Rim Width

This topic has 7 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 6 months ago by Joshua Guiher.

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- February 19, 2014 at 11:15 am #22271
  
  David McDowell
  Participant
  
  Josh,
  
  You are looking at rim width not circumference. Most rear wheels ran today are 5″ circumference.
- February 19, 2014 at 11:17 am #22272
  
  Joshua Guiher
  Participant
  
  Yes, but as you stretch the width from 210 to 218, does that now change the circumference (roll out), at least a small amount?
- February 19, 2014 at 1:21 pm #22283
  
  Joshua Guiher
  Participant
  
  Yamaha Senior (Piston Port) following WKA rules
- February 19, 2014 at 2:43 pm #22287
  
  Gary Lawson
  Participant
  
  As mentioned contact patch is unaltered and circumference differences are cancelled out by gear changes. The difference is the change in sidewall stiffness. Wider wheels stiffen the sidewall and decrease grip. On a spec tire like ylc you want the 210 or 212. No bigger.
- February 19, 2014 at 2:56 pm #22289
  
  Joshua Guiher
  Participant
  
  Thank you all for the responses, I understand now.
- February 19, 2014 at 12:17 pm #22277
  
  Walt Gifford
  Participant
  
  You want wheels that are 1″ wider than your tires. Don’t worry about the roll out, RPM is controlled by changing the rear sprocket.
  
  Gif
- February 19, 2014 at 12:49 pm #22278
  
  James McMahon
  Participant
  
  Welcome to karting.
  
  Keep in mind, assuming tire pressure remains the same, tire/wheel width actually has no affect on contact patch size, only shape. If you significantly change the circumference then that’s different, but otherwise, the adage that a wider wheel = bigger contact patch is incorrect.
  
  What class are you running?
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