Taller wheels/tires
ARD MP5 said:
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That tire is too tall for the protege anyways. You'll mess all the gearing up. Find something shorter, not taller. Unless you're madly boosted of course.
Rishie
Newbie alert....
I read this long thread (lots of good stuff - thanks for all your efforts), among others like
http://www.msprotege.com/vbb225/showthread.php?t=123618318&highlight=5th+gear+kit, and I've seen a few references to "messing up" gear ratios. A taller wheel/tire is actualy what I was considering, both to fill the wheel well a bit better (love the tight/even gap look) and still keep more than a rubber band of sidewall, and possibly to drop the highway RPM a bit. This is of course just a thought/idea/daydream at this point, but seeing this, I'm now curious. What would the real-world effect be? I'd assumed taller through all gears, meaning a little less overlap, a little less forgiving launch (is 1st not short enough to handle it?), and a little lower RPM in top gear on the h'way, and an adapter needed for acurate Speed/Odo. Are there other adverse effects? Is it really that noticable in the power for city driving (no track work)? I'd assume you could just stay in a lower gear longer for more rpm/power when needed?
I understand you can't go too much taller w/o clearance issues on the towers/fenders. I'm not lowered yet, but with all this work, and extra wheel height, I was thinking about a little drop. The previous owner of my car put Estrella 16x7's but must have the wrong offset, cause the sidewalls catch the fenders in the back. I need to change that either way, so if I were to go taller, how tall can I go on 17's or 18's?
Anyway, thoughts/ideas would be greatly appreciated. Too long a post, I know... sorry.
Neuf