lighter wheels do they really help out?

[SE-Rious©]

I've got a friend whom has light wheels under 9lbs a peice.
he has a pretty quick car.however i felt the car w/stock 14inch del-sol wheels and it feels basically the same as it does now w/the lighter wheels.my question is are they really worth buying.do they help in drag or more in autocross type racing ? just alitte curious before i plan to buy some expensive wheels for no reason.

thanks.

[Hulud]

anything to lighten the car will make it quicker

its simple physics, less mass to move with the same power will always be quicker

[SE-Rious©]

anything to lighten the car will make it quicker

its simple physics, less mass to move with the same power will always be quicker

i know the lighter the better,but i wasn't sure if lighter wheels caused problems like wheel hop or something similar to this.thanks for the input

[2.0civic]

changes how much weight the suspension is binding also

[Hulud]

i know the lighter the better,but i wasn't sure if lighter wheels caused problems like wheel hop or something similar to this.thanks for the input

how much power are you putting down?

[changaroo]

lighter wheels is equivalent to shaving some weight off the car i believe...

[IDCoconut]

Removing as much as a single POUND of rotating mass from your wheels/tires/brake assembly is as good as adding power. One of the most overlooked aspects in automobiles.

Ever picked up a Porsche magnesium lugnut? it weighs about as much as a pencil.

[koukis14]

Removing unsprung weight does wonders.

[ridgeline_06]

Thats why on bikes ppl use 520 chains instead of 530 or 532 and get magenisum wheels

[sleepys4]

Using light wheels, under 8lbs, almost like getting a lighter flywheel or something. I mean turning 18lbs wheels=tires, then turning 8lbs wheel plus tires. Big difference in rotating mass.

[On_Her_Face]

heres my question does an fastass person run faster than a fit person?

[dimer4life]

Here's my question. Is a lighter car always faster when racing downhill against a heavier one?

[David88vert]

Here's my question. Is a lighter car always faster when racing downhill against a heavier one?

No, not always, there are a number of additional factors to consider.

[IDCoconut]

Here's my question. Is a lighter car always faster when racing downhill against a heavier one?

If it's the same car, with the same amount of power, same gearing, and same wheels and tires, but with a difference of a fatass in one and a lindsey lohan on the other, then the lighter car wins. The only difference is the heavier car has more momentum at the same speed compared to the lighter car, meaning it will be harder to stop.

Don't think free-fall here. That's just one factor. Your car's acceleration is a BIG factor and a lighter car with the same amount of power and gearing as another will always accelerate faster. Considering you have 2 "perfect" drivers.

[myyellowspec]

We all know lindsay lohan is a "perfect" driver lol.

[speedminded]

Throw on some ankle weights...takes alot more effort to move doesn't it?

You have to determine what you're willing to spend and how much you're willing to throw away. You can run a 8.5lb magnesium SSR Comp on the street but the first pot hole or road plate you encounter will make it look like a melted clock in a Salvador Dali painting. Tracks normally don't have those obstructions therefore it's safer to run a lighter more malleable wheel.

[Humphrizzle]

take a 12 lb wheel and add the tire weight which is about 10 more pounds.

multiply that time pi and thats how much strain and weight is put on the motor.

lesson:
yes, it IS good to have light wheels

[speedminded]

take a 12 lb wheel and add the tire weight which is about 10 more pounds.

multiply that time pi and thats how much strain and weight is put on the motor.

lesson:
yes, it IS good to have light wheels

Huh? The weight times pi = what?


Velocity = circumference x rpm OR Velocity = diameter x pi x rpm OR Velocity = 2 x radius x pi x rpm

Momentum = Mass x Velocity

[WhiteAccord]

I hate math...

[Humphrizzle]

a very easy way to remember it is the way of considering the weight of the wheel and tire x pi.

22lb wheel and tire x 3.14... =69.08lbs

thats actually how much weight it takes to turn the front wheels.

[speedminded]

a very easy way to remember it is the way of considering the weight of the wheel and tire x pi.

22lb wheel and tire x 3.14... =69.08lbs

thats actually how much weight it takes to turn the front wheels.

How does weight correspond with pi? You're missing several variables and pi will never be used with weight, you would only used it to determine the circumference of a wheel & tire to determine the mass...

Don't you mean torque required to turn the wheel?


http://www.mini2.com/forum/wheels-ty...heel-test.html

http://www.mini2.com/forum/engine-dr...el-debate.html

[josh green]

Throw on some ankle weights...takes alot more effort to move doesn't it?

You have to determine what you're willing to spend and how much you're willing to throw away. You can run a 8.5lb magnesium SSR Comp on the street but the first pot hole or road plate you encounter will make it look like a melted clock in a Salvador Dali painting. Tracks normally don't have those obstructions therefore it's safer to run a lighter more malleable wheel.

The lighter wheels are only that light b/c they go through a much more intense manufacturing process. They are typically designed for strength and that allows them to be lighter. A 14lbs rota will fold over WAY before any 8.6lbs Volk wheel would. Its a much more costly process to make and I am sure its a much higher quality metal as well. A real forged wheel should have no problem against a pot hole.

[speedminded]

You are extremely incorrect. The lighter wheels are only that light b/c they go through a much more intense manufacturing process. A 14lbs rota will fold over WAY before any 8.6lbs Volk wheel would. Its a much more costly process to make and I am sure its a much higher quality metal as well. A real forged wheel should have no problem against a pot hole.

How many sets of 8.5lbs wheels have you driven on? I can let you look at a dozen SSR's from the racecars and let you decide for yourself. Although operating temperature of the wheel is much higher on the track than the street they are soft and they bend extremely easily...a cast alloy wheel like a rota will bend very little before it just cracks.

[SPOOLIN]

ive never seen an SSR that was forged on the outer edge? I dont really care about those wheels though so i may have missed them.

[Humphrizzle]

you know your shit and i've been up since 2 yesterday afternoon..

no sleep yet so i'll explain myself after i've slept.

[josh green]

How many sets of 8.5lbs wheels have you driven on? I can let you look at a dozen SSR's from the racecars and let you decide for yourself. Although operating temperature of the wheel is much higher on the track than the street they are soft and they bend extremely easily...a cast alloy wheel like a rota will bend very little before it just cracks.

I though tyou were using the SSR as an example. I have seen plenty of volks take a huge beating and they look perfectly fine. I do recall people saying that the SSR's were a little soft, but I dont care for any of their wheels anyway. Look at the new Volk RE30's, the 15x7 weighs 8.6lbs and is 30% stronger than the CE28's at the same weight. Forged wheels are made strong and I have a hard time believeing that street driving would do any harm. You are correct about the cast wheels cracking, I had some 15x7 slips and I hit a curb around 40mph and it cracked the lip and would not seal anymore.


Anytime yo free up weight things are going to react faster. The car will have a slight gain in power but its not going to be something that you will really notice. You probably would feel the difference getting back on throttle coming out of a turn or something. But no mad v-tec power.

[Allstar3.8T]

Light wheels help acceleration, but can hinder top end speed because the car must constantly pull them, and do not have the mass to maintain momentum as well as a little heavier wheel will.

Try this exercise, hold your arm out and spin a ribbon or string 24" long as fast as you can. Now attach 2 pennies to the ribbon/string end. The lighter one got to full speed faster, the one w/ pennies got to a faster full speed and was harder to slow/had better speed maintenance.
There more to speed that light weight and whp.

[Sport1.3]

IMO you Also have to take braking into consideration. a lighter wheel will slow the car down MUCH faster. Sometimes too fast. I've run into plenty of wheels that simply didnt work with the car because they narrowed my braking ability. Too light and they lock up, too heavy and its like stopping a train. You have to find the best meduim that fits with your car and driving style...not simply the lightest wheel you can throw on the car

[speedminded]

IMO you Also have to take braking into consideration. a lighter wheel will slow the car down MUCH faster. Sometimes too fast. I've run into plenty of wheels that simply didnt work with the car because they narrowed my braking ability. Too light and they lock up, too heavy and its like stopping a train. You have to find the best meduim that fits with your car and driving style...not simply the lightest wheel you can throw on the car

Brakes are only as good as your tires

[Sport1.3]

Brakes are only as good as your tires

Tell that to my Tech R-A's when I flat spot the shit out of them running my Miata hollow spokes (14" 10lbs) at speeds no greater then 60mph on stock 89 brakes with Porterfield pads lol....when I use the 11.5 lb (15") Enkie Super lights I don’t have this problem. I can go much deeper/harder into the pedal without full lock up...anything else on the miatas requires me to adjust the braking proportions and results in slower times. Though admittedly this only may pertain to my specific driving style. Same tire patch (205)

[Nissangeek]

If it's the same car, with the same amount of power, same gearing, and same wheels and tires, but with a difference of a fatass in one and a lindsey lohan on the other, then the lighter car wins. The only difference is the heavier car has more momentum at the same speed compared to the lighter car, meaning it will be harder to stop.

Don't think free-fall here. That's just one factor. Your car's acceleration is a BIG factor and a lighter car with the same amount of power and gearing as another will always accelerate faster. Considering you have 2 "perfect" drivers.

Actually in a free fall they would fall at the same rate (in a vacuum where there is no friction, wind, etc.) b/c gravity pulls everything toward the center of the earth at the same rate; 9.8 m/s.

[UpSideDownDesi]

i am hoping you have already done lighter fly and crank pully.

[DinanM3atl]

Does it make a difference? Yes it does?


Can 99% of the drivers on this board feel the difference from going from a 22lb wheel and 30 lb tire to a 17lb wheel and 30lb tire? Probably not. You also have to consider from just walking around and noticing that there are a large portion of lightwheight wheel owners out there that have the cheap shitty crap tires on their car. They shaved 4 lbs per wheel and picked up 3 or 4 lbs per tire.

Save 2 lbs per corner with wheels and run a lap around a real track. DOUBTFUL you shave off much time if at all.

[DinanM3atl]

Tell that to my Tech R-A's when I flat spot the shit out of them running my Miata hollow spokes (14" 10lbs) at speeds no greater then 60mph on stock 89 brakes with Porterfield pads lol....when I use the 11.5 lb (15") Enkie Super lights I don’t have this problem. I can go much deeper/harder into the pedal without full lock up...anything else on the miatas requires me to adjust the braking proportions and results in slower times. Though admittedly this only may pertain to my specific driving style. Same tire patch (205)

Try a real tire...

RA1/Pilot sport cup/New Yokohama R comp/etc

[speedminded]

Try a real tire...

RA1/Pilot sport cup/New Yokohama R comp/etc

Got a set of Hoosier slicks next to my car now

[DinanM3atl]

Got a set of Hoosier slicks next to my car now

he wasn't talking about slicks... I believe the Avon(read shitty) Tech R A is an R comp like tire correct?

[RISKYB]

unless you are really counting thos hundreths on your time slips, why worry about it get what you want, your paying for it

[speedminded]

unless you are really counting thos hundreths on your time slips, why worry about it get what you want, your paying for it

A few lbs on each wheel makes a HUGE differance with driving.

[Sport1.3]

he wasn't talking about slicks... I believe the Avon(read shitty) Tech R A is an R comp like tire correct?

LOL...the are a Nationally successful Competition tire.

[DinanM3atl]

A few lbs on each wheel makes a HUGE differance with driving.

i disagree...

I have stock contours at 22 lbs each

How much time you think just a set of Kosei's at 17lbs is going to make... I bet maybe 1 sec AT THE MOST around RA...