why bigger tires/steeper gears vs. a smaller diameter and taller gear?

[cjmatt]

Just curious, lets say Ive got a 4.10 and run a 28" inch tire, giving me a certain total power ratio to the pavement, what is the reasoning behind having the bigger tire when I could go with a 26" and 3.73 and still go through the traps at the same rpm? Seems as if the taller gear would be stronger, and the tires would weigh less.

whats the reasoning behind it?

[Fryguy302]

Traction. The taller tire has a bigger footprint (front to back measurement of the contact patch), as well as a taller sidewall to help absorb the shock.

If the car is super weak, and doesn't need the traction, it would make more sense to run the lighter tire.

[soap]

Traction.

/thread

--Joe

[camaromann]

Wheel speed. Bigger the tire the more contact patch you have and the bigger the gear you can run. Wheel speed is HUGE when leaving the tree.

[Billydroveit]

Also taller gear will give less wheel speed if it spins and easier to recover.