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Tire / Speedometer ?

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by weedy, Oct 9, 2006.

  1. weedy

    weedy Member

    I installed 31" tires on the jeep which are larger than the originals. How much does that throw the accuracy of the speedometer off? I am guessing 5 mph slow????????
     
  2. weedy

    weedy Member

    Anyone know?
     
  3. jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    a er tre
     
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2012
  4. Worth

    Worth Ex Farm Hand

    I just got new tires today. I kept the best old one for the spare so I can measure both new and old. My old 31" inch tire measures 29.5" like Jim said. The new 31" tires measue 30.5". Interesting.

    Anyway, I've made note of speed differences while driving high speed with my wife in her Honda. At highway speeds my JEEP is right at 5 mph off. That is, when my speedometer says 65, I'm really right at 70. Obviously, at slower speeds the difference will be proportionately less.
     
  5. MOP

    MOP Active Member

    Borrow/buy/steal a GPS unit.
     
  6. 66cj5

    66cj5 Jeep with no name

    or run 60mph and time yourself with the mileposts (60mph will be 60 sec).
     
  7. Mark Mann

    Mark Mann Kermit

    Not sure this is as linear as your calculations indicate- Please explain. The is a difference of the radius squared to consider. As Worth indicated, different speeds generate different errors in the speedo.

    -Mark
     
  8. TexColorado

    TexColorado Member

    RPM=(336 x speed x gear ratio x transmission gear ratio ) / tire diameter

    speed enter in mph and tire diameter in inches. The 336 is a conversion factor and remains constant.

    Example: Driving at 60mph in 4th gear & OD with 33's and 5.38's, my RPM=2,465.

    2,465=(336 x 60 x 5.38 x 0.75) / 33
     
  9. MOP

    MOP Active Member


    Radius squared * pi is for calculating area. Circumference is what is important in this calculation.
     
  10. CD60

    CD60 Member

  11. timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Yes, the change is linear in the ratio of radii (or diameters). Only the circumference matters: 2 pi r, not the area of the tire pi r^2.
     
  12. jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

  13. Executioner

    Executioner Member

    :lurk: Why not just make sure your keeping up with most of the traffic but still have some people passing you? I couldn't care less what speed I'm going as long as I'm not the fastest, cause those are the ones the cops like:)
    But then again.. with this F head I have to worry about getting pulled over for going too slowR) R)
     
  14. weedy

    weedy Member

    Thanks for the info. By using the calculator in CD60's post 50mph = 53.48. I thought it was around 5 mph!
     
  15. Worth

    Worth Ex Farm Hand

    Now my head hurts. :D

    Basic geometry was a long time ago. Without really thinking, I thought the circumference grew at a different rate than diameter. :oops:

    So does this mean if the diameter changes by 3.4% as mine did when it went from 29.5" to 30.5", my speedometer reading will change by -3.4% (note the negative)?
     
  16. Mark Mann

    Mark Mann Kermit

    I agree- and I am incorrect on the radius squared. Is for area and not soo for circumference. So much for quick-look analysis. :rofl:

    Basically I am pointing out that one can not, IMO, with accuracy simply say that their speed-o is "+/-five MPH off" (or whatever number). May be true at 50 mph but certainly not at 0 mph (or 25 or 125, whatever.) Too much energy spent when in reality Executioner really has the right idea.

    Thanks for the feedback.

    Mark :flag:
     
  17. MOP

    MOP Active Member

    I started to post a reply almost identical to madizell's yesterday, but decided I didn't have the energy to type that much ;)

    Thanks for not being lazy!
     
  18. Worth

    Worth Ex Farm Hand

  19. lone_wolf

    lone_wolf New Member

    why not just swap worm gears to coincide with the new tire size?