Quote:
Originally Posted by nikitopo
The tread width of a 225/45R17 tire on a 7.5" wheel is 8.1". So the difference on tread width is pretty small and I expect to not make a big difference even on a tight track. Additionally, the smaller 16inch wheel has the advantage of better weight distribution. It is not always about total weight, but where the weight is distributed. You need to have a minimum rotation inertia on a tire/wheel combo.
|
The tire width difference is something like 10%, so that's well within a reasonable range of expected improvement/increase...no one is looking to double the width of their tires.
And a 16" wheel actually makes the distribution of the weight of the wheel/tire unit worse, not better. The wheel is always going to be lighter than the tire. By adding to the sidewall, and reducing the diameter of the already lighter component (wheel), you're shifting more weight to the outer circumference of the unit (rubber and steel cord weighs more than the forged aluminum that would be in their place). Overall you might be a bit lighter than a comparable 17"/205 combo, but the difference would probably be offset by the increased inertial mass out at the circumference. Which makes any advantage purely one of unsprung weight, not rotational.
But the whole issue is academic and not likely to matter one bit either way.