I drive a 2000 Escort ZX2. I used to have a Geo Metro and I still get emails from MetroMPGs site on what he is up to :P.
Anyways, I ... (takes a deep breath) can admit to being a bit of a fuel economy geek. The current tires on my car are 205/55/15's . And slowing my commute from 75 mph to 55 would help my fuel economy but add alot of time to my work commute.
My tires are wearing low and its time for some replacements so I wanted to see if I could get some better fuel economy by getting taller tires. I thought of getting thinner tires but does thinner tires mean that I need to buy rims or can a go a few sizes smaller on my current rims?
185/65-15 would be the exact same hight, and would leave your speedo working exactly as it is now as well, the 185/65-15 would simply be 20mm narrower section width (not tred width, tred width varries, altho narrow section width makes narrower tred more practical) and they look like they will fit 5-6.5" wide rims, so dependong on what you have, they could work.
Which would of course make aerodynamics worse, possibly cancelling the benefit of lower engine RPM (Of course you could try to go taller, but narrower...)
Even if you don't go taller but do go narrower, you'd likely see a benefit...I've tried it and believe this to be true.
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Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one. - Albert Einstein
those tires are already taller than stock size on the zx-2 i have a 99 and my tire size is 185-65-14.
I have one of the rare Escort S/R's. Ford only made 2,000 of them between 1999 and 2000. The S/R escort is lowered 1'in and has some engine/exhaust enhancements and also came with the larger rims. I love the car but being a former Geo owner I would like to squeeze some efficency out where I can.
I drive a 2000 Escort ZX2. I used to have a Geo Metro and I still get emails from MetroMPGs site on what he is up to :P.
Anyways, I ... (takes a deep breath) can admit to being a bit of a fuel economy geek. The current tires on my car are 205/55/15's . And slowing my commute from 75 mph to 55 would help my fuel economy but add alot of time to my work commute.
My tires are wearing low and its time for some replacements so I wanted to see if I could get some better fuel economy by getting taller tires. I thought of getting thinner tires but does thinner tires mean that I need to buy rims or can a go a few sizes smaller on my current rims?
Thanks for all the replies
Beo, I have a 99 ZX2. If I were you I would put 205/75/15 on your car. There is no doubt in my mind that this would improve your FE at the speed you drive. Your speedo would register 65 when you were going near 74.
If your RPM at 74 is 3200 this would lower to 2800 at 74mph. Your engine has enough torque to handle this OK and it definitely will help mileage. Look at DiscountTire.com. CO ZX2
(Of course you could try to go taller, but narrower...)
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