So, my car is getting to the point where it needs new tires. But, with 274K on the ticker, I'm very hesitant to drop $240+ on new tires for the 14s that are on the car now. So, I have found what appears to be a decent deal on Z24 wheels on CL with good tread. But, I'm wondering what they will do to my fuel mileage. Currently, most of my mileage is city, and I average around 23-24 driving the car like a race car that it is and about 29-30 on the highway. I know on my F-250, I took a noticeable hit when I switched from stock 16x7 rims to 16x10 rims on in town driving, but not so much on the highway. My mileage went down even more when I switched to 35s, but that's another story. So, has anybody done the switch from 14s to 16s before? How was your mileage before/after?
2000 Ford F-250 7.3 Powerstroke 4x4 - Not stock
1973 16' Tahiti Speedboat
1983 200 HP Mercury BlackMax
1997 Chevy Cavalier with 275K miles
i managed to pull 30 mpg on 18s drag racing, so it doesn't hurt much. The bigger and heavier a rim and tire, the more it will hurt economy during acceleration, but once in motion, it actually helps.
It shouldn't have much effect. Your'e going from steel 14's to aluminum 16's. Also, the overall diameter of the tire on the 16's is just slightly taller, giving you slightly less rotations per mile (1%, but still in the right direction).
I doubt it would, since some of the cars do in fact come with 16s from the factory. Or if it does, it would be a real minimal difference.
i find it amusing that SHOoff has nothing better to do but follow me around & be an unhelpful dick in even cross-forum. - Jon Mick
Zaairman wrote: So, has anybody done the switch from 14s to 16s before? How was your mileage before/after?
I think the question is "what size tires?" The rim size and weight should make almost no difference in MPG but the overall tire size will make a difference in effective gearing and also effect your speedometer and odometer readings. Google "tire size calculator" to compare your existing tire size with the new tire size to find the approximate difference between them.
For example I've got (I think) 205/50/16 Kumho's on Z24 16in rims mounted on my sunfire and it puts my mileage off something like 8% compared to the stock 14" wheel and tire combo. I can't remember exactly just now but a few weeks ago I was looking at tire sizes and I think a 195/60/16 is about 1% different than the stock setup.
If you havent read this article take the time to do that, should give you a real good idea of what changes to expect.
Read Me
I get around 24-25 mpg city driving in bumper to bumper or when there is open roads, I don't putt around.... not sure but I thought the older 2.2s got better millage than the 2.4s but depending on how an engine is running, etc plays a big factor, I doubt you would notice the differance in gas millage. Putting a wider tire, a grippier tire, etc will hurt your MPG but going from 195/70r14(assuming) to a 205/55r16 (in a all season oem like tread) I doubt you would notice a differance.
2000 Cavalier Z24 5spd - Intake, Dynomax muffler, Hawk Pads, Powerslot rotors, Sportlines/Koni reds, Neon Coil, MSD 8.5 Wires - **SOLD**
2014 Kia Forte Koup SX 6spd - 1.6L Turbo - My new car
2015 Kia Sorento EX V6 AWD - Wifes Car
I swapped my 97 sunfire from 14 in steelies to cavy LSS rims with 205/55/16s on them and i honestly havnt noticed a change..lol..I did although notice my gas milage went up when i installed my short ram intake,it even went up a bit when i put my header on as well and also added a good bit of hp
Yeah... not gonna do header or an intake on this car. It only gets what it needs... haha. The truck gets all of the unnecessary toys.
2000 Ford F-250 7.3 Powerstroke 4x4 - Not stock
1973 16' Tahiti Speedboat
1983 200 HP Mercury BlackMax
1997 Chevy Cavalier with 275K miles
It's not gnna hurt at all seriously.
Back in the day when i had my '03 Ecotec Cavalier i had stock 14'on it. I bought some 16 inches from a Z24 and it didint hurt mileage at all.
DO IT!
2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER VL BASE SEDAN.
I have the stock 16's on my car and I average about 24 to 28 mpg in the city and 30 highway
winter tires will hurt your mileage.... learned that the hard way
ChristmasCar wrote:winter tires will hurt your mileage.... learned that the hard way
I barely noticed a differance, maybe a 1-2mpg differance. But that could be from letting the car idle few extra minutes in the morning, etc...
summer are 205/55r16 touring tires and winter are 205/75r14 winterforces (yes they are alot taller and do fit)
The 14s weigh around 2lbs more each and the added height might aid at higher speeds since the revs will be a little lower but accelerating will probably be hurt a little by having to turn a taller tire.
I do mostly city(stop and go) driving. I drive a little aggressive and get around 22-25mpg but the tires have made very little differance. I fill up every 2.5 weeks so a few mpg will be unnoticable to me.
2000 Cavalier Z24 5spd - Intake, Dynomax muffler, Hawk Pads, Powerslot rotors, Sportlines/Koni reds, Neon Coil, MSD 8.5 Wires - **SOLD**
2014 Kia Forte Koup SX 6spd - 1.6L Turbo - My new car
2015 Kia Sorento EX V6 AWD - Wifes Car
