Wheel, Wheel Size Pros/Cons Options

[Skate4mindgame]

What size wheels do you think you get the best performance out of?

What are some of your opinions?

[97GTinKC]

QUOTE (97GTinKC @ Oct 18, 2004 - 6:27 PM)
An 18" wheel with a 35 series tire CAN be the same height and weight as a stock 15" GT wheel - depends on brands, so it wouldnt make any performance difference unless it is lighter overall


Not entirely true. A larger diameter wheel will have more of its mass farther out from the center of the wheel, thereby making the car work harder to rotate it, even given the same weight as a smaller diameter.

The best performance gain will be seen with the lightest wheel in the smallest diameter that will fit over your brakes. This is probably going to be a 14". Run whatever tire fits your application best, speedo error be damned."
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I knew someone would point this out, however, I think you would be hard pressed to measure the difference in the real world. the tread area of the tire (assuming you dont change overall diameter) will be the same approximate mass regardless of rim/sidewall dimensions, and I would bet any weight gain in the larger rim diameter would be offset by less sidewall weight in the tire, after all, an 18x7" rim will have an added rim area of approx a 9.4"x7" hunk of aluminum + 3" longer spokes when compared to a stock 15"x7". the sidewall area is a considerably larger chunk of rubber area which shrinks considerably on a 35 series 18" tire, again, it all depends on the particular wheel and tire design, if you pick one with really fat, heavy spokes along with a heavy tire, you could hurt perf.

All of the above assumes you are staying with the stock tire outer diameter, Along with weight considerations taller tires will hurt acceleration performance while shorter will increase perf. / you are effectively changing final drive ratios. ie: 1 turn of engine moves car x amount of distance, it will take more power to move it the farther distance per revolution on a taller tire. OK, I'm done, my head is starting to hurt thinking thru all this.