Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
Subject:Re: Crazy Idea On Mismatched Tires
From:Chris Szpejankowski
Date:Thu, 16 Jul 2015 18:04:50 -0400

Play around with a one of those RPM calculators and see what your theoretical RPM drop would be with various size tires, then see if they fit, then tell us so we can copy you after you've tested it. :-)

Wysłane z iPhone'a

Dnia 15 lip 2015 o godz. 23:53 Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM> napisał(a):

> Okay, this wacky idea popped into my head while driving today.
> I now have a 2.3L WBX with a lot more power in my '90 Westy with
> automatic.  I could (but cannot possibly afford) go to a higher 3rd gear in
> the auto tranny, adds say it would drop the RPM at cruising speed by 800
> RPM.  And thus save some gas on long highway runs.
> But what if I did this?  Go to larger tires on the rear?  Why only the
> rear?  To keep the speedometer and odometer accurate.
> Right now I am running 205/65 R 15 all around.  If I were to go to a tire
> with larger circumference on the rear, although loosing a little power at
> the ground I should drop my RPMs at cruise.
> So, is there a fault in my logic?  And would my gain be so small as to not
> be worth the effort?  BTW, I haven't tried to do the math on this one yet,
> just thought I'd throw it out.