Good afternoon everyone hope all is well. Question: Do wider tires on a V6 Jeep Grand Cherokee that's 2WD affect power? I got new tires on mine its a 2014 and the tires are Rocky Mountain HT2. They are the same diameter just wider in width then the factory recommended. Dude at Discount Tire claims it wouldn't affect power and will improve handling, cornering and less body roll (which I've noticed). Since I go by what you all tell me, is it really true power isn't affected?
Do wider tires on a V6 Jeep Grand Cherokee that's 2WD affect power?
Have you ever seen cars that have been modified to drag race? They have really fat rear tires with equally soft rubber tread to maximize their grip on the drag strip, so, yes, it does affect the tire's ability to roll without slipping (skidding is slipping). A slipping tire means the car's engine is putting out too much power for the car's rear end to handle. This is not the only variable, though.
@justin-shepherd Yessirrrr
@justin-shepherd Didn't think to mention the tire size while typing the post... the tire size are 265/65 R17 while the factory recommended is 245/70 R17
is it really true power isn't affected?
Those are traditional all weather tires. A new set of tires won't affect the vehicle's power in any way. You might notice better traction from them when the road conditions get rough, and they should ride smoother.. A Jeep isn't a sports car and wasn't designed to handle like one. Any body roll, that should be addressed by improvements to the existing suspension.
@hixster Tire size is 265/65 R17 while the factory recommended is 245/70 R17
Do wider tires on a V6 Jeep Grand Cherokee that's 2WD affect power?
of course. wider = heavier. 1lb of rotating mass is roughly equivalent to 8.4 lb static mass. acceleration AND braking will be affected. Rolling resistance will be higher (= more fuel consumption).
Wider tires also affect turning characteristics since the track is wider. Tires will experience more scrub and the steering wheel may not center itself as easily. It may lock up and skid easier. It will require more effort to turn the wheels at low speeds, and put more wear on the power steering. It may put more wear on the steering linkage components. You will get more debris flung up and paint wear on the sides of your vehicle (especially if tires extend beyond your fenders).
@imperator Makes sense. I didn't think to mention how wide the tires are while typing the post... my apologies but the tires size all four are 265/65 R17 while the recommended size is 245/70 R17.
ok so they're not just wider, they're also a different diameter, so it's going to affect your speedometer, odometer, ABS, transmission shift points , etc. etc. Use an online tire size calculator to see what I mean.
Wider tires have more rubber touching the road. This means more rolling resistance, which can make the Jeep feel a bit slower when acceleratin also on dry pavement, more grip can help put power down better (less wheel spin). But since your Jeep is 2WD, the extra grip won’t make as much of a difference unless you’re flooring it often but it could also make the drive feel with steering stiffer
