“Smaller wheels = less fuel? I tested it.” This viral car hack promised to slash my gas costs—but did it actually work? 🚗💡 See the real results in the article 👇
Let’s face it—saving money on fuel has always been a hot topic for car owners. No matter how much we earn, we still try to cut costs where we can, and fuel expenses are often at the top of that list. Even with modest driving habits, I personally spend around $60 a month on gas. And for those who drive 2,000–3,000 kilometers monthly? Fuel alone can burn a serious hole in your wallet.
Some people buy compact cars specifically to save on fuel and get from point A to B as cheaply as possible. Others ditch their cars for public transport or hop on bikes or e-scooters to commute. Then there’s a whole different category: the DIY-minded folks who will try anything to reduce their vehicle’s fuel consumption.
Some swear by fuel additives, others install strange gadgets ordered from China, and a few even go as far as modifying their spark plugs or uploading special software to their car’s computer. But recently, I came across a curious suggestion from a fellow car enthusiast: switch to smaller-diameter tires to use less gas.
That’s right—by downsizing your wheels, they claimed you’d spend far less at the pump. It sounded a little out there, but also worth testing. So I gave it a try.
The Theory Behind the Trick
So why would smaller wheels supposedly reduce fuel consumption?
First, bigger wheels are heavier. More weight means the car requires more energy to move, and that energy comes from fuel.
Second, larger wheels increase rotational inertia. That means it takes more effort (and more fuel) to get them spinning at the same rate.
Third, they also require more force to maintain speed and acceleration, especially at lower speeds. So, in theory, smaller wheels should need less energy—and burn less fuel.
That’s the idea, anyway. It may sound logical, but does it actually work?
Setting Up the Experiment
To find out, I ran a simple test. I drove my car at a steady 90 km/h in fifth gear using cruise control, over a 3-kilometer stretch of road. I made sure the road was empty and conditions were ideal. My car’s onboard computer showed an average fuel consumption of 5.4 liters per 100 km.
Then I changed my wheels from 16-inch to 15-inch rims and repeated the test on the same road, at the same speed, under the same weather conditions—all within about an hour. No wind, no temperature change. Everything was as consistent as possible.
What changed?
Nothing. The fuel consumption was still 5.4 L/100 km. I reset the computer before the second run to get a fresh reading, but the result didn’t budge.
What Does That Tell Us?
It turns out, changing your wheel size by just an inch likely won’t make any real difference in fuel economy—at least not in the short term or in such a controlled test. I even checked the manufacturer’s official data for my car, and fuel consumption is the same across trims with 14-, 15-, and 16-inch wheels.
So while the idea may sound clever, it didn’t hold up for me. Still, your results might differ depending on your car, tire type, or driving habits.
Have you tried anything to reduce your fuel use? Maybe even this wheel-size trick? Share your experience in the comments!
