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Will going from 195 to 185 result in better fuel economy?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by Slick 6MT, Sep 14, 2013.

  1. MPG King

    MPG King New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2013
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    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    III
    This chart shows the differences between the stock 195 and oversized 205s :
    DimensionTire A: 195/65 R 15
    (25 x 7.68 x 15)Tire B: 205/65 R 15
    (25 x 8.07 x 15)Difference
    Width
    Sidewall height
    Overall height
    Circumference
    7.68" (195.00mm)
    4.99" (126.75mm)
    24.98" (634.50mm)
    78.48" (1993.34mm)
    8.07" (205.00mm)
    5.25" (133.25mm)
    25.49" (647.50mm)
    80.09" (2034.18mm)
    +0.39" (+10.00mm)
    +0.26" (+6.50mm)
    +0.51" (+13.00mm)
    +1.61" (+40.84mm)
    RPMs will drop by 35. Speedo will read low by 2.01%. My thought is the reduction in RPM should off set the addition of a slightly wider foot print. Ideally, I would like to go taller to a 205/70/15 but this might be too drastic:
    DimensionTire A: 195/65 R 15
    (25 x 7.68 x 15)Tire B: 205/70 R 15
    (26 x 8.07 x 15)Difference
    Width
    Sidewall height
    Overall height
    Circumference
    7.68" (195.00mm)
    4.99" (126.75mm)
    24.98" (634.50mm)
    78.48" (1993.34mm)
    8.07" (205.00mm)
    5.65" (143.50mm)
    26.30" (668.00mm)
    82.62" (2098.58mm)
    +0.39" (+10.00mm)
    +0.66" (+16.75mm)
    +1.32" (+33.50mm)
    +4.14" (+105.24mm)
    RPMs will drop by 86 and speedo will read low by 5.01 %.
     
  2. MPG King

    MPG King New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2013
    3
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    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Sorry this didn't print the way it was intended.
     
  3. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
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    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    No problem on the formatting just they look like numbers are derived from the aspect ratio. I've found aspect ratio to be unreliable. For example, using the specifications from TireRack.com which list the measured 'rev/mile' shows it is not a function of aspect ratio:
    Column 1
    0 [th]ratio[th]rev/mi[th]vendor
    1 [tr][td2]195/65R15[td2]831[td]Continental
    2 [tr][td2]195/65R15[td2]836[td]Dunlap
    3 [tr][td2]195/65R15[td2]829[td]General
    Source: TireRack.com

    The critical dimensions are:
    • rim width - to fit on the original wheels
    • tread width - to fit inside the top of the rear wheel well and not impact the top edge on a bump
    • overall diameter - to fit inside the front and rear limits of the wheel well
    Bob Wilson