Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Success Stories
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 03-08-2013, 03:09 PM   #71 (permalink)
Master EcoWalker
 
RedDevil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
Posts: 3,998

Red Devil - '11 Honda Insight Elegance
Team Honda
90 day: 47.72 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,711
Thanked 2,245 Times in 1,454 Posts
It has to be said, the way you use your car may influence what tire size is best.



Guess this size gives best FE in severe traffic jams, and lets you be the only one home in time for dinner...

__________________
2011 Honda Insight + HID, LEDs, tiny PV panel, extra brake pad return springs, neutral wheel alignment, 44/42 PSI (air), PHEV light (inop), tightened wheel nut.
lifetime FE over 0.2 Gmeter or 0.13 Mmile.


For confirmation go to people just like you.
For education go to people unlike yourself.
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to RedDevil For This Useful Post:
Cobb (03-08-2013)
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 03-18-2013, 01:21 PM   #72 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 70
Thanks: 2
Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts
this phenomena is well known among Prius owners, switch to 17" equipment and fuel economy goes out the window,usually to the tune of US 4 MPG. Although this is something I wanted to do, Im still looking at wheels but have been researching more exotic 15" dia wheels in an effort to drop more weight and make the best of it. If light is good, lighter with LRR tyres is even better, right?

We think stock 17" optional factory alloy wheels are 11kg and 15" alloy wheels are 7.4kg. Stock tyres in Au are 195/60 Green X, conservative pressures at 42 psi, unless you are fond of bone jarring in this aluminium chassis.

Handling isnt great in stock configuration, so in an effort to hold cornering speeds I figured being closer to the same speed would actually save me fuel, so I decided I actually needed a wider footprint and a lower car, in doing so I considered lowering the car and just using spacers on the wheels. People say handling is greatly improved lowering the car and fitting heavier sway bars. This is what it would look like [photoshop simulation]. But Im unsure about bearing loads on a FWD etc... by spacing the rims out 20mm rear and 12mm front.



and how it actually looks stock


Just maybe theres something wrong with me but I love this freakin car! Ive done 4.2 litres per 100kms for 1002 Kms on 44 litres using glide technique, ordinarily Prius is rated at 4.9 litres 100 Kms.

Last edited by sidecar; 03-18-2013 at 01:49 PM.. Reason: additions
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-18-2013, 01:53 PM   #73 (permalink)
Master EcoWalker
 
RedDevil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
Posts: 3,998

Red Devil - '11 Honda Insight Elegance
Team Honda
90 day: 47.72 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,711
Thanked 2,245 Times in 1,454 Posts
Maybe a silly idea, but how about painting the rim at the holes between the spokes to make the wheels look optically larger?
It might look like this: (MS Paint & stubby fingers)
__________________
2011 Honda Insight + HID, LEDs, tiny PV panel, extra brake pad return springs, neutral wheel alignment, 44/42 PSI (air), PHEV light (inop), tightened wheel nut.
lifetime FE over 0.2 Gmeter or 0.13 Mmile.


For confirmation go to people just like you.
For education go to people unlike yourself.
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2013, 10:54 AM   #74 (permalink)
EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: North Central Alabama
Posts: 572

Big Salsa - '04 Toyota Sienna LE

Silver - '10 Toyota Prius III
Thanks: 110
Thanked 123 Times in 71 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by sidecar View Post
Handling isnt great in stock configuration, so in an effort to hold cornering speeds I figured being closer to the same speed would actually save me fuel, so I decided I actually needed a wider footprint and a lower car, in doing so I considered lowering the car and just using spacers on the wheels. People say handling is greatly improved lowering the car and fitting heavier sway bars.
If you are talking about wanting better tracking, the 17's did a wonderful job at that. I wanted better FE, so I didn't want them. My wife didn't like the fact that the car "wouldn't steer back on it's own", so she didn't want them either. I currently have them sitting in our garage waiting to be sold on Craigslist. I figured when I list them, I will say that they greatly improve tracking.
__________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2013, 01:23 PM   #75 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 70
Thanks: 2
Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by wyatt View Post
If you are talking about wanting better tracking, the 17's did a wonderful job at that. I wanted better FE, so I didn't want them. My wife didn't like the fact that the car "wouldn't steer back on it's own", so she didn't want them either. I currently have them sitting in our garage waiting to be sold on Craigslist. I figured when I list them, I will say that they greatly improve tracking.
I always thought it more likely toe in/toe out settings are responsible for that, mine is the same. I am told that lowering them makes them a lot more stable, something of a transformation.
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2013, 01:26 PM   #76 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 70
Thanks: 2
Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by RedDevil View Post
Maybe a silly idea, but how about painting the rim at the holes between the spokes to make the wheels look optically larger?
It might look like this: (MS Paint & stubby fingers)
I couldnt see what you had done at first
......but while the difference is subtle, its there!
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2013, 02:13 PM   #77 (permalink)
EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: North Central Alabama
Posts: 572

Big Salsa - '04 Toyota Sienna LE

Silver - '10 Toyota Prius III
Thanks: 110
Thanked 123 Times in 71 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by sidecar View Post
I always thought it more likely toe in/toe out settings are responsible for that, mine is the same. I am told that lowering them makes them a lot more stable, something of a transformation.
I can only answer by saying that my car was much more "responsive" with the 17's. It tracked better, and turning was more "instantaneous". I didn't want them because of the relatively poor FE. This was confirmed when the wife complained about these trates when they were on her car. Her "problems" went away when we swapped back to the 15s.
__________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2013, 02:16 PM   #78 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 70
Thanks: 2
Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by wyatt View Post
I can only answer by saying that my car was much more "responsive" with the 17's. It tracked better, and turning was more "instantaneous". I didn't want them because of the relatively poor FE. This was confirmed when the wife complained about these trates when they were on her car. Her "problems" went away when we swapped back to the 15s.
maybe 16's are the best compromise
I dont hear any FE complaints about them, and it 'seems' like there would be a handling improvement. Otherwise why the Touring version,... just a thought ..
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2013, 06:05 PM   #79 (permalink)
Master EcoWalker
 
RedDevil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
Posts: 3,998

Red Devil - '11 Honda Insight Elegance
Team Honda
90 day: 47.72 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,711
Thanked 2,245 Times in 1,454 Posts
My 16" rims on the Insight bring a sharpness to the steering that I have not experienced before.
My narrow winter tires on 15" steel rims were much less defined, though raising the pressure improved it somewhat. The FE on the 16" wasn't bad either, given that the Insight was still breaking in when I had them on, and I was fairly new to the game at the time. See my fuel log.

The 16" may give you 80% of the handling improvement that the 17" would yield compared to the 15"es at only 20% of their FE loss.
You just need to find the right tires for that rim.
__________________
2011 Honda Insight + HID, LEDs, tiny PV panel, extra brake pad return springs, neutral wheel alignment, 44/42 PSI (air), PHEV light (inop), tightened wheel nut.
lifetime FE over 0.2 Gmeter or 0.13 Mmile.


For confirmation go to people just like you.
For education go to people unlike yourself.

Last edited by RedDevil; 04-03-2013 at 05:18 PM..
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2013, 06:47 PM   #80 (permalink)
home of the odd vehicles
 
rmay635703's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere in WI
Posts: 3,874

Silver - '10 Chevy Cobalt XFE
Thanks: 495
Thanked 863 Times in 650 Posts
No offense but all the data says that the "more" rubber you have the lower the RR. To keep the same outer diameter what do you suppose happens to the rubber going from 15" to 17"?

I would say the old SR standard for tires was much better than having a rubber band around your rim and I really don't understand the fixation of driving on rims anyway.

Give me a smaller tire with lots of rubber

  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Tags
crr, ecopia, prius, rolling resistance

Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com