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Feb 13, 2012 11:23:59 GMT
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Was almost going to put this in the daft Question Amnesty, but pretty sure it is warrants being in here.
If there are 2 cars, exactly the same, apart from a difference in wheel and tyre size circumference, what would the effect be on the steering?
Car 1 - running 14" wheels and a high profile tyre - combined circumference of say 600mm
Car 2 - running 16" wheels with a lower profile tyre - the combined circumference is the same at 600mm
Both wheels and tyres are the same width.
Would one car have heavier steering than the other?
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Feb 13, 2012 11:31:04 GMT
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Just to clarify, are wheel width, offset and tyre width also the same?
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Feb 13, 2012 11:37:26 GMT
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Just to clarify, are wheel width, offset and tyre width also the same? Yep, exactly |
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,837
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Feb 13, 2012 11:53:37 GMT
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I'd imagine the steering would feel the same when parking, but when driving the steering will feel more direct with the bigger wheels as there will be less sidewalk twist.
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scruff
Part of things
Posts: 621
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Feb 13, 2012 16:18:04 GMT
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And it'll be a lot more 'fussy' over rough roads as the whole setup will be more rigid.
The ride quality will degrade markedly too as you have lost 2" of 'soft suspension' (ie sidewall)
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1994 Lotus Esprit - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
1980 Porsche 924 - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
I spy a trend...
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bortaf
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,549
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Feb 13, 2012 18:49:16 GMT
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IME wider tyres make the steering heavyer, try driving a standard Mk3 escort then an RS turbo !
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R.I.P photobucket
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Feb 13, 2012 20:40:50 GMT
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Right I rally a seat ibiza I can safely say there is NO difference at all I use 16inch for everyday driving and run on 14 inch on rallys and find no difference at all
PRC
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Feb 13, 2012 20:59:37 GMT
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Right I rally a seat ibiza I can safely say there is NO difference at all I use 16inch for everyday driving and run on 14 inch on rallys and find no difference at all PRC Just out of interest, why do you run smaller wheels on the rally car? Reduce weight, or to have a little more rubber to cope with the hammering? Cheers guys, just trying to suss out whether a change in wheel diameter is going to lighten the steering everything else being equal. |
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Feb 13, 2012 21:30:00 GMT
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easy question to ans far superior rubber I use Yokohama Ao35 on front and Yoko 21r's on the rear..
16 in tyres are 45 profile and simply no good for Road rallies as the tyre can puncture so easily.
PRC
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If there are 2 cars, exactly the same, apart from a difference in wheel and tyre size circumference, what would the effect be on the steering? Would one car have heavier steering than the other? Cornering. Low-profile tyres give much more direct steering feel as there's much less sidewall flex (probably because there's much less sidewall  ) It sounds good but one disadvantage is that when they start to slide it happens much quicker. High-profile sidewalls don't steer as precisely but are much more forgiving and predictable when they slide. The other thing on UK roads is potholes  Low profile has very little sidewall separating the rim from the road so if the wheel falls into a hole expect the rim to get bent when it hits the far edge of the hole. High profile can cope with bigger lumps'n'bumps (when was the last time you saw a Farmers landrover on low profile rubber ;D ) The last bit is comfort, high profile tyres can absorb some of the road shocks so less gets through to the suspension or to the car. |
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Also believe the rubber compound makes a difference as l had michelins on my xantia and when l changed to Avons same size the steering was heavier the car went round corners better but did noticably less miles to the gallon and didn't free wheel as far  |
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MrSpeedy
East Midlands
www.vintagediesels.co.uk
Posts: 4,786 
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Feb 14, 2012 18:11:32 GMT
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I'd imagine the steering would feel the same when parking, but when driving the steering will feel more direct with the bigger wheels as there will be less sidewalk twist. I would have imagined pretty much the same, with maybe a very small amount of 'springyness' (is that even a word) when parking due to sidewall flex on the taller tyres |
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,194
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Feb 14, 2012 23:34:34 GMT
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Everything being equal bar the changes you should feel no real difference on the steering front. The slip angle arguably could be said to be larger on the 14" compared to the 16" so initially the steering may not feel as heavy as you start to turn the wheel. As said the 14s will give you a more forgiving ride on most roads (and IMO to an extent better handling).
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)
Low profile has very little sidewall separating the rim from the road so if the wheel falls into a hole expect the rim to get bent when it hits the far edge of the hole.
