Wheel weights: How much does it affect performance?

**Sykes** · 08-21-2002, 01:06 AM

How much does the weight of the wheel affect a car's performance?

Let's say a 17x7" wheel that weighs 15lbs vs a 17x7 wheel that weighs 22.5lbs.

I know it will affect it bit, but how much?

Thanks!

**OMOYYC** · 08-21-2002, 01:14 AM

To add to that question. How much does 18" and 17" wheels differ in performance (Launch and accel)?

**[GaGe]** · 08-21-2002, 01:16 AM

Originally posted by Cwave
To add to that question. How much does 18" and 17" wheels differ in performance (Launch and accel)?

I don't know too much about wheel sizes, but i can make a prediction:

Bigger wheels will be faster on the straight, but smaller wheels will be better for cornering.

I'm not sure about this though.

**OMOYYC** · 08-21-2002, 01:26 AM

Actually, it would seem to me that the opposite would be true.

It takes more momentum to move a wheel with more weight distributed on the outer edges. But because larger wheel means less sidewall, thus giving less tireroll for the corners.

Originally posted by [GaGe]

I don't know too much about wheel sizes, but i can make a prediction:

Bigger wheels will be faster on the straight, but smaller wheels will be better for cornering.

I'm not sure about this though.

**kenny** · 08-21-2002, 01:32 AM

Originally posted by [GaGe]

I don't know too much about wheel sizes, but i can make a prediction:

Bigger wheels will be faster on the straight, but smaller wheels will be better for cornering.

I'm not sure about this though.

Bigger wheels = better cornering, provided you are using similar tires just as cwave said, less sidewall roll.

**OMOYYC** · 08-21-2002, 01:35 AM

But what about on the 1/4mile? I wonder how much difference it is with 17"s vs 18"s

I'm almost tempted to leave my 17"s on until after friday

Has anyone tested?

**jonny** · 08-21-2002, 01:37 AM

Originally posted by [GaGe]

I don't know too much about wheel sizes, but i can make a prediction:

Bigger wheels will be faster on the straight, but smaller wheels will be better for cornering.

I'm not sure about this though.

Its more the exact opposite really...I thought you were a car whiz kid! j/k

**buh_buh** · 08-21-2002, 01:37 AM

big difference.
First time I drive with my 18's on, I almost stalled because I wasn't giving enough gas. I was too used to driving with my 16's which are much lighter and smaller.

**OMOYYC** · 08-21-2002, 01:40 AM

Hmm... do you have very light-weight 16"s though? What I'm trying to do is compare same weight 17"s and 18"s.

Let me PM Importz and see if he noticed a difference.

Originally posted by buh_buh
big difference.
First time I drive with my 18's on, I almost stalled because I wasn't giving enough gas. I was too used to driving with my 16's which are much lighter and smaller.

**[GaGe]** · 08-21-2002, 01:42 AM

Originally posted by jonny

Its more the exact opposite really...I thought you were a car whiz kid! j/k

I just typed it the other way around.

**OMOYYC** · 08-21-2002, 01:43 AM

Another thing, tread width. Did your 18"s have a much wider tread than your 16"s? That usually makes a huge impact also.

Originally posted by buh_buh
big difference.
First time I drive with my 18's on, I almost stalled because I wasn't giving enough gas. I was too used to driving with my 16's which are much lighter and smaller.

**OMOYYC** · 08-21-2002, 01:44 AM

What kind of car are you driving? I think the amount of difference you'll notice is proportion to the amount of torque you have in your car.

Originally posted by Sykes
How much does the weight of the wheel affect a car's performance?

Let's say a 17x7" wheel that weighs 15lbs vs a 17x7 wheel that weighs 22.5lbs.

I know it will affect it bit, but how much?

Thanks!

**4wheeldrift** · 08-21-2002, 07:05 AM

Bigger wheels (don't have to be heavier too but this is usually the case) have a parasitic effect on torque. Because bulk of the mass of the wheel and tire package is further from the center of rotation, it requires more energy to make the wheel spin the same speed. There's no hard and fast rule that I know of for figuring out how much difference an extra pound of wheel makes in the quarter or anything like that, but it can have quite a profound effect on torque limited vehicles.

**Ekliptix** · 08-21-2002, 07:22 AM

Rotating mass is worth much more then regular mass when loosing weight on your car. Say you lose 20 pounds in the wheels themselves(all 4). That would be more equivilent to losing 60 lbs of dead weight in the car(numbers are very approximate).

Also, going to a bigger wheel/tire effectivlly changes the gear ratio to the ground. Smaller wheels/tires = short gear ratio. Big wheels/tires = tall gear ratio. So smaller wheels and tires should/would give you a better 1/4 mile time if they have the same tire compound and width.

I have a whole SCC article about this where they tested 1/4mi and lap times w/ different wheel sizes. I'll put it up later.

**OMOYYC** · 08-21-2002, 08:08 AM

But typically when you increase wheel size, we compensate by putting lower profile tires so that the overall diameter is not affected.

Is that why the ITR comes with those 15" Wheels?

Originally posted by Ekliptix
Rotating mass is worth much more then regular mass when loosing weight on your car. Say you lose 20 pounds in the wheels themselves(all 4). That would be more equivilent to losing 60 lbs of dead weight in the car(numbers are very approximate).

Also, going to a bigger wheel/tire effectivlly changes the gear ratio to the ground. Smaller wheels/tires = short gear ratio. Big wheels/tires = tall gear ratio. So smaller wheels and tires should/would give you a better 1/4 mile time if they have the same tire compound and width.

I have a whole SCC article about this where they tested 1/4mi and lap times w/ different wheel sizes. I'll put it up later.

**Voodoo Child** · 08-21-2002, 08:45 AM

Hey Cwave,
The ITR was specificaly given the 15" wheels not only because they handle quite well but they are also very light.
Most of the other ITR owners that I talk to wont even put anything bigger on their car than 16". Like Ekliptix said, weight is everything.
A good set of Spoon, Mugen or Volk rims will forsure help you out.

VC.

**OMOYYC** · 08-21-2002, 08:48 AM

The weird thing though, is that AC Schnitzer wheels are quite heavy themselves (almost 30 lbs each). At the same time, they are HUGE a$$ expensive! Why would that be?

**Redlyne_mr2** · 08-21-2002, 09:18 AM

I noticed a huge difference when I had my 17s on compared to my stock 14's..with the 14's the car launched hard but were scary at high speeds and didnt corner very well....the 17s hooked up nicely but didn't allow the car to launch like it did with the 14's. The 17s were a hell of alot better in the corners though and at top speeds

**OMOYYC** · 08-21-2002, 09:20 AM

What car do you drive? Is it an MR2? What year? Turbo?

Originally posted by Redlyne_mr2
I noticed a huge difference when I had my 17s on compared to my stock 14's..with the 14's the car launched hard but were scary at high speeds and didnt corner very well....the 17s hooked up nicely but didn't allow the car to launch like it did with the 14's. The 17s were a hell of alot better in the corners though and at top speeds

**Redlyne_mr2** · 08-21-2002, 09:24 AM

Originally posted by Cwave
What car do you drive? Is it an MR2? What year? Turbo?

ya 91 turbo

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