Variables for the chart are your actual on-the-road tire diameters (modest effect); tire pressures/temperature (tiny effect). The variation in UNLOADED diameter of a 4.00-18 rear tire versus a 120-90×18 rear tire is about 15 mm in the WORST case I know of. However, the actual rolling circumference varies little (probably about 2%, but could be larger). Hence the values shown below are THEORETICALLY fairly accurate, and some are taken from a BMW chart dated 1978, others are calculated, and some are actual test data. Â Values are theoretical; and do NOT account for tire slippage and tire variations, nor for speedometer and tachometer variations. Â Because of these factors, rpm is LIKELY higher for a true speed as charted.
See notes at end of this article!! Â The speedometer ratio is printed on the dial of most speedometers. Â The author’s website discusses things in much more depth, and includes expanded ratios for earlier models, etc…..link at the end of this article.
