MPG Penalty for going with 16" wheels?

[Sugz]

MPG Penalty for going with 16\" wheels?

I have the opportunity to buy real cheap some nice alloys in 16" size with 205/55 tires. Any idea of what penalty I might pay in economy? I'm trying to decide if I should buy these with summer performance tires.

Thanks

 

[GolfComfort]

Re: MPG Penalty for going with 16\" wheels?

The wheelsize doesn´t matter as long as the total wheel+tyre diameter is the same. But the fact that you can´t get any kind of energy tires in "sportive" size.

 

[arktiaxs]

Re: MPG Penalty for going with 16\" wheels?

I have stock winter-tyres from Goodyear 185/60/14 and sporty Michelin Pilot Exalto 205/45/16. The fuel consumption shows no significant difference whatsoever.

See for yourself :
http://forums.tdiclub.com/NonCGI/Forum16/HTML/000281.html

A

 

[Dana D.]

Re: MPG Penalty for going with 16\" wheels?

Ditto.

Went from stock 15" Goodyears to 205VR55 16's and noticed no diff. in noise/smoothness/milage but a big improvement in handling.

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Y2K Jetta TDI GLS, Joystick, White/Black, Monsoon, Borbet Type E, for now...

 

[GeWilli]

Re: MPG Penalty for going with 16\" wheels?

I think you would have to go to a wider tire size than 205 to reduce mileage by a significant amount.

if you look around a 205 really isn't that wide, pretty skinny by wide tire standards.

nowhere the performance of a 225 or the mileage penalty of one. . . .

with the A4 and the stock 195/65R15 wheels you need to go to the 205/60R15 or go to the Beetle size 205/55R16 (much more common than the 205/60R15).

I don't know what to get, Nokian NRH-2, Kumho Ecsta 712s . . . tough choice, but I am leaning towards the 205/60R15 - can't afford the nedw rims and tires . . .

 

[Deadrise Diesel]

Re: MPG Penalty for going with 16\" wheels?

I've had 205/55/16 since new and my mileage has ranged fron 47-54.

 

[Dana D.]

Re: MPG Penalty for going with 16\" wheels?

Went from stock 195/15's to 205/16's. As long as I keep psi between 35 and 40, the mpg is the same.

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Y2K Jetta TDI GLS, Joystick, White/Black, Monsoon, Borbet Type E, for now...

 

[Denton T. Young]

Re: MPG Penalty for going with 16\" wheels?

There should be no change. The difference between 195/65/15's and 205/55/16's is less than .5%
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

 

[Gary Miyakawa]

Re: MPG Penalty for going with 16\" wheels?

The only time there is a real loss in fuel economy or performance is when the wheel you are going to is much heavier... My stock NB 16" rims and tires weigh 35#... my 17" TSW Trophys with 215/50/17 P-7000 tires weigh 42#.. There is a noticable performance difference when I put them on... I just mainly use them for show...

Gary