YACT: higher or lower profile tires?

[andylawcc]

correct me if I am wrong, from what I've been told/reading, a higher profile tire would direct transulate to a taller gear. (and vice versa with a lower profile tires)

so in effect, if I use a higher profile tire, I will get better gas mileage at high speed but I will lose some low end torque hence impeding the acceleration. right?

 

[NutBucket]

Sounds reasonable.

 

[freebee]

No, higher profile just means change in aspect ratio, not always change in diameter of tire. You jsut riding on more sidewall.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: freebee
No, higher profile just means change in aspect ratio, not always change in diameter of tire. You jsut riding on more sidewall.

This is assuming he keeps the same size rim.

 

[KokomoGST]

Uhhh... not quite 100% correct...

it really depends on if you're changing the actual circumference of the wheel+tire. But if you stick with the same series tire (235 for instance) and increase the ratio (45->60) then you'll have a much taller tire and yeah you'll possibly get better gas mileage on highway just from increased circumference... you'll also throw off your speedo.

But if you keep the same basic circumference (205-55 <-> 235-45) then there's really no change.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Higher profile = handling going to hell.

 

[jteef]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Higher profile = handling going to hell.

but a more comfortable ride

 

[Sluggo]

A taller tire than stock will effectively raise your final drive ratio to a higher gear (lower numerically) It could slightly slow acceleration and throw off your speedo. You could possibly get higher fuel mileage on the highway, unless you raised the effective ratio so much that your engine had to work harder to overcome the taller gearing.

A shorter tire than stock will effectively decrease your final drive ratio to a lower gear (higher numerically) It could slightly improve acceleration and throw off your speedo. Your gas mileage on the highway will probably decrease slightly, due to the higher engine RPM at a given speed. This could possibly be offset by the engine working more efficiently during acceleration from a dead stop, but more than likely not.

 

[andylawcc]

hummm.... so should I go for Accele-mode (slimmer tires for quickness) or Econo-mode (fatter tires for saving gas)???

decision decisions decisions....


or, the difference is so minimal that it could be neglected?

I routinely drive 35 miles a day, 6 days a week, on the freeway.
and roughly 10 miles a day, 7 days a week on local to do grocery shopping and other whatnot.

 

[ElFenix]

those taller tires are going to weigh more as well, and that will really throw off your acceleration.

 

[notfred]

Unless you're gonna put these tires on your car or something, you're probably not going to change the diameter enough to notice a difference in gas mileage or acceleration.

 

[Sluggo]

Originally posted by: notfred
Unless you're gonna put these tires on your car or something, you're probably not going to change the diameter enough to notice a difference in gas mileage or acceleration.

So far as cars are concerned notfred is probably correct, it will be a negligible difference.

If you were getting into truck/SUV tires, you can easily change the tire diameter enough to effect driveability.

 

[slikmunks]

Originally posted by: notfred
Unless you're gonna put these tires on your car or something, you're probably not going to change the diameter enough to notice a difference in gas mileage or acceleration.

dayum, them's huge!! it'd never fit in my wheel well...