Wider tires or smaller rims?
12-17-2005, 05:12 PM
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Wider tires or smaller rims? I have the option of either using a stock 16" rim (245/50/16) or a stock 17" rim (275/40/17) for drag use. DR's will be put on whichever set I use. Everyone has different opinion on whether using a smaller rim because of lighter weight and smaller diameter while others say go with the wider rim. Unfortunately I can't have the best of both worlds. It'll be one way or the other. Which would be the result of the better traction?
245/40/16
or
275/40/17
245/40/16
or
275/40/17
12-17-2005, 10:58 PM
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There was an article in GMHTP a couple months ago. All things being equal width of a tire shouldn't matter on a perfectly flat smooth surface. They will all have the same traction. The thing is pavement isn't all flat and even so the wider contact patch does make a difference. The other BIG thing is that you get more cushioning with a 16" vs a 17". This allows the tire to wrinkle and push down harder on the ground. Stiffer/shorter sidewalls of a 17" will let you spin the tires easier. After reading the article I bought a set of 16x8 ZR1 wheels and put MT DR's on the rear(255/50/16). They hook AWESOME and I dropped my ET by 3 tenths over stock 17" street tires. There's more in it with the DR's but I don't want to break my rear. Put the DR's on the 16's and keep the 17's for street driving.
12-18-2005, 12:52 AM
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Originally Posted by GETGONE
There was an article in GMHTP a couple months ago. All things being equal width of a tire shouldn't matter on a perfectly flat smooth surface. They will all have the same traction. The thing is pavement isn't all flat and even so the wider contact patch does make a difference. The other BIG thing is that you get more cushioning with a 16" vs a 17". This allows the tire to wrinkle and push down harder on the ground. Stiffer/shorter sidewalls of a 17" will let you spin the tires easier. After reading the article I bought a set of 16x8 ZR1 wheels and put MT DR's on the rear(255/50/16). They hook AWESOME and I dropped my ET by 3 tenths over stock 17" street tires. There's more in it with the DR's but I don't want to break my rear. Put the DR's on the 16's and keep the 17's for street driving.
Thanks! that helps a lot!
