Lighter Wheels

907mge · 12-13-2010, 09:48 PM

I've gotten sick of driving with the rough ride of 18's on the supra and planning on going back to 17's in the spring. I found this article on the effects of up sizing wheels that got me on the subject of lighter wheels.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...sted-tech_dept

Now after looking at the numbers from the results that C&D got. They went from 7.6 to 7.9 sec for the 0 to 60 time and from 15.9 to 16.1 in the 1/4 mile time just by adding 14lbs to each wheel. Now I know it doesn't seem that that much but I know there have been a few people on here talking about weight reduction. And my understanding was that by dropping 100lbs curb weight, would drop .1 sec off the 1/4 mile time. So it seems according to these results 56lbs has a pretty big effect.

I am planning on going with Enkei RacingRPF1 17x8 that weigh in at 15.6 lbs with a 235-45-17 tire which are 238
a piece which isn't too bad for a 8in wide rim. And does anyone know about thedurablility of lighter wheels?

So in the end I thought I would see what you all thought since I have a 7mge auto and could use alittle more pep.

CanadianBak'inSupra · 12-13-2010, 10:26 PM

interesting thanks!

cre · 12-14-2010, 06:57 PM

The width of the tire usually does affect the performance as well.... their test was quite incomplete. The car has to overcome the resistance of the air pushing against the tire as the car moves forward (this increases with speed), the friction of the greater contact patch (varies with suspension setup and alignment), etc. Air dams or diffusers placed in front of each wheel will help with the first one.

907mge · 12-14-2010, 11:12 PM

I would also say lowering a vehicle would help with wind resistance since the wheel is further up in the wheel well. And I have also been looking at the tire weights since two tire of the same size can differ by a few pounds and it seem that the weight towards the outside of the rotation mass matters most.

907mge · 01-22-2011, 05:46 AM

Found a cool video on the subject of unsprung weight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FZrJBWQ7-g

cre · 01-23-2011, 02:09 AM

Very nice find. Thanks for posting it!

907mge · 01-23-2011, 04:00 AM

Now I am stuck between the Enkei RPF1 s in a 17x8 Black or the same wheel in silver but a 16x7 . With the 17's I will be able to run a 235-45-17 and have a little more tire but have a little less ride quality and more weight. But with the 16's I will run the stock tire size of 225-50-16 and have less weight, less rolling resistance and a nicer ride. But I do think a 17x8 would look nicer. Does anyone know the factory offset? And for anyone that whats it I found this with the factory 16 weighing in at 23lbs compared to the 16 I am looking at that weighs less than 15lbs.

http://www.superhonda.com/tech/wheel_weights.htmlld

And which color do you guys think will look better on my white mk3?

12-13-2010, 09:48 PM	#1
907mge 20psi boost Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Harrisburg Posts: 759	Lighter Wheels I've gotten sick of driving with the rough ride of 18's on the supra and planning on going back to 17's in the spring. I found this article on the effects of up sizing wheels that got me on the subject of lighter wheels. http://www.caranddriver.com/features...sted-tech_dept Now after looking at the numbers from the results that C&D got. They went from 7.6 to 7.9 sec for the 0 to 60 time and from 15.9 to 16.1 in the 1/4 mile time just by adding 14lbs to each wheel. Now I know it doesn't seem that that much but I know there have been a few people on here talking about weight reduction. And my understanding was that by dropping 100lbs curb weight, would drop .1 sec off the 1/4 mile time. So it seems according to these results 56lbs has a pretty big effect. I am planning on going with Enkei RacingRPF1 17x8 that weigh in at 15.6 lbs with a 235-45-17 tire which are 238 a piece which isn't too bad for a 8in wide rim. And does anyone know about thedurablility of lighter wheels? So in the end I thought I would see what you all thought since I have a 7mge auto and could use alittle more pep.

12-13-2010, 10:26 PM	#2
CanadianBak'inSupra Official hall monitor / search nazi - NO SOUP FOR YOU! Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Canada, BC Posts: 837	interesting thanks! __________________ 1984 supra - 1uzfe - w58 - 4.10 - 1 piece aluminum shaft.

12-14-2010, 06:57 PM	#3
cre Toyota Racing Development Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 5,038	The width of the tire usually does affect the performance as well.... their test was quite incomplete. The car has to overcome the resistance of the air pushing against the tire as the car moves forward (this increases with speed), the friction of the greater contact patch (varies with suspension setup and alignment), etc. Air dams or diffusers placed in front of each wheel will help with the first one. __________________ If something breaks or you need to contact a member of the administration please post HERE. Unless it's a private or administration matter please post it on the forum. It benefits no one else if car related questions aren't posted for future users and takes away from the time I'm able to spend helping on the rest of the forum. If you're so inclined I'm always more than happy to accept tips via PayPal. Tip Jar --->

12-14-2010, 11:12 PM	#4
907mge 20psi boost Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Harrisburg Posts: 759	I would also say lowering a vehicle would help with wind resistance since the wheel is further up in the wheel well. And I have also been looking at the tire weights since two tire of the same size can differ by a few pounds and it seem that the weight towards the outside of the rotation mass matters most. Last edited by 907mge; 12-15-2010 at 12:21 AM.

01-23-2011, 02:09 AM	#6
cre Toyota Racing Development Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 5,038	Very nice find. Thanks for posting it! __________________ If something breaks or you need to contact a member of the administration please post HERE. Unless it's a private or administration matter please post it on the forum. It benefits no one else if car related questions aren't posted for future users and takes away from the time I'm able to spend helping on the rest of the forum. If you're so inclined I'm always more than happy to accept tips via PayPal. Tip Jar --->

01-22-2011, 05:46 AM	#5
907mge 20psi boost Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Harrisburg Posts: 759	Found a cool video on the subject of unsprung weight. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FZrJBWQ7-g

01-23-2011, 04:00 AM	#7
907mge 20psi boost Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Harrisburg Posts: 759	Now I am stuck between the Enkei RPF1 s in a 17x8 Black or the same wheel in silver but a 16x7 . With the 17's I will be able to run a 235-45-17 and have a little more tire but have a little less ride quality and more weight. But with the 16's I will run the stock tire size of 225-50-16 and have less weight, less rolling resistance and a nicer ride. But I do think a 17x8 would look nicer. Does anyone know the factory offset? And for anyone that whats it I found this with the factory 16 weighing in at 23lbs compared to the 16 I am looking at that weighs less than 15lbs. http://www.superhonda.com/tech/wheel_weights.htmlld And which color do you guys think will look better on my white mk3? Last edited by 907mge; 01-23-2011 at 04:04 AM.