Wheel size v acceleration

[TVR6 0]

Hi, forgive me if this has been asked before or if the answer is obvious. I'm considering swapping the standard 15" rims for 17s. I hear that this will affect performance/acceleration? Is this true? It was my understanding that by going up in wheel size you compensated by going down in tyre size i.e lower profile. If this is the case, how does it affect performance? I would expect handling to suffer a little...

Glad of any advice.

Thanx

[tommy 0]

tbh...my vr still feels as nimble on 17's as it did on 15s.....poss a bit harsher ride due to the lower profile tyre but nothing to worry about really...as for the performance issue I’ll be very surprised if you notice any thing

check out the link...all will become clear

http://www.polo-gt.co.uk/mechanical/tyrecalc.html

[ Edited Mon May 16 2005, 06:47PM ]

[MrBen 0]

I've found the handling is affected more than straight line performance. WIth the stock 15's on 205/50's, there is a fair bit of give in the tyre, which you lose as you increase rim diameter and therefore reduce tyre profile. This tends to make the breakaway where you lose grip more sudden, rather than the very progressive way it goes on the 15's.

[Eat this 2]

i prefer the habdling of 17"s over 15"s but it think thats down to diffrent tyres the toyos were much better than the yokos on the 15" i dropped from 17 to 15" and theres a DEFFINATE increase in accelration i went from 205/40/17 to 195/50/15 theres a calculator website somewhere

[pete8tch 0]

i can feel a big difference when i swop back to my 15s for winter, think now i would go to 16s and keep the rooling radius the same, im on 205/40/17s

[craggsy 91]

I'm dropping from 17s to 16s now. But gonna keep hold of 17s just incase

[TVR6 0]

Guys, thanks allot for the advice. I suppose 16s would be the best all round compromise. My wife's tiny A class Merc has 15s which make my VR rims look like moped wheels! Perhaps the acceleration is more down to perception? Anyone have any before and after sprint times?

[corradogang* 0]

i swaped my standard corrrado wheels for some 17 s and it made it handle shite and taken a lot of the pull away

[Eat this 2]

its not perception its gear ratios increased rolling radius means longer gears means worse acceleration

[purple highline monster 0]

17`s just look better under the arches, cant say i have really noticed too much difference with my cars on 17`s but as someone has said you do get a sudden breakaway with very low profile rubber as there is not much give due to lack of sidewalls! the steering "feel" is much better on 15`s imo

[TVR6 0]

Eat This, I take your point but surely the reduction in rubber profile compensates for this? The reduced prifile suggests that the rolling radius remains the same, or am I just missing the point all togther? I would imagine reduced comfort and handling and an increase in noise...