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Thread ID: 105817 2009-12-15 16:42:00 Does size matter? Greg (193) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
839879 2009-12-15 16:42:00 I've got 16" wheels on my Nissan Maxima car. They're really nice factory fitted mags, but I'm considering replacing them with 17 or possibly even 18".

My questions are...

1) Will a larger size affect the electronic trip computer?

2) Will fuel consumption be affected (for better or worse) ?

3) Will there be any other adverse affects?

Ta for any insight.
Greg (193)
839880 2009-12-15 18:01:00 All the answers depend on tyre size.

It's just a car, save your money.
PaulD (232)
839881 2009-12-15 18:25:00 I've got 16" wheels on my Nissan Maxima car. They're really nice factory fitted mags, but I'm considering replacing them with 17 or possibly even 18".

My questions are...

1) Will a larger size affect the electronic trip computer?

2) Will fuel consumption be affected (for better or worse) ?

3) Will there be any other adverse affects?

Ta for any insight.

Any advantage would be outweighed by the cost.
Cicero (40)
839882 2009-12-15 18:51:00 1) Will a larger size affect the electronic trip computer?
.

I'd say yes cause smaller ones do.
pctek (84)
839883 2009-12-15 19:09:00 You want to make sure the diameter of the tyre is very similar to the factory ones, otherwise the car will either cost a fortune to run or you'll constantly be getting speeding tickets.

If you get 17s, or especially 18s you're obviously going to be getting come reasonably low profile tyres - plenty of good things about them but the two downsides are the cost of the tyres and the ride of the car - bit boney. Fuel economy will decrease (more rolling resistance) but not enough that you're likely to notice.

I put some Advanti 17s on my Levin, tyre size was 215/40/17. Cost the better part of $700 to wrap some decent rubber round them.
wratterus (105)
839884 2009-12-15 19:11:00 It should be obvious that if the "rolling diameter" is changed, then the gear ratios will be changed, and the speedometer reading will be inccurate.

Edit: same message already given...
Terry Porritt (14)
839885 2009-12-15 19:14:00 You will be gearing the car up, bit like another gear, the biggest prob might be clearance under the guards.
How do the trip meters work on modern jap stuff? obviously not a mechanical counter off the odometer any more.
If they are a sensor on the drive train somewhere the overgearing would make it inaccurate (I think)
I had 16" wheels from a 32 Ford V8 on my Model A which originally had 19" it accelerated ok but top speed (mile a minute) was down heaps.
prefect (6291)
839886 2009-12-15 20:58:00 Would the change be of sufficient interest to alter your insurance? I once replaced a 1600 cc motor in an old ute with a similar 1800 cc model and that caused the State some palpitations. :cool: Scouse (83)
839887 2009-12-16 07:08:00 As long as the overall circumference (spelling?) is the same you won't notice any real difference. The trip computer takes a reading from the gearbox in most cases so you need the wheel to be the same size overall for it to stay accurate.

Quite often with bigger wheels they will also be wider than stock so may need some suspension work to stop rubbing. Is it stock height?

For working out overall circumference with different tires etc use this tool...
www.1010tires.com

You want to get as close to stock as possible, if you want huge big wheels though you can get you speed sensor re-calibrated
hueybot3000 (3646)
839888 2009-12-16 10:13:00 Just get a thinner tire so you keep the overall size the same Agent_24 (57)
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