10-04-2023, 07:58 PM
|
#1 (permalink)
|
EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Oct 2023
Location: MD
Posts: 2
Thanks: 2
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
putting smaller rear wheels on a gen2 Volt
So I love the volts (and my egolf)
Anyway the TPMS sensor went out on a back wheel..
I found a deal online used, for 3 chevy sonic wheels 15" for $75 total.
( also had 4 spare wheels from converting my other volt from volt wheels to cruze wheels) I was able to sell one volt wheel on ebay for $400.
So anyway seeing that i needed a sensor.. I swapped the 2 rear wheels for
sonic wheels.. (so Now I have 5 spare volt wheels and 1 spare sonic wheel that i carry around for a spare. If i was only local i'd leave it at home, but i drive 2 hours away often enough, so it's in the rear). If i get a flat on the front, i'll swap the other front to a rear so the front 2 wheels have the same size to get home, since it's more important for them to have the same size up front in the drive train.
in theory since the sonic wheels are slightly smaller, they should turn more when slowing down and generate more regen power right?
Also the smaller size should be more aerodynamic and a smaller footprint on the ground to have less surface area available to pick up nails. Sure in theory there would be less contact for braking but I'm not speeding along.. i'm tryig to get teh best range. Also the 15" tires should be cheaper than the 17" if needing to be replaced later. (at that point i'd probably be switching to all cruze or sonice wheels, since the volt wheels are more valuable to sell)
Eventually I want to put on taller narrower tires but why waste the ones with teh stock size for right now and why spend money for something i dont' need right now. I think they are lighter too?
Right now i'm ahead of the game $325 and have the benefits listed above.
It doesn't seem to cause any problems..
Thoughts?
Last edited by DannyEcoEV; 10-04-2023 at 08:05 PM..
|
|
|
Today
|
|
|
Other popular topics in this forum...
|
|
|
10-04-2023, 10:18 PM
|
#2 (permalink)
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: northwest of normal
Posts: 27,751
Thanks: 7,796
Thanked 8,597 Times in 7,080 Posts
|
I take it that you're taling about a -2 fitment, 17->15. Rim diameter and width is just the ball park. The tire width and aspect ratio are still TBD.
For instance the front of the Superbeetle runs 165/50-15, when historically I've run 145-15s. Rolling diameter is the same, but the contact patch is wider.
A narrow tire on a wide rim has better aerodynamics. Steers like a tractor across ruts, but won't carry the weight. The brakes can overpower the tires, downhill in the mountains.
__________________
.
.Without freedom of speech we wouldn't know who all the idiots are. -- anonymous poster
____________________
.
."We're deeply sorry." -- Pfizer
|
|
|
10-04-2023, 11:06 PM
|
#3 (permalink)
|
EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Oct 2023
Location: MD
Posts: 2
Thanks: 2
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
i think stock is like 215/50/17 on the volt
and on the sonic its like 195/65/15..
So it's smaller in height and width..
|
|
|
10-11-2023, 05:54 AM
|
#4 (permalink)
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 5,019
Thanks: 2,873
Thanked 2,516 Times in 1,556 Posts
|
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you only get regen from the front wheels. The rears are only along for the ride.
Generally speaking, a taller wheel (all else equal) has lower rolling resistance and weighs more. A wider wheel is going to have marginally more aerodynamic drag.
|
|
|
10-11-2023, 04:09 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: oregon
Posts: 1,066
Thanks: 1
Thanked 553 Times in 442 Posts
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ecky
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you only get regen from the front wheels. The rears are only along for the ride.
Generally speaking, a taller wheel (all else equal) has lower rolling resistance and weighs more. A wider wheel is going to have marginally more aerodynamic drag.
|
Isn’t more weight bad?
|
|
|
10-11-2023, 04:29 PM
|
#6 (permalink)
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 5,019
Thanks: 2,873
Thanked 2,516 Times in 1,556 Posts
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phase
Isn’t more weight bad?
|
Usually. You win some and lose some from upsizing a wheel/tire.
|
|
|
10-11-2023, 06:06 PM
|
#7 (permalink)
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: northwest of normal
Posts: 27,751
Thanks: 7,796
Thanked 8,597 Times in 7,080 Posts
|
Rubber weighs less than steel and about the same as aluminum (IIRC) so aspect ratio comes into play.
__________________
.
.Without freedom of speech we wouldn't know who all the idiots are. -- anonymous poster
____________________
.
."We're deeply sorry." -- Pfizer
|
|
|
10-11-2023, 06:36 PM
|
#8 (permalink)
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: oregon
Posts: 1,066
Thanks: 1
Thanked 553 Times in 442 Posts
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ecky
Usually. You win some and lose some from upsizing a wheel/tire.
|
when i get a 2023/2024 prius, i wa thinking of down sizing the stock 17 inch wheels to 15 inch wheels like last gen prius. was wondering how that would affect things
|
|
|
10-11-2023, 06:49 PM
|
#9 (permalink)
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 5,019
Thanks: 2,873
Thanked 2,516 Times in 1,556 Posts
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phase
when i get a 2023/2024 prius, i wa thinking of down sizing the stock 17 inch wheels to 15 inch wheels like last gen prius. was wondering how that would affect things
|
I'd guess you would get 2-5mpg from it. Just make sure it fits over the brakes.
|
|
|
10-12-2023, 09:05 AM
|
#10 (permalink)
|
Tire Geek
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Let's just say I'm in the US
Posts: 794
Thanks: 4
Thanked 388 Times in 237 Posts
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phase
when i get a 2023/2024 prius, i wa thinking of down sizing the stock 17 inch wheels to 15 inch wheels like last gen prius. was wondering how that would affect things
|
Too many variables. The RR varies wildly within a given tire size, but the difference between the same tire in different sizes is fairly small.
|
|
|
|