EV wheel size

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HeidiFlowerpt Driver
Posts: 251
Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2020 2:30 pm

Post by HeidiFlowerpt Driver »

I'm wondering why electric cars generally have such big wheels?

I understand that narrow wheels have less rolling resistance, and that in order to have enough rubber on the road to give the car sufficient grip you then have to have large diameter wheels. The ID.3 can have 18", 19" or 20" wheels and I note that many Youtube reviewers are warning that the larger wheel sizes will result in a less comfortable ride. My ID.3 First Edition has 19" alloy wheels, and on the terrible road surfaces in my town the ride can be quite jiggly. (On good road surfaces the ride is excellent, though).

I'm told VW are fitting tyres to the ID.3 from three different manufacturers. Continental is one, my car has Goodyear tyres, I'm not sure of the third.

The Passat that I disposed of in favour of the ID.3 had 17" wheels which seemed big, most cars I've owned have had 15" wheels or smaller. I'm wondering how expensive it's going to be to change tyres for my new car. Especially since I believe it uses special low noise tyres, which no doubt cost more...
ID.3 1st Edition Manganese Grey - called Heidi Flowerpot

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