|
That CVT would be great, since you don't have to actually change gear ratios to get better mileage, nor does tire size really relate to RPM at cruising speeds (acceleration is a different story).
I can't speak for my car when it comes to different wheel weights, but driving other cars with obviously heavier wheels, they can take hills easily. With my small wheels, I drop 2-5-sometimes 10 MPH trying to go uphill, but with my Dad's V6 Accord, I can climb up hills with no problem. This is not because it has a bigger engine (I don't think since it should've been on 3 cylinder mode), but because it weighs more. It makes sense that a heavier car should maintain speed uphill because of how inertia works, but at some point on a really long hill, the heavier vehicle will slow down much faster than a lighter car because gravity will catch up to it.
All-In-All I wouldn't worry too much about losing speed uphill. Once you get more used to the wheels, hills won't be as much of a problem. My solution would be to speed up a lot before the hill then coast or DWL up the hill.
__________________
|