Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Wheel size affects fuel economy?

  1. #1
    Newbie
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Scarborough
    Posts
    82
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
    Mentioned
    15 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Wheel size affects fuel economy?

    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?

  2. #2
    Moderator S.F.W.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    North York
    Age
    44
    Posts
    18,144
    Thanks
    963
    Thanked 1,401 Times in 741 Posts
    Mentioned
    416 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Wheel size affects fuel economy?

    Quote Originally Posted by Kaelito;[URL="tel:1338876"
    1338876[/URL]]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.
    2010 Black Mazdaspeed 3 - Lightly modded

  3. #3
    Jr Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Ride
    2012 Volvo C30 T5
    Posts
    275
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 72 Times in 51 Posts
    Mentioned
    14 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Wheel size affects fuel economy?

    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

  4. #4
    Sr Member Default User's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    9,489
    Thanks
    1,366
    Thanked 1,785 Times in 923 Posts
    Mentioned
    84 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Wheel size affects fuel economy?

    Overall wheel diameter will not effect FE

    Overall wheel weight will.

  5. #5
    Newbie
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    51
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
    Mentioned
    2 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Wheel size affects fuel economy?

    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.

  6. #6
    Newbie
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Scarborough
    Posts
    82
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
    Mentioned
    15 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Wheel size affects fuel economy?

    Thanks for your feedback guys. Contemplating on getting 18's. But I might just stick with 16's for now.

  7. #7
    Moderator S.F.W.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    North York
    Age
    44
    Posts
    18,144
    Thanks
    963
    Thanked 1,401 Times in 741 Posts
    Mentioned
    416 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Wheel size affects fuel economy?

    Quote Originally Posted by Kaelito;[URL="tel:1338974"
    1338974[/URL]]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.

  8. #8
    Newbie frankjames's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Milton
    Posts
    126
    Thanks
    31
    Thanked 25 Times in 21 Posts
    Mentioned
    1 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Wheel size affects fuel economy?

    Quote Originally Posted by Kaelito View Post
    Thanks for your feedback guys. Contemplating on getting 18's. But I might just stick with 16's for now.
    I have my stock 16's as my winter tires, and 18's for my summer times, and i don't see any difference in gas mileage.

Similar Threads

  1. Fuel Economy
    By PiCASSO in forum Mazda3 General Discussion
    Replies: 1460
    Last Post: 01-03-2020, 10:30 AM
  2. Fuel economy worse after 80,000 km fuel service
    By Fergie in forum General Lounge
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 07-29-2010, 12:12 PM
  3. CBE Fuel Economy
    By Brownsound in forum Problems with the Mazda3
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 01-25-2009, 02:19 PM
  4. CAI + Fuel Economy
    By miggiddy in forum Engine & Drivetrain
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 11-04-2004, 01:28 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •