Wheel Size Increase Performance Changes

[Nightshade199]

I've decided to go for a set of very nice black, powder-coated Rattler wheels thanks to 99RT10! Obviously, on paper, going from 17" wheels to 18/19" will decrease acceleration due to the car having to work harder to turn the larger diameter wheel (which seems to be around 1" difference including tire sidewall height, from what I can tell). I assume with as much power as a Viper has, there will be no discernible change in performance aside from cornering grip and reduced sidewall flex? The ride will no doubt be a bit harder as well. Basically I'm just trying to justify throwing a 3.55 in the rear end, lol.

[Nine Ball]

Diameter alone isn't a good indicator of performance. The total weight difference between the two sets of wheels, will have more impact. Smaller wheels don't always weigh less than larger wheels. Moment of Inertia also plays the largest factor for acceleration (and braking), and that is understanding where the weight is located relative to the center of the spinning axis. The further out the weight is located (tires), the worse it affects acceleration/deceleration.

Buy the lightest wheels you can afford, which look the best to you. Don't sweat the diameters, there are too many variables that are more important than wheel diameter alone.

Tony

[Martyb]

I highly doubt you will notice any difference in acceleration, I didn’t, but I had 3:55’s with both set ups.

[dave6666]

You're over thinking the purchase of a set of gears. Just skip all this bs and buy the gears

[The Stig]

https://www.intercotire.com/tire_siz...tio_calculator

APPROX 1 pound of rotating weight remove or unsprung weight equals about 4 pounds off the car weight

[plumcrazy]

you wont notice the difference

[uvbnbit]

Do the gears. The 3.55 should "net" to about a 3.42?

[Matt Dillon]

You're over thinking the purchase of a set of gears. Just skip all this bs and buy the gears

Yep, 3.55's made a BIG Difference over the 3.08's in my Gen. II! LOVE THEM!

[Nightshade199]

I'm wondering now if I should go to the 3.73 with the 19" rears. I want as much extra performance as possible without it being annoying to drive on the street. Since the bigger wheels gear it down, it seems like a 3.73 should be quite similar to a 3.55 on the stock 17" wheels, right?

[plumcrazy]

3.73 is awful steep gearing on a viper IMO.

[GTS Dean]

Back in the WAAAAAYYY early days of Gen 1 Vipers, people were installing 3.55 and even 3.73 gears. Most of the latter sheepishly admitted to being fools for having done so. We were already riding on the fattest, most bad-ass street tire available anywhere, but that has changed a lot over the years. You really need to look at specific tire diameters and revs/mile, then back-figure how much more shifting you are likely do be doing. I think 3.55s are probably going to be your best bet.

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

What Dean and Plum and D6, et-al have said:

THREE FIFTY FIVE IS IT. "Poor Man's Supercharger"

And IF you can tell the performance diff between those wheels / tires without a timing system, you are a Betterman than all who posted here ....COMBINED. Your tire choice likely matters most....

Rattler Wheels are widely avail even at $995 all 4 !