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Old 01-27-2009, 09:51 PM   #14 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hypermiler01 View Post
If everything else is equal then it will be. Less mass, less volume of material, and less frontal area.


Some of the variables of a tire actually have to be unequal to create equal circumstances. This kind of throws off the intuitive side of things, because of things like Aspect Ratio (the second number) which determines the sidewall height based on the Width of the tire's tread bearing area.

So would "all things equal" mean a 175/60 tire versus a 155/60 tire?

Tire a has 105mm sidewall, while tire B only has 93mm, but the aspect ratio is equal.

So if you make the sidewall height equal, the aspect ratio compared to the width of tread bearing surface is then unequal. Add into this that each aspect ratio and width comparison has different flex characteristics, and it quickly becomes obvious that "all things equal" does not exist for tires.

I would have to agree with Frank Lee here.
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