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Old 03-16-2003, 11:07 PM   #12
hoche
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 22072
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: San Jose, CA
Vehicle:
1999 OBS
Silver

Default

For what it's worth, I have a little tiresize comparison program and here're the results:

Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
215/50-16 4.2in 12.2in 24.5in 76.9in 824 0.0%
215/45-16 3.8in 11.8in 23.6in 74.2in 854 -3.5%
215/45-17 3.8in 12.3in 24.6in 77.3in 819 0.6%


So, with 215/45-16, you'll be downgeared 3.5%. This will give you a little extra acceleration, but you'll be running higher revs at your usual highway speeds. However, it's pretty negligible.

When you're reading 60mph, you'll actually be doing 58mph.
When indicating 90, you'll really be doing 87.
When your odometer says you've covered 10,000 miles, you'll actually have only covered 9662 miles.

I wouldn't worry about it too much.
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