Why Do Bigger Tyres Lower Gas Mileage?
Tyres are an important part when driving your vehicle, that is what it makes it move! The types of tyres you pick for your vehicle directly affects the handling. There are a wide variety of tires you can have for your vehicle and different brands that make and sell them. For example, there is Pirelli, Michelin etc. Then there is their hardness, if the tyre is hard it tends to be more durable but it has less grip, on the other hand if the tyre is soft, it tends to be less durable but it gives a better grip to your vehicle. Due to this a cars fuel efficiency may increase or it may give a much worse fuel economy.
The Size of the Tire The size of the tire also has a big impact on gas mileage. Bigger tyres are heavier, which means more power is needed to move the car but they also provide more grip. For example, a tire with a width of 255mm won’t be more grippy than 305mm. Bigger tyres also provide more rolling resistance resulting in lower gas mileage.
Wide or Narrow? Narrow tyres have less weight, their rolling resistance is low which essentially requires less power to move hence, more gas mileage. Whereas, the wider tyres are exactly the opposite. Their rolling resistance is high and is heavier requiring more gas. You should see how heavy your stock exhaust is and consider it changing for a mini cooper S R53 exhaust system size. The weight you lose from changing your exhaust can compensate slightly for your bigger tyres.
What Type of Vehicle are You Driving? Your tyres also depend on the type of vehicle your driving. For example, you have a bike that you prepared for a track day. You would have bigger rear tyres than usual which would provide more grip but less gas mileage but, let’s be honest your having fun around the track you don’t worry about the gas mileage. Now if you have a pickup truck like a ford raptor, dodge Ram or a Jeep Wrangler, you probably will put bigger beefy tyres on them, the reason for that being that not only does it look good but it looks like you mean business but, your gas mileage will be lower.
What Kind of Terrain and Weather? Driving on a snowy day with narrow tires is a mistake you do not want to make, you are just putting your life at risk, so it is better and safer for you and the traffic around you for you to get beefy tires. If you are on an off-road terrain then off-road tyres are a must or allterrain tyres to provide you with grip where you need it. All-terrain tyres required less fuel because they aren’t as heavy as winter tyres but can be driven in the snow as well and they are also cheaper. We hope the reasons that we stated will help you figure out the type of tyres you want for your vehicle and also how much it affects your gas mileage.
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