Thread: Wheels/tires
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Old 05-16-2013, 03:06 AM   #7 (permalink)
LeSabreT
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The Beauty - '91 Buick Regal Limited
90 day: 24.61 mpg (US)

Elsa - '95 Buick Riviera Supercharged
90 day: 32.3 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CapriRacer View Post
First, changing to a larger diameter wheel doesn't do much for the steady state rolling resistance. The change in tire size has very little affect. So unless the change makes a different set of tires available to you, I wouldn't go there.

But what about the non-steady state - the acceleration and braking? It depends on the weight. Some wheels may be lighter - that would be advantageous. But what's important is the inertia - and the polar moment of inertia at that - something you can't measure without specialized equipment.

Other should chime in, but I am of the opinion that this is NOT an avenue that is advantageous.

- BUT -

If you can increase the diameter of the tire, that might be advantageous - and you might not need to change wheels to get there.
My current size (P215/65R15) is pretty limited for tire choices, especially LRR - there are like three LRR tires available, and one of them is a snow tire (Michelin X-Ice2 or 3). Bumping it up to 16" would give me hundreds more tires to choose from.
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