rondog

iTrader: (1)

Don't know if this has been posted before or not, but this just adds to my butt dyno experiences with wheel weights and accelleration.

To make a long story short, I have changed my wheels about 10 times or more each year with everything from a 16 lb forged lightweight wheel to a 26 lb low pressure cast wheel, and have never really felt a difference expcept for traction, which could have been more on the tire's fault than the wheels.

If this test posted in the link is true, and I wouldn't doubt it, then we can accept the idea that the whole lightweight wheel craze is really a product of marketing and took the whole industry on a craze for no real reason, unless you are racing in a comptetition where every tenth of a second is critical. Daily driving should apply.

http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98186

FiveLiterCheater

I felt a HUGE difference going from my 19x9 Rays 2Piece w/ 245/35/19 tires to the stock 17x8 wheels with 235/45/17 tires. Honestly, it was a night and day difference in terms of accelleration...The car is so much more responsive with the 17's on...

Then again, he didn't upsize the wheels.

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

i feel a diff between wheel sizes...

Hockeyman

i went from 24lb wheels to 17lb wheels, felt a lot of difference. Raced a friend with and without, i beat him by 1/2 length before, after i beat him by 2+ length. Seems like lightweight wheels do make a difference IMO.

Ken1997TL

Of course they make a difference. It also pays off with better fuel economy.

FiveLiterCheater

Yeah, no bull....my MPG shot up once I put my 17's back on...i'm talking a 3-4mpg difference according to the computer. I average like 20mpg in the city now!

gdubb

went from 3 piece 18" Works to the oem 16" it started barking seconds and the mpg did go up as well

3.0 CL

csmeance

just remember, wheel size, drive-terrain and vehicle weight and power play a big difference. An NSX is a sport tuned machine with RWD. FWD would be affected more with heavier rims rather than the NSX with a staggered setup.

SakiGT

Send it in to Mythbusters.

I follow the "it makes sense" rule. Less weight means less force. Dur.

And besides, all this guy is saying is that a small weight difference means a small time difference.

rondog

iTrader: (1)

If you read the whole thing, you'll see how controlled his environment was, and how he used the same tire, etc. The hwol idea that bigger wheels make a huge difference is bull too, the wheel is 25" overall diameter, with tire. a 1" shift is slight weight is a ratio of 1/25, barely anything. Now if it was like 7/25 then I could say, we might see a difference. Our horsepower is similar to that of the NSX, it's just that the NSX has a much lighter curb weight. So most of everything is very similar. I'm going to conduct this test myself and videotape the whole thing in the spring to prove this point.

Maximized

It pays off on the dyno too. A lighter wheel will create less parasitic loss than a heavy wheel.

LIPPSTUH

iTrader: (2)

it does make a difference in acceleration, and mpg which is just as important esp. for dd.

my 18x7.5 mutlipiece was heavier than my 19x8 mono.... my mono is 18-19 lbs and i love the lightweight.

CG2PROJECT

http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=2180212

ChrisQ1980

I have only changed out wheels on one of my cars.

1994 Acura Integra 4dr GSR with I/H/E and some weight reduction. From what I have learned is that un-sprung weight is much more important than sprung weight. Back then I didn't have much cash to go for some super light weight rims so I opted for the Rota Slipstreams in Bronze.

Compared to the stock GSR wheels they were about 7lbs lighter. So for a total of 28lbs I immediatly noticed the car accelerated/braked/cornered much better/faster, and with more control. Of course the upgraded tires (Toyo T1-S) helped a lot as well.

My 1/4 time with just an Intake was 15.5, after the I/H/E, rims, and weight reduction I was able to pull off a 14.8 I think the wheels/tires definatly helped. Adding plus size wheels, especially crome add a lot of weight. I have weighed my stock 03 TL-S rim with stock Michelin tires and they come in at 42lbs =( I'd love to find a set of attractive light weight rims.

The above test is a definate dissapointment for sure, and not all rims slow a car down "that much" but the bigger and heavier you go from stock there should definatly be a noticable difference. FWD also feels the effects much more than a RWD (especially staggered)