How much do the wheels weigh?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 12-18-2005
Posts: 1,791
From: Middle Village, NY
Before I decide, I want to make sure that it weights less or the same as my existing wheels. Function is very important to me, so the weight will play an important factor. Mike mentioned that his wheels are heavier than stock and slowed him down. I would like to use lighter wheels, even if they don't look as fancy. (I cant see them when I am driving anyway).
This is why I try to avoid going anywhere with my wife and kids. Their added weight in my car hurts the performance
This is why I try to avoid going anywhere with my wife and kids. Their added weight in my car hurts the performance
Senior Member
Joined: 04-19-2006
Posts: 166
From: MI
Lee, I agree with you 100% on the wheel weight, the lighter the better. I am convinced that driving without my wheelcovers has improved my gas mileage, and the car seems faster. Does anybody know how much the stock steel wheel weighs? I know I saved 1.5 lbs by removing the wheelcovers.
Senior Member
Joined: 05-03-2006
Posts: 882
From: Newfoundland, Canada
Originally Posted by thedonn007
Lee, I agree with you 100% on the wheel weight, the lighter the better. I am convinced that driving without my wheelcovers has improved my gas mileage, and the car seems faster. Does anybody know how much the stock steel wheel weighs? I know I saved 1.5 lbs by removing the wheelcovers.
In the context of the weight of the vehicle itself, plus fuel plus driver, it is negligible. A good feed and a person will put on 1.5 pounds....But if you say so...
Senior Member
Joined: 10-19-2005
Posts: 20,687
From: Miami
Originally Posted by longhorn
It's not the weight of the car, is the rotating mass the drivetrain must spin. Less mass equals quicker acceleration because of the lesser amount of power needed to spin the wheels.
I'm with nfboy on this.
Senior Member
Joined: 03-06-2006
Posts: 304
From: DETROIT
Sorry to disagree guys/gals... but I'm with Lee on this one.
One word sums it up: "INERTIA".
It IS fact that it takes more power to spin a heavier object than a lighter one. Some other considerations- once in motion, the heavier object will have a tendancy to spin longer than a lighter one, although the lighter object will spin more easily... which are Lee's concerns. Now the question of how much weight difference will make a difference IS debatable. IMO, Dropping 2 or more pounds PER WHEEL IS significant, although may never be noticed by the driver!!! The theory of light rims is MOST noticable on a superbike. Rotational mass, the weight of an obect while rotating, becomes very obvious in this realm. It has a profound effect on speed (acceleration/deceleration) and handling (flickability). These same principals apply to a cager (4-wheeled vehicle), although the net product may not be as noticable.
Generally speaking, this explains why high-performance rims tend to be made from strong, lightweight materials (aluminum, titanium, magnesium <-- old days, etc...). So, lighter = faster... although lighter also typically means 'thinner'- therefore potholes can more easily ruin!
The same argument can also be made for an aluminum, or carbon fiber, DRIVESHAFT (rear-wheel drive vehicles)!!! Since it rotates to transfer power (like a wheel to the pavement), it too can benifit from less rotational mass- at the sacrifice of durability.
One word sums it up: "INERTIA".
It IS fact that it takes more power to spin a heavier object than a lighter one. Some other considerations- once in motion, the heavier object will have a tendancy to spin longer than a lighter one, although the lighter object will spin more easily... which are Lee's concerns. Now the question of how much weight difference will make a difference IS debatable. IMO, Dropping 2 or more pounds PER WHEEL IS significant, although may never be noticed by the driver!!! The theory of light rims is MOST noticable on a superbike. Rotational mass, the weight of an obect while rotating, becomes very obvious in this realm. It has a profound effect on speed (acceleration/deceleration) and handling (flickability). These same principals apply to a cager (4-wheeled vehicle), although the net product may not be as noticable.
Generally speaking, this explains why high-performance rims tend to be made from strong, lightweight materials (aluminum, titanium, magnesium <-- old days, etc...). So, lighter = faster... although lighter also typically means 'thinner'- therefore potholes can more easily ruin!
The same argument can also be made for an aluminum, or carbon fiber, DRIVESHAFT (rear-wheel drive vehicles)!!! Since it rotates to transfer power (like a wheel to the pavement), it too can benifit from less rotational mass- at the sacrifice of durability.
