Lightest Rims Avaliable?
08-07-2001, 07:58 AM
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If you get thinner tires w/ 17" rims that match the same overall radius as stock, then you should have little or no loss (I think). Only problem with this is that with less tire between the road and your rims, potholes and bumps become more of a risk. Its a tough choice...the awesome look of 17's, or preformance...
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08-07-2001, 09:10 AM
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Vehicle: 2008 Toyota Prius 2006 Suzuki SV650S
QUOTE
Originally posted by thespitefire:
If you get thinner tires w/ 17" rims that match the same overall radius as stock, then you should have little or no loss (I think). Only problem with this is that with less tire between the road and your rims, potholes and bumps become more of a risk. Its a tough choice...the awesome look of 17's, or preformance...
External rolling diamter only affects the Speedo and "effective gearing".If you get thinner tires w/ 17" rims that match the same overall radius as stock, then you should have little or no loss (I think). Only problem with this is that with less tire between the road and your rims, potholes and bumps become more of a risk. Its a tough choice...the awesome look of 17's, or preformance...
QUOTE
Wheel weight is a factor, however, the distribution of that weight more important.
The farther out from the center of the wheel the weight is, the WORSE it is. Thus 17" wheels are worse than 15" wheels of the same weight assuming equal weight distribution for both wheels.
The farther out from the center of the wheel the weight is, the WORSE it is. Thus 17" wheels are worse than 15" wheels of the same weight assuming equal weight distribution for both wheels.
Let's do a thoretical example here.
15" wheel. 10 lbs are in the hub 2 pounds in the "spokes" of the wheel, and 3 lbs are in the "rim" on the outside of the wheel (outside flat circle)
17" wheel 10 lbs in the hub, 2 pounds in the spokes and 3 lbs in the "rim" on the outside of the wheel (the outside flat circle)
Even though the 17" wheel weighs the same as the 15" in every respect, the fact that it's 3 lbs rim is 2" farter out from the hub, makes the wheel harder to accelerate and turn.
So even if the wheels weight the same, or even lighter....they can still slow you down.
The $20 question is...Does it slow you down enough to measure? Does it slow you down enough so you can notice it? Only a true test at a race track would tell.
In the tests that Sport Compact Car did. The car was fasted with 15's, then 16's and finally slowest with 17's. However around the willow springs track, the differences with a professional driver were about 1.5 seconds out of a lap time of 1:45 (minute:seconds).
So in the real world, you would not notice it. But on an autocross course or race track, were every .0001' of a second count...you can notice/measure the difference.
