The benefit of lighter wheels, episode I
02-19-2003, 07:10 AM
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The benefit of lighter wheels, episode I
After a few days in various driving conditions with new wheels, I thought I'd pass along some impressions and observations with respect to wheel weight. For many this will be nothing new, however I have seen from time to time the proverbial "a few pounds isn't going to make a difference..." posts, and the latter are the ones I want to address.
First, I do not have a scale, I will reference the weights published by the manufacturers. If anyone wants to add their own data please feel free.
OLD: BBS SX 18x8, 32et (reported weight of ~24.5 pounds**)
NEW: OZ Superleggera Race Silver 18x8, 35et (published weight 17.6 pounds)
Tire weight isn't a factor here since the same PZero Rosso Assimetricos (225/40/18) went from the BBS to the OZs.
<i>**In a shipping carton with some newspaper cushioning, UPS's scale read 28 pounds</i>
So if we use these numbers for sake of argument, I just shaved 6.9 pounds of raw wheel weight at each corner. Some will argue unsprung weight is 4 times the raw weight savings, and if we use that argument the unsprung weight savings is 27.6 pounds at each wheel. Doesn't seem like much, right? WRONG! I can emphatically say the car feels significantly lighter than before, and nearly every aspect of driving has improved. Acceleration is improved off the line, cornering turn-in is sharper, and braking is significantly better. While the raw wheel weight reduction is only 6.9 pounds each, the car feels like it dropped a heck of a lot more than that. Overall the car feels measurably more nimble with the lighter wheels. Money well spent!
More "testing" to be done soon with 100 octane and race programming
First, I do not have a scale, I will reference the weights published by the manufacturers. If anyone wants to add their own data please feel free.
OLD: BBS SX 18x8, 32et (reported weight of ~24.5 pounds**)
NEW: OZ Superleggera Race Silver 18x8, 35et (published weight 17.6 pounds)
Tire weight isn't a factor here since the same PZero Rosso Assimetricos (225/40/18) went from the BBS to the OZs.
<i>**In a shipping carton with some newspaper cushioning, UPS's scale read 28 pounds</i>
So if we use these numbers for sake of argument, I just shaved 6.9 pounds of raw wheel weight at each corner. Some will argue unsprung weight is 4 times the raw weight savings, and if we use that argument the unsprung weight savings is 27.6 pounds at each wheel. Doesn't seem like much, right? WRONG! I can emphatically say the car feels significantly lighter than before, and nearly every aspect of driving has improved. Acceleration is improved off the line, cornering turn-in is sharper, and braking is significantly better. While the raw wheel weight reduction is only 6.9 pounds each, the car feels like it dropped a heck of a lot more than that. Overall the car feels measurably more nimble with the lighter wheels. Money well spent!
More "testing" to be done soon with 100 octane and race programming
02-19-2003, 07:25 AM
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I know..... I can feel it too, when I wear dave's rims.
My suspension works different, car accelerates quicker. Just feel nimble, not like 28 lbs dead weights :/
And the drag times improved...
jaime
And the drag times improved...
jaime
02-19-2003, 07:26 AM
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Now just think how much difference there is
going from a 18" to a 17" rim even if the weights are the same there will also be a big difference in how the car acts since the weight is moved closer to the center. My goal is to get 17" rims that are under 13 lbs. Just wonder what the weight is on the stock 15's that came on the non sport 2000.
02-19-2003, 07:29 AM
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OZ SL's in Silver for everyone!!!
:-P You should have stayed quite...now every AWer will be driving around with your wheels!
I can't wait until spring...my chunky Avus wheels need to come off! Unfortunately, with all the potholes, I might have to wait until May before I take them off! :-(
I can't wait until spring...my chunky Avus wheels need to come off! Unfortunately, with all the potholes, I might have to wait until May before I take them off! :-(
