More Efficient Wheels/Tires

[GaRailroader]

I realize as an EV it more weight than a similar sized ICE vehicle but I would submit that the stock wheels and tires are way overkill. 245s on 7 inch wide rims. I had a 2WD Ranger that had 225s on 5.5 inch wide rims. My 2WD F-150 had 235s on 7 inch wide rims. The Ranger had a comparable GVWR as the Slate and the F-150 had a higher GVWR. I'd like to see the factory wheels/tires to be 215s on 6 inch wide rims.(15s or 16s) With a 75 aspect ratio. I think taller skinny tires look good on a truck. I bet a wheel/tire combo like this would look good and really help efficiency.

 

[5ohbrad]

Interesting thought- I too was thinking about efficiency gains from lowering and getting a lightweight wheel/tire on. I’m guessing the wider tire gives better lateral grip, but the efficient thing to do would be a narrower tire.

 

[metroshot]

And here I am with a Mach E with 225/55R19 stock Michelins.

At 30K miles, looking for a +1 or +2 up in width and height.
And it has to be RFT.

Tough part is finding the load & speed rating at or above the factory spec.

 

[jwocky]

I realize as an EV it more weight than a similar sized ICE vehicle but I would submit that the stock wheels and tires are way overkill. 245s on 7 inch wide rims. I had a 2WD Ranger that had 225s on 5.5 inch wide rims. My 2WD F-150 had 235s on 7 inch wide rims. The Ranger had a comparable GVWR as the Slate and the F-150 had a higher GVWR. I'd like to see the factory wheels/tires to be 215s on 6 inch wide rims.(15s or 16s) With a 75 aspect ratio. I think taller skinny tires look good on a truck. I bet a wheel/tire combo like this would look good and really help efficiency.

The Slate curb weight is 3,602 lbs so it's not very heavy even by current ICE car standards. For comparison, the Maverick pickup weighs about the same.

 

[cvollers]

I realize as an EV it more weight than a similar sized ICE vehicle but I would submit that the stock wheels and tires are way overkill. 245s on 7 inch wide rims. I had a 2WD Ranger that had 225s on 5.5 inch wide rims. My 2WD F-150 had 235s on 7 inch wide rims. The Ranger had a comparable GVWR as the Slate and the F-150 had a higher GVWR. I'd like to see the factory wheels/tires to be 215s on 6 inch wide rims.(15s or 16s) With a 75 aspect ratio. I think taller skinny tires look good on a truck. I bet a wheel/tire combo like this would look good and really help efficiency.

245 = 245mm and designates the tire width. 245mm = 9.646 in.
A 245/65R17 tire is 9.65” wide and 29.5” in diameter (245 x .65 x 2 converted to inches + 17”). 7-8” rim width is ideal.

Going pizza cutter would reduce contact patch and, in theory, reduce rolling resistance. Better in wet and snow, but less good for cornering.

 

[Luxrage]

Almost every car I've owned or worked on has had 205/215 tires, and that's everything from My Thunderbird, Geo, LTDs, Buicks, old trucks, etc. Could definitely get away with a narrower tire gauge. Even the biggest hauler of them all, a Dodge D250 cummins ran 215s for the 6600GVWR rated truck.

Edit: Early 80s LTD/ LTD Crown Vics came with14 inch wheels, now THOSE tires never feared potholes