Dramatic Difference in Wheel Weight!

fujio001 · Sat Mar 16, 2013 9:20 am

I was playing around on Tirerack looking at different rim+tire combinations.

I currently am running the 18" stock wheels and Dunlop 235/45/18 Sp7000 tires.
28lb + 26lb = 54lb x 4 = 216lb

Then I looked at 16" Avanti B1 Lupo rims with Continental 225/55/16 Extremecontact DW tires.
15.6ib + 21lb = 36.6lb x 4 = 146.4

A difference of 69.6lb! Almost 70lb is a ton of rotational weight and probably makes a pretty big difference in acceleration and braking. Cornering might suffer but the better tires may make the difference minimal.

Is smaller diameter the way to go for performance?

What are your guys thoughts?

WESHOOT2 · Sat Mar 16, 2013 4:19 pm

Have you instead considered a light-weight 17" package?

(General's Altimax HP V-rated tire weighs right....).

Northernstar · Sat Mar 16, 2013 6:08 pm

Narrower tire will have less traction and thicker side wall will affect corning and handling.
I think the best way is to stay at 18" and look for a light weight rim+better tire

fujio001 · Sat Mar 16, 2013 7:32 pm

There are also 18" rim+tire combinations which can save about 10lb per wheel. Can anyone comment on the difference a lightweight set of wheels makes?

puckaveli · Tue Mar 19, 2013 12:55 pm

Also keep in mind to stay as close to stock wheel offset as you can, a different offset will effect steering angle and performance as well.

11zukizashi · Thu Apr 04, 2013 2:29 am

After a day of driving on my TSW nurburgrings which shaved 10.1 lbs from each wheel... YES IT MATTERS. The cvt lag feels like its been halved.. you get pushed back in the seat much quicker than before. I will need to take a 0-60 video before and after putting the stock ones back on to see the actual difference but aside from the seat of the pants difference the speedometer looks like its climbing faster when i step on it from a stop

murcod · Thu Apr 04, 2013 5:26 am

In gear acceleration would possibly be more accurate to compare- say 20-60mph? (You'll eliminate any traction differences off the line then... if the CVT can spin the wheels from a standing start?)

I made similar changes on my previous vehicles but honestly didn't notice any difference. I'll be doing something similar on the Kizashi soon, so will take more notice this time!