Tire Placement for Aerodynamic Drag Reduction: Inside vs. Outside Designs

[tt101]

What helps reduce aerodynamic drag better wheels inside or outside in reference to the above designs? please help.

 

[berkeman]

What helps reduce aerodynamic drag better wheels inside or outside in reference to the above designs? please help.

What do you think? What research & reading have you done so far? Is this question for schoolwork, or are you designing such a car for yourself?

 

[tt101]

yes this is for a project I am working on. According to my knowledge tires outside should be better since the frontal area reduces as compared to when the tires are placed inside. As the area increases the opposition also increases. But also the tires being covered reduces drag over the tires. thus the confusion.

 

[jack action]

Look at this calculator (and the theory at the bottom of the page). It's not as precise as a CFD analysis, but it is a lot faster for first approximations.