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Math guru's step in please!!!!!!

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Old Dec 25, 2009 | 12:14 PM
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Default Math guru's step in please!!!!!!

The difference from a 4.10 gear to a 3.90 is about 5%.

So, does this mean that a 4.10 gear car will act exactly like a 3.90 if it is using a 5% larger circumference tire?
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Old Dec 25, 2009 | 12:18 PM
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Sort of. I would prefer to use the radius of the tire to figure it out but in a nutshell a larger diameter tire will effect the perceived drive ratio.
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Old Dec 25, 2009 | 03:44 PM
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If you calculate the circumference from the loaded rolling radius it will be exactly the same.
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Old Dec 25, 2009 | 03:46 PM
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Originally Posted by vettenuts
Sort of. I would prefer to use the radius of the tire to figure it out but in a nutshell a larger diameter tire will effect the perceived drive ratio.
Ok, I'm listening.........

First of all why would a radius be better?


Secondly, why do you use the term "perceived". Is it because it will not affect the actual final ratio of the drive axle but will affect the final result at the pavement, which to me is all that counts.

Thanks, Randy
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Old Dec 25, 2009 | 03:50 PM
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Originally Posted by corvettebob1
If you calculate the circumference from the loaded rolling radius it will be exactly the same.
The same as what?

I'm sorry, I'm just a lowly human. Can someone tell me if my math is accurate or flawed?
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Old Dec 25, 2009 | 04:30 PM
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Originally Posted by whitelite


Secondly, why do you use the term "perceived". Is it because it will not affect the actual final ratio of the drive axle but will affect the final result at the pavement, which to me is all that counts.
Exactly. Larger diameter tires will effectively lower the overall ratio. I didn't see the part about the circumference. If you compute the rotation distance per RPM for each combination, assuming you know the circumference of each tire, you should be able to come up with a tire that provides the same distance per motor revolution.
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Old Dec 25, 2009 | 07:24 PM
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Originally Posted by vettenuts
Exactly. Larger diameter tires will effectively lower the overall ratio. I didn't see the part about the circumference. If you compute the rotation distance per RPM for each combination, assuming you know the circumference of each tire, you should be able to come up with a tire that provides the same distance per motor revolution.
Ok, but is my math right to think that 5% change in gear ratio (eg. 3.90 to 4.10 ) is the same as 5% change in tire diameter (eg. 83.76" circumference tire to 79.57")

My stock rears are 275/40/18 at 83.76". 295/30/18's are 78.44".

This tire change should be close to the same as changing from a 3.90 to a 4.10 rear gear. Right?
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Old Dec 25, 2009 | 09:05 PM
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You might want to play around with this:

http://www.carforums.net/rearcalc.php
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Old Dec 28, 2009 | 10:31 AM
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Yes, in theory going to a 5% smaller circumference tire is the same as a 5% steeper gear ratio just like you asked.

However, in practice they aren't the same thing. With the wheels, you will get a higher torque multiplication but you could also get a lower inertia tire which is easier to accelerate. With the gears, you will likely get higher torque multiplication and a slightly higher gear loss. Makes lighter and smaller wheels look like the better option.

Peter
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Old Dec 28, 2009 | 08:13 PM
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Originally Posted by lionelhutz
Yes, in theory going to a 5% smaller circumference tire is the same as a 5% steeper gear ratio just like you asked.

However, in practice they aren't the same thing. With the wheels, you will get a higher torque multiplication but you could also get a lower inertia tire which is easier to accelerate. With the gears, you will likely get higher torque multiplication and a slightly higher gear loss. Makes lighter and smaller wheels look like the better option.

Peter
Hmmm

So I can put a bigger diameter 18/19 set of wheels with a 4.10 gear for the street. This, if sized correctly, would give me a 3.90 equivalent for the streetability and manners I'm looking for!!

I could still have my old 17/18 combo for the 1320 and times I want a little more punch :o.

I don't understand why this isn't more common
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Old Dec 29, 2009 | 11:01 AM
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Originally Posted by whitelite
Hmmm

So I can put a bigger diameter 18/19 set of wheels with a 4.10 gear for the street. This, if sized correctly, would give me a 3.90 equivalent for the streetability and manners I'm looking for!!

I could still have my old 17/18 combo for the 1320 and times I want a little more punch :o.

I don't understand why this isn't more common
You have to use tire diameter, not wheel diameter
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Old Dec 29, 2009 | 11:35 AM
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Originally Posted by whitelite
The difference from a 4.10 gear to a 3.90 is about 5%.

So, does this mean that a 4.10 gear car will act exactly like a 3.90 if it is using a 5% larger circumference tire?
YES!

all you have to do is set up two different dummy scenarios to find the speed the car is travelling with the two different setups and the same input speed from the transmission:

SCENARIO 1 (3.9 gears):
given:

1000rpm input from trans
3.9 gear ratio
25in dia tire

final drive rpm = 1000/3.9 = 256.41 rpm
distance per tire rotation = 25in * pi = 78.54in/rotation

256.41rot/min * 78.54in/rot = 20138.4 in/min
(rotations cancel out leaving units for velocity in in/min)

velocity = 20138.4 in/min = 19.07 mph

SCENARIO 2 (4.1 gears and 5% larger tire):
given:

1000rpm input from trans
4.1 gear ratio
26.25in dia tire

final drive rpm = 1000/4.1 = 243.9 rpm
distance per tire rotation = 26.25in * pi = 82.47in/rotation

243.9rot/min * 82.47in/rot = 20114.4 in/min
(rotations cancel out leaving units for velocity in in/min)

velocity = 20114.4 in/min = 19.05 mph


RESULTS:
the resulting velocities are only slightly different because 3.9 to 4.1 isnt EXACTLY a 5% difference. You would be better off with the smaller tires and 3.9 gears though. The larger wheel/tire setup has more inertia and requires more power to get up to speed.

Last edited by SaberD; Dec 29, 2009 at 05:12 PM.
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Old Dec 29, 2009 | 12:25 PM
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From: Mason Mi
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"You would be better off with the smaller tires and 4.1 gears though. The larger wheel/tire setup has more inertia and requires more power to get up to speed."

Understood, that's why I would use a smaller ( stock or smaller ) for the strip and larger diameter for the street because 80% of my driving is on the highway. Plus my 490rwhp has me kinda traction challenged with the current 3.90 on stock dia. wheels and tires.
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Old Dec 29, 2009 | 04:37 PM
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Be careful. A smaller diameter rear tire than the fronts will cause problems with the active handling.
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Old Dec 29, 2009 | 04:45 PM
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when switching to the 4:10 gears then using the smaller circumference tires on the strip, you'd also lose some traction.. smaller contact patch for the tire coupled with higher torque multiplication of the gears.
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Old Dec 29, 2009 | 05:11 PM
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oops i meant to say the 3.90s with the smaller tires.
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