does tires size matter on speed?

Dylan Nelson

Yes.

If you put TALLER (width does not effect speed, only traction) tires on a vehicle it will increase your potential top speed, if you put SHORTER tires on a vehicle it will have a slower top speed.

I say potential because if your vehicle does not have enough power, it will not be able to turn bigger tires at high speed.

Also, a taller tire will lower your acceleration in most cases, and a shorter one will increase it, assuming you can maintain traction.

Remember to have your speedometer calibrated if you get taller/shorter tires, otherwise it will not be accurate.

StephenWeinstein

The car is not actually slower. The reason that the speedometer is saying that it is slower, and the reason that it may feel slower to you, is that the tires are rotating more slowly (fewer spins per second). However, the car goes farther (in distance) per rotation of the tires, so it is actually going the same speed, or faster.

If you do not believe me, have a friend measure the real speed of the car using a radar gun. Or, if you have no friends, but do have a lot of money, drive by some police and get ticketed.

Matt

Does it feel slower or are you going by the speedo? If you're from the speedo you've probably been stupid and forgot to get it set to a bigger tyre size. You know.. bigger circumference = less revolutions to cover the same speed. Take it to a shop and get it re calibrated. The actual tyre size changing itself can't effect the speed at all though.

efflandt

Bigger tires have more mass, which takes more energy to get rolling, and lowers your effective gearing somewhat which reduces your power because the engine is at a lower rpm at any given actual speed. And larger tires can make your car seem slower because less revolutions per mile (or kilometer) make the frequency of bumps or imbalance happen at a lower frequency.

One example 89 T-bird V6 came with 215/70-15 tires. With 235/60-15 which were wider and heavier, but about the same diameter, the car accelerated slower, but turned faster lap times on a road racing track (high speed autocross) because the wider tires allowed it to carry more speed through the turns and start each straightaway faster. 225/50-15 street legal racing tires were even better because they were smaller diameter (better acceleration) and faster in turns. My standard V6 on racing tires actually beat a supercharged SuperCoupe on street tires in lap times.

My 95 Maxima came with 215/60-15 tires. Because it is a lighter car, 225/60-15 tires feel (and are) heavier and slower. 225/50-15 street legal race tires which are smaller diameter than the standard tires feel much better, with better acceleration, and so much cornering grip that it lifts an inside rear wheel in tight turns (not a problem for a front wheel drive).

UCANTCME

Yes and No, but it mainly depends on what you are driving, the year, make and model would be very helpful to know.

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