How tyre size affects fuel consumption

In order to improve the appearance of the car, drivers put on extremely wide tyres with a large seating diameter. However, few car owners have ever considered how tyre size affects fuel consumption. A key topic of contention among car owners – is the discussion of tyre inner diameter and profile height.

Today, the debate over the effect of tyre size on fuel consumption has split car owners into two opposing groups. One half of drivers argue that buying smaller tyres will save fuel.

The arguments of the proponents of this theory

The proponents of the theory argue that when a wheel with a larger diameter is rotated, more effort is required. According to such assertions, the car will need more fuel to get into motion, its average speed will increase by 10-15 km/h. Calculating the percentage of increased fuel consumption is quite problematic, because the result will depend on many indicators: wheel weight, road surface condition, weather conditions.

The theory's proponents argue that fuel consumption can grow non-linearly and depends on the driver's speed. At low speeds, the percentage of increase in fuel consumption will be imperceptible, while driving more than 40-50 km/h, fuel consumption will start to increase.

Opponents' arguments

In the search for the truth, many experts use scientific facts and the laws of physics. There is a belief that minor fuel loss can be responsible for an increase in the engine's RPM. Opponents argue that the main factor affecting fuel consumption is the overall weight of the vehicle and aerodynamic performance under braking.

The main factor that affects fuel consumption is the overall weight of the vehicle and aerodynamic performance under braking.

Many drivers are familiar with «car theory», which is a mathematical formula. The formula is used to calculate the fuel consumption Q s, which allows neglecting the dynamics. During the calculation, the height of the profile of the tyre is taken into account, the higher it is, the higher the fuel consumption.

The higher it is, the higher the fuel consumption.

The role of profile width in the theory of fuel consumption

Obviously, wheels with a wider profile have higher fuel costs because their mass is higher. The motor needs to apply more force to get the car moving. The higher the mass of the car, the greater the wheel's contact patch, which means greater rolling resistance and acoustic comfort.