DrewSG

iTrader: (1)

I understand that larger/heavier rims will affect acceleration. But if an 18 inch wheel weighs only 2lbs more than a 16 inch wheel, does it that much of an effect? I want Y2Ks, but I don't know if I should go with 17s up front, 18s in the back, or 17s (or 18s) all aroud.


2000+ Corvette Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.1
5 Spoke Firebird/Z28 16" (painted) . . . . . . . . 19.5

ClifZ28

A heavier wheel and tire combo will slow the car down. The reason is because of the extra unsprung weight. In a car you have sprung weight and unsprung weight. I have been told that if you could reduce weight anywhere in the car, it would be best to reduce unsprung weight. Sprung weight is easier to move than unsprung weight, because sprung weight only has to move forward, while unsprung weight has to be moved forward and rotated at the same time. It takes more power to move a pound of unsprung weight, than it does to move the same amount of sprung weight.

mcG

iTrader: (1)

i always hated physics class

Hark_Z

iTrader: (12)

I dont think it matter too much.

SeriousPWRTRIP

take into account the weight of the tires too. bigger tires weigh more. add the extra rim weight and the tire weight and see how it compares

ifryrice

iTrader: (10)

depends on what your using. Ive got 19inch CCW505a and they are forged. They weigh the same if not less than my ZO6Motorsports that are 17's. Depends on the rim if you wanna talk about weight. As for acceleration, they dont hurt that much, but just remember that they dont make DR's for anything over 18 so traction is somewhat a pain in the ***.

f50nut

Doesn't Hoosier offer a new drag radial over 19?

I noticed a difference after switching from 17" ZR1's to 18" z06's. The car just feels a little slower to me. Then again it's still stock so it was slow to begin with

TARaptor

if you really want to look at this from a physics point, then yes acelleration would be slower. Consider rotational inertia, the greater the inertia the harder it is to start turning an object. Since a lot of the mass would be around the edge of the wheel rotational intertia would be Inertia = mass x radius^2(formula for a hoop). if you upgrade to larger wheels with larger tires there will be less weight towards the center and it becomes exponentailly harder to turn. so unless these parameters dont largely change you are guranteed to lose acelleration.

Sorry for my ramblings i'm in engineering at purdue and had physics last semester, i'm suprised i remebered that.

Hope my scientific explination helps.

ls1wfo

A+ for content ~ C- for spelling

TARaptor

Thanks, ive always had a problem with typing without error so evetaully i jsut gave up correcting it since it doubled my time spent.

00firebird

iTrader: (3)

no, listen to this guy
i honestly wouldnt worry about it that much, you have enough power.
wont be affected the same way a civic with 18'' wheels would.
and im sure they more than likely would help get better traction. 300hp + stock 16'' wheels & 235 tires= worst idea ever.

baldwintpenguin

I'm intregued, everything explained makes sense so far, so how would this effect ET of a 1/4 mile lets say a stock T/A that runs 14 flat, you take the 16's and put 17's on all around, the weight does not change AT ALL, how would this effect 1/4 mile ET?

baldwintpenguin

^^^^
I know this would lower the ET ( ) but how much?

wabmorgan

I've got 18's and I can't say I have felt a power loss.... So... even that it does... it must not be much. I would guess like 3-5Hp. Mind you... that is just a guess.

logo_craig

hahaha

'Trust'

iTrader: (24)

Regarding inertia, given larger rotational mass would require more force to move, but inertia is also the tendency of an object to resist change unless acted on by an exterior force, i.e., gravity, brakes, whatever. Now once the mass was spinning, being the wheels, would it not eventually move faster with less force since the larger mass is harder to stop, it seems that once it got going, it would get going faster after that point, does that make much sense? Or would it only hinder breaking?

TARaptor

Yes the wheels would have a tendacy to stay rotating at speed once they were spining but it still takes more effort to change the speed of rotation therefore braking would still take longer, as well as a decrease in maximum acelleration.

'Trust'

iTrader: (24)

Thats what I was thinking, I thought it somehow might effect acceleration at higher speeds in a beneficial way, but it was only a thought.

ls1wfo

Big bling wheels & big heavy tires cost hp & torque not to mention extended brake wear & most important big increase in stopping distance . Not to mention expensive also. Yeah, you'd be slow, but you be lookin good doin it ! " THE SMALLEST WHEEL & TIRE COMBO THAT WILL GET THE JOB DONE " ~ ( camaro Andrette -Smokey Yunic-Richard Petty-Junior Johnson-Robert Yates-Jack Roush-all the above except Carrol Shelby ) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~Besides, why would you want to spend thousands on something thats going to slow you down ?

Andros

iTrader: (5)

id just get light weight racing wheels