On Wed, 19 Jul 2017 22:34:44 -0400,
wrote:

The reality is that it seems the variables I tried to keep out of the
original question (for example tire width, tread pattern, rubber material,
inflation pressure, unsprung weight, etc.) can make more of a difference
than does the larger diameter tire.
Don't bother arguing with Trader - he's CLUELESS

I can tell who knows what they're talking about and who doesn't so thanks
for the warning.

Pretty much if someone says something (even me) without backing it up with
a reference, it's just hearsay.

Nothing wrong with hearsay - but it's not believable unless it's
accompanied by some believable reference.

Even what I say isn't believable (even to me) unless I can back it up with
a reliable reference (I don't trust my intuition more than I trust anyone
elses' intuition).

Heck, my intuition tells me that time is invariant, but Einstein's
equations prove my intuition wrong, so I have to accept facts contrary to
my intuition.

My original intuition was that there was some measurable and meaningful
benefit of the larger diameter fitment - but in the end - it appears -
there's no good reason (in most cases) to have larger diameter fitments.

If one were to control all the random variables, then they "might" get
something good out of the larger diameters - but it would take a lot of
control over relatively difficult variables (like the torque curve of the
engine).