Do bigger wheels make cars go slower?

may a little but not much to worry about if its powered by a force pushing it forward then wheel size should not matter but dont put something crazy big cause of the weight of the wheels that will slow it down

Here's the basic physics of your car. The escaping air pushes the car forward. Friction and air resistance are pulling the car backward.

You want to maximize the forward push and minimize the backward drag.

The only way to increase the forward force is to change the balloon/straw engine. You can experiment with smaller and larger diameter straws, and you can try different balloons. If you inflate the balloon more, it will generate more force, but because it is bigger, it will increase air resistance. You'll have to experiment to find out how much to inflate the balloon to get the best balance of the two.

Two things are slowing your car down: friction and air resistance. Air resistance of the balloon is already discussed above. Bigger wheels will have more air resistance. Thicker wheels will have more air resistance. Will either the size or thickness of the wheel make enough of a difference for it to matter? Probably not, but try a big wheel and a small wheel to find out.

You also have to deal with friction. A smaller wheel will turn faster, which increases the friction against the bearing, so a bigger wheel is probably better. The size and thickness of the wheel might change the rolling resistance (try to roll a ball across the floor, and then try to roll a sack of flour across the floor, and you'll understand what I mean). Since you're working on a hard floor and the material for the wheel is probably fairly rigid, I suspect that you won't get enough difference in the rolling resistance to matter.

So, bigger wheels mean more air resistance but less friction in the bearing. Which effect will win out. You'll have to try it to find out.

Sorry, but balloons furnish no means of propulsion. Outside wheel diameter can make any car faster or slower. Final drive gearing, horsepower and aerodynamics makes a car go faster or slower. All wheels and tires must be the same size if the vehicle has four wheel or all wheel drive.

Think about this: The larger and thinner the wheel, the easier they roll over any type of pavement. A thin wheel does not roll over soft ground.

Should you select the brand new tire measurement correctly overall diameter (and accordingly gearing) will not be a challenge. However, the brand new wheel and tire blend is likely to be a lot heavier than the stock setup. How so much heavier (and consequently how much effect) depends upon the wheel and tire mixture. That in flip requires extra energy to only flip the wheels so you emerge as with much less energy hitting the pavement. It also way it takes longer to sluggish down considering that there's larger mass for the brakes to overcome. The improved unsprung weight combined with the cut down profile of the brand new tires can even adversely outcomes ride best. It is gonna be stiff and vicious. If you happen to go along with a wider tire there will even be greater rolling resistance to overcome. This isn't priceless for straighline pace but can absolutely be a improvement in braking and cornering. As for that tire measurement, your CTS more commonly has P225/55R16 94H or 94V sized tires on it at 33 psi entrance and rear. The sizes it would be best to keep in mind with the brand new tires are 225/45R18XL 95W to keep the proper total diameter of 25.7 inches inflated to 39 psi entrance and rear to preserve the right load carrying ability. Or you should utilize a much wider tire 245/40R18 93W at a scale down and extra comfy 36 psi entrance and rear. Both is very nearly same in overall diameter to the OE tire dimension so will introduce no errors in speedometer, odometer or change the gearing.

if the balloon is supplying the power to the wheels in a direct manner, id say no because the tires increase the diameter and change the gear ratio to an extent. the increased weight can be a factor to the other direction. the heavier the vehicle, the more force is required to get it moving. in the form of power distribution that i see in the vid, speed would be lower related to the increased weight.

Bigger wheels on vehicles will make them accelerate slower, but give them more top end speed.