Range vs Wheels size

[007]

Slate seems to use an uncommon tire size for electric vehicles. I wonder if the optional tires and wheels result in 205 miles battery range. I'll let other people report on different wheels and tires after Slate comes out.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

I would like a wheel upgrade to something in that 17x8 size that is focused on maximizing range. Something lighter than the steelies and aerodynamic. I’m interested in increasing range without reducing utility.
Not a lot out there that I’d pick rinse searching around a bit.

You gotta drive a whole lot of miles to recover the money spent on tires chasing range.

 

[P. Regent]

Different tire diameters don't, by themselves, change the number of watt/hours it takes to dive a given distance. It just changes he gear ratio. If the motor turns more slowly at a given speed, it will take more amps, fewer volts. If it turns faster, more volts, fewer amps. Volts times amps = watts. And (kilo)watt/hours are what the battery stores. Changing the tire size can have an aerodynamic effect, but I have to think that Slate's engineers have optimized the wheel and tire size for range.

 

[Shrink36s]

You gotta drive a whole lot of miles to recover the money spent on tires chasing range.

Not tires. Wheels. Something that could be swapped with the steelies. Roll same tires. Worry about tires later. Lighter and maybe a better look. I’m not delusional, I don’t expect miracles. List net positives.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Not tires. Wheels. Something that could be swapped with the steelies. Roll same tires. Worry about tires later. Lighter and maybe a better look. I’m not delusional, I don’t expect miracles. List net positives.

Or you could drive a whole lot of miles anyway! Here's to your long-lived Slate FN 🍻

 

[AZFox]

Larger tires weigh more than smaller tires.

That, and a larger tire, even if it weighs the same as a smaller tire, is a larger flywheel that requires more energy to "spin up".

Increasing tire diameter also reduces braking effectiveness, affects handling, and causes more parts wear.

0-60 time would be slower too, but I don't know by how much. This means if you want to accelerate at the same speed you'll need to press the pedal a little harder if you're sporting taller tires on your Slate.

 

[Luxrage]

^ The instant torque from the electric motor should definitely help on the 0-60 times. I was talking to another Geo owner who upsized his tires by two inches or so and he said the difference was really striking. But that thing has almost no torque!

I saw in a video they're recommending 35psi on the OE Kenda tires. I know people up their tire pressure for that but 35 is already on the high side as far as I know (based on my knowledge of, like, 15'' wheel tires).

 

[FlyHappy]

lots of chatter, some technical, about size, diameter, weight, all true.

at the same time, I find a certain axiom to be true: all other things being equal, at highway speeds, the gorgeous , high design alloy wheels you paid extra far, are far less efficient then the butt-ugly base wheels that make you vomit.

I think it a cruel joke of aerodynamics

 

[AZFox]

I would like a wheel upgrade to something in that 17x8 size that is focused on maximizing range. Something lighter than the steelies and aerodynamic. I’m interested in increasing range without reducing utility.
Not a lot out there that I’d pick rinse searching around a bit.

Something else to consider is aerodynamics. Notice the relatively flat shape of the stock wheels. Spoke-y wheels are less aerodynamic, so you might lose more than you gain in efficiency..

On the bright side less unsprung weight and rotational mass provide other benefits.

 

[AZFox]

I find a certain axiom to be true: all other things being equal, at highway speeds, the gorgeous , high design alloy wheels you paid extra far, are far less efficient then the butt-ugly base wheels that make you vomit.

I think it a cruel joke of aerodynamics

Agreed.

Fortunately the Slate is more of a City Car where aerodynamics won't matter much. Hence the "timeless and familiar" boxy shape of the Slate.

If Highway Driving is your thing, the Slate might not be the vehicle for you.

 

[FlyHappy]

Agreed.

Fortunately the Slate is more of a City Car where aerodynamics won't matter much. Hence the "timeless and familiar" boxy shape of the Slate.

If Highway Driving is your thing, the Slate might not be the vehicle for you.

Eh.

I think yer reading too much into that. plenty of folks live in metros where even short drives are functionally at "highway speed"... aero still matters. Not every city is Chicago or Boston.

 

[AZFox]

I think yer reading too much into that.

Possibly. What exactly am I reading too much into?

 

[FlyHappy]

Possibly. What exactly am I reading too much into?

my use of "highway speeds" to infer that I do mostly "highway driving", unsuitable for a short(ish) ranged EV. My home is literally in walking distance of the skyscrapers of a top 20 city, and yet a high % of my driving is still fast enough where wheel design will matter.

 

[AZFox]

Highway speeds are definitely a Battery Buzzkill, even for sleek EVs.

 

[Shrink36s]

Something else to consider is aerodynamics. Notice the relatively flat shape of the stock wheels. Spoke-y wheels are less aerodynamic, so you might lose more than you gain in efficiency..

On the bright side less unsprung weight and rotational mass provide other benefits.

💯
I was thinking along the lines of something like these: https://evforgedwheels.com/product/evforged-wheel/
Or these
https://www.thenewaero.com/product/razor-v2-19-inch-tesla-model-3-wheels-set-of-4-in-smooth-stealth

Most wheels I found are 19”+ though. Booo!