wheel.
Side note 2: a bajillion other things will affect steering feel, acceleration and braking as well but for the sake of this post I am assuming all things are equal except wheel diameter.
Last edited by Dubcee; 10-25-2016 at 06:58 AM.
Never stop zoom-zooming
Overall wheel diameter will not effect FE
Overall wheel weight will.
Weight will effect it as will diameter. As you increase the diameter, the weight is distributed away from the center making it more difficult for your motor to move it, even if the weight is the same. It has to do with leverage and balance. This is what I found with my upsize on the old M3. Two twenty lb wheels with two different diameters will have different FEs. The smaller diameter will have better fuel economy.
Thanks for your feedback guys. Contemplating on getting 18's. But I might just stick with 16's for now.
Use the 16's for winter and get the 18's, not going to have a drastic impact in fuel efficiency.Originally Posted by Kaelito;[URL="tel:1338974"