edudiaz123

I just recently ordered new aftermarket wheels for my '02 Carrera. But to my horror i just learned that they are way much heavier than the "standard" 18th inch the car comes with. What are the penalties of heavier wheels in terms of performace and handling? Is it noticeable?

A friend said that the car will not absorb the bumps and potholes as smooth as before.

Any feedback from past experiences??

Many thanks,
Ed (from DR)

arenared

Your friend is right on the money. How much heavier, though? There is probably approaching 100lbs unsprung weight in each corner. Also depends on your level of experience. For me 2 to 4lbs is just about where I can tell a difference. I would say that for most folks 4lbs is not noticeable. 10lbs is noticeable. The reason I say 4 is that that is the difference between bald and new tires, and you don't hear people complaining about how heavier their new tires were. Also, different brands of tires can vary by 4lbs, and, again, I don't hear people complaining about how much heavier their tires were when they switched tire brands.

Tbred911

If they are 10 lbs heavier your call will accelerate slower and yes you will feel the bumps more... it will also probably not corner as well... the 5-spoke lightweights are already pretty light... an alternate choice which is about 4 lbs lighter than the 5-spokes are the champion monolite rg5.

caf

Ed,
I applaud you for actually caring about wheel weight. It can make a difference, but many people buy aftermarket wheels based solely on the bling factor, and don't have a clue as to the weight penalty that sometimes results.

ZBlue996Kam

I thought you guys were talking about wheel weight for balancing the tires.

Eli K

Unless you regularly track the car, the difference on the street will be very negligible.

edudiaz123

returning the aftermarket wheels. I track the car twice a year and i do care about it's performance.

Thanks again,

Ed (from DR)

Tbred911

definitely go for the RG5... much lighter (I consider 4 lb savings to be a lot per wheel)... to be honest with you that is the lightest wheel I've found... do lighter wheels exist?

arenared

I second the RG5s, although pricey. If you're into it, compare tires, too. CCW and P5 also make some lightweight wheels, but I haven't seen any weights posted. The 1-piece forged will tend to be lighter than the 2- or 3-piece. Volk makes wheels that are lighter than the RG5s, but they are very limited in availability/style/size. The RG5 website is www.championmotorsport.com (not obvious) website and was recently redone and is now a P.O.S.