Smaller Wheels = Faster Acceleration
12-04-2004, 09:49 AM
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Smaller Wheels = Faster Acceleration?
As most of you all know, my truck is for street use. Will smaller wheels/tires allow me to accelerate faster? I'm thinking about putting on 16" - 17" wheels, and smaller sport tires on my truck. I'm sure many of you are chrindging (sp?) at the thought, but its a street truck 
. Thanks.
. Thanks.
Last edited by YotaTruck1986; 12-04-2004 at 09:52 AM.
12-04-2004, 09:57 AM
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Of course. Most here complain about loss of acceleration due to our larger tires. Reverse the equation and you have your answer. You'll lose top-end though.
12-04-2004, 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Phisherman
Of course. Most here complain about loss of acceleration due to our larger tires. Reverse the equation and you have your answer. You'll lose top-end though.
12-04-2004, 01:38 PM
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Originally Posted by YotaTruck1986
As most of you all know, my truck is for street use. Will smaller wheels/tires allow me to accelerate faster? I'm thinking about putting on 16" - 17" wheels, and smaller sport tires on my truck. I'm sure many of you are chrindging (sp?) at the thought, but its a street truck . Thanks.
. Thanks.
12-04-2004, 02:17 PM
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Originally Posted by mike_d
yup, putting on smaller tires is just like putting in taller gears. you'll get more torque to the road, but you'll lose top speed.
.
12-04-2004, 03:03 PM
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Wheel size makes no differance. Like others mentioned, tire size does. Smaller tires makes more acceleration, more shifting, and higher rpms to go the same speed as you use to. Lets say you dropped you tires size by 2", and went 65@3000rpms in 5th. Now at 3000rpms you would be going about 60, so you wouldhave to go around 3250 rpms top got 65. Also lowers your truck, more tire to fender space. Your speedo (obviously) and odometer will both be off. You will be traveling less miles than your odo says...
12-04-2004, 04:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Kyota
Wheel size makes no differance.
I'm saying I'm going to get a new wheel/tire combination. (Bigger wheels, smaller tires.)
Originally Posted by Kyota
Your speedo (obviously) and odometer will both be off. You will be traveling less miles than your odo says...
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12-04-2004, 06:10 PM
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Originally Posted by YotaTruck1986
Really? I'm saying I'm going to get a new wheel/tire combination. (Bigger wheels, smaller tires.)
How can I fix this?
I'm saying I'm going to get a new wheel/tire combination. (Bigger wheels, smaller tires.)How can I fix this?
12-04-2004, 06:20 PM
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Originally Posted by IamaFan
I think he's saying that if you get bigger rims/wheels and smaller tires, but these are almost the same size (overall) to what you have now, you're not gonna see much of a difference. I think the only way to fix the speedo/odo thing is to recalibrate it... that or calculate it all out, which I can't remember how to do, but i'm sure one of the "bigger tire" threads has the eqns to do it.
12-04-2004, 06:40 PM
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Originally Posted by YotaTruck1986
With 16" or 17" wheels and small tires, my overall wheel diameter should be about 2 or so inches smaller than what it is now. The wheels/tires I have on now are pretty huge and have a tendancy to rub.
For example, my friend's car can run a 13.10 in the 1/4 with his 18" wheels on and a 12.83 with his lighter 17" wheels.
12-04-2004, 07:40 PM
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Originally Posted by X-AWDriver
What size wheels and tires are you thinking of?
12-04-2004, 07:52 PM
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If you are looking at performance, weight is the enemy! Remember, wieght at the outer edge is heavier than the same weight closer to center when the wheel is spinning. If you have one ounce of wieght, 8 inches from center, it will weigh 8 ounces when spinning ( 8 ounce-inches to be exact). So you should pick wheels with most of the wieght near the hub, also remember, low pro tires suck on crappy roads- many bent wheels here in PHX w/ all the pot holes!!
12-04-2004, 08:09 PM
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After I rebuilt my 3.0 I put larger tires on her, 35's to be exact, pretty much a stock tire! Top speed is around 75 mph because she is wound out at 3200 rpm's, I never took her and will never take her past 3500 rpm's! No problem with power/torque or even mpg's - 21-24 mpg's to be exact!
12-04-2004, 08:21 PM
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As others have mentioned, overall diameter makes the most difference. Also in the equation is friction (caused by wider tires) and the material of the wheel. For example, steel 16's are going to weigh significantly more than alloy 16's. I would go with alloy 16's and low profile tires in your case. If the gap is too big, just drop it more. 
Last edited by rimpainter.com; 12-05-2004 at 02:07 PM.
12-05-2004, 06:38 AM
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So 16" will probably be best. I have a friend with the new Mini Cooper S. It has 16" wheels and almost the exact tires I'd like. I'll measure the over all diameter and pair it up with the truck. Alloy will be best for wieight? Is there anyway I can get a "chrome alloy" look. I'd like to get chrome wheels, but the lesser weight would be nice.
