chronopc
Active Member
The article does seem to imply ~10% was the aeros and the 18" wheels. Does 1" in wheel size make that big of a difference in efficiency?
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It's not the size, as the overall circumference/diameter of the wheel/tire assembly should be maintained within the envelope of the wheel opening. All that is changing is the proportion of tire to wheel....less donut, more "hole". The effect may be from increased mass, as the larger wheel will add more weight than the smaller aspect ratio tire will eliminate. Compare weights of 18 vs 19" wheels in the same model/style from a couple of manufacturers to see. Increased mass is directionally wrong for acceleration, braking, ride, and efficiency to whatever proportionate degree the mass causes. I recall the chassis engineers at the car company where I used to work had a saying, "Designers love big wheels. Engineers don't!"
chronopc
Active Member
T34ME
Active Member
Allow me to add to the speculation. The Prius crowd has over 10 years of experience with this wheel/tire argument. You can draw your own conclusions.
3-5% - aero wheel covers vs, no wheel covers at highway speed of 60 to 65 mph, depending on driving style.
1-2% - going up by 1" on wheel size ((in the case of a Prius it was 15" to 16")
2-4% - LRR tires vs. non-LRR tires, and all LRR tires are NOT created equal, some are more efficient than others.
So if we extrapolate these results to the Model 3, I would guess that the 18" wheels with aero wheel covers and LRR tires will be about 5% to 10% more efficient at 60-65 mph than the 19" wheels. Driving around town will be less of a difference, MAYBE 1% to 3%.
This presumes all environmental factors are constant. Weather, road condition, speed, payload, etc. can play an even greater role than wheel/tire combination.
No, I can't link to a formally researched study. The conclusions are anecdotal at best by thousands of Prius drivers. YMMV.
3-5% - aero wheel covers vs, no wheel covers at highway speed of 60 to 65 mph, depending on driving style.
1-2% - going up by 1" on wheel size ((in the case of a Prius it was 15" to 16")
2-4% - LRR tires vs. non-LRR tires, and all LRR tires are NOT created equal, some are more efficient than others.
So if we extrapolate these results to the Model 3, I would guess that the 18" wheels with aero wheel covers and LRR tires will be about 5% to 10% more efficient at 60-65 mph than the 19" wheels. Driving around town will be less of a difference, MAYBE 1% to 3%.
This presumes all environmental factors are constant. Weather, road condition, speed, payload, etc. can play an even greater role than wheel/tire combination.
No, I can't link to a formally researched study. The conclusions are anecdotal at best by thousands of Prius drivers. YMMV.
Assuming the same treadwidth (245 on either diameter, for example), no. If the tread width is wider, some handling benefit may accrue. But, as tirerack.com will show, you can also somewhat increase tread width on the same diameter size with a small reduction in aspect ratio. Just to make up an example.....OEM 225/45-17 could be essentially equal (less than 3% variance) in overall diameter to 235/40-17 (would have to check and play with sizes to ensure). The 40 shows the sidewall height is a slightly smaller percentage of the now wider width to keep the total the same/similar.
In daily driving, these differences are somewhere between negligible and imperceptible. The track would be another story.
voip-ninja
Give me some sugar baby
If width does not change than no.
In fact there are drawbacks.... the larger the rim with the same outer diameter the harsher the ride.
DR61
Member
One of the trends in road racing in the past was to increase brake rotor size, which required a larger diameter wheel for clearance. I think that trend came over to street vehicles, mostly for looks.
insaneoctane
Well-Known Member
This is where my head is. I have not considered the 19" wheels at all, rather I have been debating whether I would be willing to leave the aero covers on.....
The air you breathe will seem cleaner, the water you drink will seem more pure, smaller wheel owners will fall on their knees in awe before you, and you'll have an extra bounce in every step because you will know that you got that bigger wheel hotness parked outside or in the garage ready to go.
T34ME
Active Member
The bigger wheels will make your hands look smaller, if that's the look you're after.
chronopc
Active Member
I guess my real question is what am I getting for $1,500?The bigger wheels will make your hands look smaller, if that's the look you're after.
T34ME
Active Member
- rougher ride on some road
- increased tire replacement cost
- decreased tire longevity
- increased potential for tire/rim damage from potholes
- likely some (as yet undetermined) decrease in range
- better cornering if you are an aggressive driver
- being part of the current fad for larger rims
I would happily opt for 17" OEM wheels from Tesla if they were available.
chronopc
Active Member
I don't see helping me getting girls being on the list.
chronopc
Active Member
I could have sworn Elon promised with the aero wheels I can expect to get ~10% more girls with ideal conditions.The "girls" for whom that would make a difference, you wouldn't want to have.
No, you can get 10% further away from aforementioned girl when conditions become less than ideal. Hmm, that is almost reason enough to keep the wheel covers.
chronopc
Active Member
To think of it that's actually much more useful lol.No, you can get 10% further away from aforementioned girl when conditions become less than ideal. Hmm, that is almost reason enough to keep the wheel covers.
If those kind show up, you might want to repurpose some of the paint protection film discussed in the other thread!
T34ME
Active Member
According to MS/X owners, driving that kind of speed is the single greatest factor in reducing range, by a very significant amount.
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