Bigger Tires=More Speed??
10-25-2004, 11:50 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Hollywood,
CA
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bigger Tires=More Speed??
Ok, my cousin and I have been arguing about this for about 2 years now. Let's say you have two cars that are exactly the same with the same amount of power and RPMs but with different tire sizes. Don't count the weight of the tires because they wont be much different. Let' say Car A has a tire size of 2 inches and Car B has a tire size of 3 inches. If they are both spinning at the same RPMs, which car would go faster?
10-26-2004, 12:18 AM
#4
Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Bigger Tires=More Speed??
Car B will be faster because of the greater roll out. Car A may reach top speed faster, but in the long run Car B will eventually be faster, dependant on the distance of the run.
10-26-2004, 12:41 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Lompoc,
CA
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Bigger Tires=More Speed??
ORIGINAL: UNCDROCK57
Car B will be faster because of the greater roll out. Car A may reach top speed faster, but in the long run Car B will eventually be faster, dependant on the distance of the run.
Car B will be faster because of the greater roll out. Car A may reach top speed faster, but in the long run Car B will eventually be faster, dependant on the distance of the run.
Agree
If you really want to get into it you can calculate the difference in final ratios, you will find that the 3" tire yields a lower ratio, therefore higher top speed. This, given that both engines are turning the same rpm.
10-26-2004, 12:56 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Burbank, CA
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Bigger Tires=More Speed??
Ya if u think about it in calculation, but if u put bigger tires on ur car u will raise center of gravity sacrifice handling and your car will be more susceptible to flipping in hi speed turns pulse rotating mass to stop when braking.
10-26-2004, 01:06 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Lompoc,
CA
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Bigger Tires=More Speed??
ORIGINAL: ImpalaSS
ya if u think about it in calculation, but if u put bigger tires on ur car u will raise center of gravity sacrifice handling and your car will be more susceptible to flipping in hi speed turns.
ya if u think about it in calculation, but if u put bigger tires on ur car u will raise center of gravity sacrifice handling and your car will be more susceptible to flipping in hi speed turns.
This is all true, however I think he's just asking about a given speed of the cars in a vacuum at sea level, on a straight and level road, with zero friction and drag coefficient :P
Yes there are alot of other factors that play into the total realm of the equation, but given your average conditions, and assuming both engines are turning at said RPM then the car with the larger tire will have greater top speed.
Again there are lots of real life factors that would play into effect:
2" Pro 2" Con
Lighter Less Drag
Lower Car Lower CG
Lower RC Higher F/R
Greater Accel. Lower Top Spd
Less Contact Patch/ Less traction
3" Pro 3" Con
Greater Traction Increased Drag
Higher Car Lower Accel
Higher CG More instability
Greater Top Spd More weight
And Im sure you can analyze this and come up with far more differences then Im taking the time too, one of which would be given on a true life car, wether or not that 1.2hp motor could even wind out with those 3" tires, maybe with the 3" the motor only has enough HP to turn them at 29k, where as at 2" it can turn them at 32k......
Lots of "real" world things play into effect
