Tech Query - Wheels

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

Can someone try explain to me the difference of running of say of 14" or 15" wheels?

 

Is there more acceleration to be had with a smaller dia wheel/tyre? And typically what sort of time 0-60mph at a guess?

 

TIA

[allanallen 528 2 Cars]

No idea on the acceleration difference although I'm sure the 14s will have a smaller rolling radius.

They make the car feel quite different though, the extra tyre profile is quite evident when pushing on, makes them more fun for me somehow.

[calvinhorse 870]

14s feel more predictable when sliding, 15s feel more stable at higher speed

 

14s are way more fun but I'd say I can drive faster on 15s

Edited January 16, 2016 by calvinhorse

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

Thanks guys. It's for my track Saxo, i have both sizes of wheels but not sure what i should be running. The 106gti came with 14's but VTS came with 15's. According to parkers the VTS was quicker 0-60 but i didn't think that was right. My 14's feel a bit lighter too which maybe should be what i'm aiming for.

 

Was also thinking the smaller wheel size added to why the 1.6 and 1.9GTI's feel different.

[Paul_13 212 1 Cars]

I had 14's on my xud 205, found that it handled ok, acceleration was good.

 

But echo what's been said above 15's handle better imo

[Biggles 65]

Smaller overall dia shortens gearing a bit so improves accel a bit.

Bigger overall dia (with same width) increases contact patch area a bit = more rubber on road = more grip

Bigger overall dia will tend to be heavier = increases unspring mass = different suspension settings maybe.

Bigger dia allows bigger brakes.

15" tyre choice likely wider than 14", particularly competition tyres.

 

The only reason I went for 15" rather than 13" was brake size.

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

Thanks Biggles, exactly what i was looking for

[Wallby 39]

Vts was quicker than the gti in 0 to 60 times because you could reach 60 in 2nd on the vts, but had to change up to 3rd on the gti.

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

Vts was quicker than the gti in 0 to 60 times because you could reach 60 in 2nd on the vts, but had to change up to 3rd on the gti.

I thought they had same gear ratios? So is that to do with wheel size?

[welshpug 1,657]

no, different ratios totally.

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

no, different ratios totally.

From the info i've seen on the net (forums) they are the same for VTS and GTI, (the VTR is different).

[welshpug 1,657]

ah, if you mean 106 then yes.

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

So, the vts is quicker to 60 because one less gear change caused by 15" wheel?

[welshpug 1,657]

unlikely, the overall size is the same, they ran 195 45 15 on the later vts, early cars were on the same 185 55 14