Does bigger wheels slow your car down much?

[Slam32]

Does bigger wheels slow your car down much? Also what about chrome wheels? DO they slow it down to any noticable difference?

[knowledgefreak]

taller tires yes will change your gear ratio.

[Shadly]

No, tire diameter will affect your launch, but not wheel diameter. If you are using big wheels(17-18in), just lower your aspect ratio(30 or 40 series). Chrome is heavy. If you chrome a wheel, you increase your rolling resistance. It will slow your launch and increase your stopping distance. No self-respecting drag racer races with chrome wheels. Polished wheels are a different story altogether.

[shortdog273]

Isnt the ratio like a tenth off your drag times for every 100lbs? I know my 18s gotta be at least be 50lbs heavier than my 16s.

[Patrick Javert]

no, no, no. only 20" rims that are cast are anywhere near 50 lbs! yours may be near 35-40, at most. I suggest that you dyno your car before you put different rims/tires on and then after you put rims/tires on. you will be able to tell then how much horsepower those new cool lookin rims cost yan in power to the ground.

[scooby]

Bigger diameter rim also normally means wider rims also. This is actually a huge advantage though. The wider rim as well as larger diameter creat a larger contact patch to the road. This allows you to maneuver much easier and take turns faster. ANd yes weight will slow you down. For every 10 lbs of rotating mass it adds 100 lbs to your car. That is why aluminum flywheels are such a big hit.

[HAZ-Matt]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by scooby:
For every 10 lbs of rotating mass it adds 100 lbs to your car.<hr></blockquote>

Can you show me how you derived that relationship?

(just kidding)

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by shortdog273:
Isnt the ratio like a tenth off your drag times for every 100lbs?<hr></blockquote>

That seems kind of low if we are talking rotational mass.

[hawgs]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by knowledgefreak:
taller tires yes will change your gear ratio.<hr></blockquote>

so taller tires bend the teeth on your ring and pinon and therefore "change" the gear ratio? id like to see this happen, cause i dont see how it is possible

[HAZ-Matt]

What he meant was that if you get new wheels that are taller or shorter than it will be like changing gear ratios, cause the mechanical advantage will be changed.

[DominusEtDeusNatus]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by hawgs:


so taller tires bend the teeth on your ring and pinon and therefore "change" the gear ratio? id like to see this happen, cause i dont see how it is possible<hr></blockquote>

Putting tall tires on a car will make it go farther with each revolution. It's like lowering your gear ratio. 3.42s with 26inch tires might only be as effective as 3.23s with 28inch tires. Not accurate, just to illustrate a point.

[hawgs]

i know what he was trying to say, i was just being an smartass :D