Stupid question...im sure the C class owners can shed some light
#1
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CLS350
Stupid question...im sure the C class owners can shed some light
Since most of you guys/gals have changed your rims ive got a question.
Ok ive been having some debate with someone regarding rims. I have never heard this before but it appears that my friend thinks that if you go with wider tires on your car it will slow the car down considerably. Im not just talking wider tires on your stock rims im talking about going from your standard 16" rims/tire to an 18" setup, say 8.5 and 9.5. I personally think it has nothing to do with the width of the tire, just the weight of the bigger rims and tires. Can anyone clarify?
Ok ive been having some debate with someone regarding rims. I have never heard this before but it appears that my friend thinks that if you go with wider tires on your car it will slow the car down considerably. Im not just talking wider tires on your stock rims im talking about going from your standard 16" rims/tire to an 18" setup, say 8.5 and 9.5. I personally think it has nothing to do with the width of the tire, just the weight of the bigger rims and tires. Can anyone clarify?
#2
I think whoever told you that is probably thinking....ummm....the wheels are bigger, the tires are wider, everything is heavier, then it must slow your car down. To some degree, he is partially right. But if someone is upgrading from 225/45/17 to 245/40/17, the car shouldn't be slower because the wider tire has more grip. The one small factor will be the 245 tire is heavier than the 225.
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07' ML350
it may slow it down a bit, but with c classes other than the c32 i dnt think u would even notice it/or matter. i ran 225/40r18s for about a year, then replaced to wider rear wheels and tires....255s, i didnt notice anything except for improved rear wheel grip on corners.
#5
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Going from 16s-18s will:
1. Slow down your accelleration - Nothing too noticeable
2. Make your speedometer inaccurate...by 1-3 MPH, nothing major.
It's not like your car is going to be as slow as a Geo Metro...you'll prob. like the look over the minimal performance drop.
Erik
1. Slow down your accelleration - Nothing too noticeable
2. Make your speedometer inaccurate...by 1-3 MPH, nothing major.
It's not like your car is going to be as slow as a Geo Metro...you'll prob. like the look over the minimal performance drop.
Erik
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2005 smart cabrio; 2008 Mercedes-Benz B 200
friction and weight
Yes, a wider tire will have a larger contact patch with the ground and therefore will have increased friction and rolling resistance. If this was not the case, then the roadholding would be no better when you go to a wider tire.
The increased friction/rolling resistance will worsen fuel economy and lower top speed somewhat.
Then there is the matter of the weight of the wheel/tire combination. The heavier it is, the higher the unsprung weight, which will actually counteract the enhanced grip and make the car a handful to drive on bumpy roads.
The increased friction/rolling resistance will worsen fuel economy and lower top speed somewhat.
Then there is the matter of the weight of the wheel/tire combination. The heavier it is, the higher the unsprung weight, which will actually counteract the enhanced grip and make the car a handful to drive on bumpy roads.
#7
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Re: friction and weight
Originally posted by Mike T.
The increased friction/rolling resistance will worsen fuel economy and lower top speed somewhat.
The increased friction/rolling resistance will worsen fuel economy and lower top speed somewhat.
Erik
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#8
Back to the physics class, this is related to the Moment of
Inertia. It takes more effort to rotate something further away
from the center axis.
From the center axis of rotation, the more cross sectional area of
material you have further out, the slower you rotate.
A well known example, ice skater pull in their hands to spin,
and stick out to slow down the spin.
Inertia. It takes more effort to rotate something further away
from the center axis.
From the center axis of rotation, the more cross sectional area of
material you have further out, the slower you rotate.
A well known example, ice skater pull in their hands to spin,
and stick out to slow down the spin.
#9
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Originally posted by BruNo
it may slow it down a bit, but with c classes other than the c32 i dnt think u would even notice it/or matter.
it may slow it down a bit, but with c classes other than the c32 i dnt think u would even notice it/or matter.
#10
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Originally posted by tifosiv122
Going from 16s-18s will:
2. Make your speedometer inaccurate...by 1-3 MPH, nothing major.
Going from 16s-18s will:
2. Make your speedometer inaccurate...by 1-3 MPH, nothing major.