I have a 25 mile loop that I do controlled efficiency testing on. I have done extensive testing with the 20" Uberturbine wheels and the stock Pirelli PZ4 tires vs. the 18" T Sportline wheels I have but that was always with different tires. Yesterday, I was finally able to test 18" wheels vs. 20" wheels with the exact same model tire and equivalent tire dimensions on the same car.
I did the test with the 18x8.5 T Sportline TS5 wheels and the 235/45/18 Hankook iON EVO AS tires. Then I also was able to do the same test with the new 20x9.0 T Sportline TSA-5 wheels and the 235/35/20 Hankook iON EVO AS tires. Both wheels, tires, and TPMS sensors weighed 46.8 lbs. The 20 inch wheels weigh a lb or two more than the 18" wheels but the 20" tires are a lb or two lighter than the 18" tires. That makes both of them have the exact same combined weight.
My 18" tires had about 3,000 miles on them while the 20" tires had about 3 miles on them.
I test the 20" wheels twice because you can run them with or without Aero inserts. I wanted to see how much of a difference the Aero covers made too.
Here are my results:
1. 18" TS5 wheels = 199 wh/mi @ 59.9 mph average speed.
2. 20" TSA-5 wheels without Aero inserts = 222 wh/mi @ 59.9 mph average speed.
3. 20" TSA-5 wheels with Aero inserts = 194 wh/mi @ 59.9 mph average speed.
As you can see the 20" wheels were significantly less efficient even with the same tires but without the Aero inserts. Once I put the Aero inserts in I was able to achieve my second best efficiency in this test ever. My best efficiency in the test ever was 191 wh/mi with a 2022 Model 3 RWD on very worn stock 18" Michelin efficiency tires with the Aero hubcaps. Getting within 3 wh/mi of that result with 20" wheels on a Model 3 Performance is outstanding.
These Hankook iON EVO AS tires are the real deal for efficiency. They are light years better than anything else I have tested.
For reference the 20" Uberturbine wheels and PZ4 tires did 247 wh/mi at 59.9 mph average speed.
I did the test with the 18x8.5 T Sportline TS5 wheels and the 235/45/18 Hankook iON EVO AS tires. Then I also was able to do the same test with the new 20x9.0 T Sportline TSA-5 wheels and the 235/35/20 Hankook iON EVO AS tires. Both wheels, tires, and TPMS sensors weighed 46.8 lbs. The 20 inch wheels weigh a lb or two more than the 18" wheels but the 20" tires are a lb or two lighter than the 18" tires. That makes both of them have the exact same combined weight.
My 18" tires had about 3,000 miles on them while the 20" tires had about 3 miles on them.
I test the 20" wheels twice because you can run them with or without Aero inserts. I wanted to see how much of a difference the Aero covers made too.
Here are my results:
1. 18" TS5 wheels = 199 wh/mi @ 59.9 mph average speed.
2. 20" TSA-5 wheels without Aero inserts = 222 wh/mi @ 59.9 mph average speed.
3. 20" TSA-5 wheels with Aero inserts = 194 wh/mi @ 59.9 mph average speed.
As you can see the 20" wheels were significantly less efficient even with the same tires but without the Aero inserts. Once I put the Aero inserts in I was able to achieve my second best efficiency in this test ever. My best efficiency in the test ever was 191 wh/mi with a 2022 Model 3 RWD on very worn stock 18" Michelin efficiency tires with the Aero hubcaps. Getting within 3 wh/mi of that result with 20" wheels on a Model 3 Performance is outstanding.
These Hankook iON EVO AS tires are the real deal for efficiency. They are light years better than anything else I have tested.
For reference the 20" Uberturbine wheels and PZ4 tires did 247 wh/mi at 59.9 mph average speed.
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