This question is for those of you who have gone to a wider than stock tire size. Did you have a noticeable drop in gas mileage due to the wider contact patch? I'm edging closer to getting some 15's with 225/50 tires and I'm trying to get a better idea of the tradeoffs. I love the look and ride/performance increases but I'm not too keen on loosing a few mpg to get it. Thanks.

 

in my case no...but at the same time the wheel weight dropped significantly
so can't tell if there was any difference from just tread.

 

Mine improved slighlywith the significant wheel weight drop since the heavy mini wheels and run flats arent a good way to start. Rolling resistance matters, but unless you really care about every last drop buy the tires that you want the most and dont worry much about width. Really weight in the tire is a big part of good gas mileage and if you have run flats now youll probably improve with a lighter tire.

 

More narrow has less rolling resistance and usually lower weight.

Extreme examples for my MCS-

15" stock wheels with 175/65-15 stock tires. 28 lbs per combo. 29 mpg

17x7" wheels with 215/45-17 tires. 38 lbs per combo. 24 mpg

I was trying my best.

If you are comparing only a little more narrow then it's not that much difference.

Keep your air pressures up to help with mpg.

 

Cool. I'm getting an honest 32-33mpg on the highway with S-heavies and 21 lb 205/45-17 tires. My next tire/wheel combo should weigh under 38 lbs total. From what you all are saying, it should pretty much cancel out the extra tread width. I understand that wider tires will be changing the shape of the contact patch and all things being equal, they should have the same contact area. I'll just have to play around with tire pressures.

 

Now the fun begins... Konig Rewind vs. Rota RB in 15x7. RB's are a little more like the original Minilite style and weigh slightly less. Rewinds are +40 and will fit 225/50 with no/slight rubbing (confirmed by blalor). RB's are supposed to come in +40 as well but 18racing only lists up to +35 which will most likely rub. RB's are also a little more expensive but still very cheap.