Eric_Oz_S2

I also think the wider section width available on 18" wheels means that tyres are less likely to overheat, therefore giving more consistent performance. You should also be able to run a lower pressure on the lower profile tyres, I guess this has potential to provide more grip buy maximising contact area - someone on here might like to confirm this.

ninefiveone

Is this speculation or based on experience/evidence? A lot of what you're saying runs counter to my experience but I'm curious to know more.

Cole

I've always heard that unsprung weight (especially rotating mass) has a multiplied effect on the car vs sprung mass.

Every chassis is going to be different but the general rule of thumb seems to be 1lbs of unsprung weight is equal to 10lbs of sprung weight.

So the 3.5lbs per wheel difference per wheel would have the effect of 140lbs in the car. (3.5*4*10)




I know guys that have these problems with any wheel size. I personally have run 18s on 3 sports cars over the last 8 years without a single issue here on Colorado roads (bad). Guess it just depends on how and where you drive, and maybe the wheels you are buying.

gt37vgt

being unsprung i wouldn't think would make such a profound effect but i guess the fact that its spinning fast effectively increases is mass

JustinL

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

Here is a well done test comparing different sized wheels on performance.

Cole

Interesting read.

The braking and skid pad numbers are kinda interesting.

gt37vgt

yeh interesting but inconclusive as they didn't get a tire with the same wear/ traction rating ..
but .1 of a second off your 0-60 time for every inch from 18 down to 15..

i wonder about the effect on real car acceleration on a more powerful car the big wheels may help dampen the power delivery so you wheel spin a little less in first and second ..

George D

I like my light Fikse wheels. I also like the 17" size for our cars. No matter the HP. Tony G has managed to put 315 all the way around his car in 17". You can't get much wider than that in any wheel size on our cars.

Eric_Oz_S2

I thought I remembered reading it somewhere:

http://autospeed.com.au/cms/A_108915/article.html

333pg333

Ahh, Adam's favourite motoring journalist. Actually the guy makes a lot of sense and in a down to earth way so ******** like me understand it. Good site to subscribe to in fact.

Van

I use 993 hollow spokes. They're about as light as Porsche 18"s get... but they're not Fikse, Kenisis, CCW, etc...

In terms of performance? I have no factual evidence, but I think lightweight wheels make more of an impact than a lightweight flywheel... Getting mass to spin takes HP... reduce the mass that has to spin, and that HP can go to propelling the car forward.

samluke

Here are some facts you might find interesting.

CCW classic 18x8 fronts weigh 20.8lb. 993 hollow spokes weigh the same and 996 5 spokes weigh 21lb

993's can be had for 1/3 the price of CCW's. There are some lighter aftermarket wheels but they get very expensive. At the other extreme Mille Miglia Cup3 18x10's weigh 33lbs each and the RUF wheels are similar.

For 16" wheels the TurboS Clubsport forged wheels are one of the lightest. If you add Hoosier R6 tires to the wheel weights you get:

CCW 18x8/993 hollows 20.8
Hoosier 245/35/18 21
Total 41.8lb

Clubsport forged 7x16 23
hoosier 245/45/16 22
Total 45lb

Carrera 5 spoke 10x18 22.6
Hoosier 285/30/18 24
Total 46.6lb

Clubsport 9x16 27
275/45/16 hoosier 24
Total 51lb

George D

Good read. Thanks for posting this article.

mikey_audiogeek

The Enkei's are the same weight as the factory 16" wheels I removed. I'll get some photos up ASAP.

mikey_audiogeek

Attachment 440128

BTW, the sway bar was reinstalled after this photo