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Bigger or Smaller Wheels?
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 10:05 am
by andrej
I wonder what is the difference between the 17", 18" and 19" wheels that are available for Scirocco? Is the fuel consumption higher with bigger wheels? I'm considering to buy the Donington wheels, but those are just 17" - I would like to use these in winter and for summer I would like the Talladega wheels which are 18" or 19".
Re: Bigger or Smaller Wheels?
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 10:20 am
by Deacon
andrej wrote:I wonder what is the difference between the 17", 18" and 19" wheels that are available for Scirocco? Is the fuel consumption higher with bigger wheels? I'm considering to buy the Donington wheels, but those are just 17" - I would like to use these in winter and for summer I would like the Talladega wheels which are 18" or 19".
I have the donningtons as my winter wheels and a set of 18" VWR wheels as my summers. Haven't noticed any difference in fuel consumption. The VWR's are relatively light 18's though so I think they weigh about the same (with tyres) as the donningtons do. I really like the style of the donningtons. Shame they didn't offer them in 18" too.
Re: Bigger or Smaller Wheels?
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:58 pm
by James321
The rolling radius of the tyre should be the same on all those wheels, it's just the wheel that gets larger and the tyre sidewall that get smaller.
If the tyre was a larger diameter then the speedo readings would be out.
So in answer to your question; economy shouldn't change at all.
Re: Bigger or Smaller Wheels?
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 2:47 pm
by Deacon
James321 wrote:
So in answer to your question; economy shouldn't change at all.
Depends on the weight of the wheels being fitted
Re: Bigger or Smaller Wheels?
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 4:40 pm
by Kageira
Yup, take more effort to rotate heavier wheels from a stand-still, so will use a little more fuel.
But that all depends on how often you start and stop during your journeys
:-)
Re: Bigger or Smaller Wheels?
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 7:27 pm
by James321
An increase in unsprung weight of the wheels will have marginal effect on fuel ecommony, we are talking amounts you wouldn't really notice. A bit like saying "how much will my economy drop by having a bag of sugar in the boot"
And the mass of the wheel is nothing compared to the engine overcoming the mass of the vehicle and the friction of the tyres on the road, etc.
Ok so I'll revise my answer; it will be marginal, so marginal you will possibly not notice it.
Re: Bigger or Smaller Wheels?
Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 1:20 pm
by andrej
OK, thank you guys for your replies. I will probably buy 17" for winter and 18" for summer.