2017 Bolt EV Premier: keep the 17" wheels or go for 16"?
I've seen others post about swapping 16" wheels on for long-term savings on energy and new tire costs. Pricing it out at my local shop came out to a $300 difference; $850 for just 17" tires vs $1150 for 16" OEM wheels and Continental TrueContact Tour 205/55R16 tires. Estimated energy savings with the smaller wheels are pretty modest (2%-5% more range or ~5-12 miles. Running the math shows the upfront cost would be offset within ~2.5 yrs and we do plan on keeping the vehicle for as long as it continues to be reliable and safe.
Looking for input for people who've done this or looked into it deeper. Did you or would you recommend eating the upfront cost for a tiny bit more range and cheaper tires in the future or just replace the worn tires on the stock 17" wheels?