Big Wheels
I dont think so. I think F bodys do fine with 18/10 inch tires. I have light weight aza rims on mine 18.9.5 all they way around, and from the american racing rebals rims I had my car, It drop 170 lbs when I went to the aza rims.
TECH Regular
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
From: Rolesville, NC
I have done tests or helped with tests on 17", 18" and 19" wheels.
Plus we looked at differnt wts of tire and wheel combinations.
First 17" 18" were very close to the same power output. but 19" were down by 10-12 HP. One of the big challenges of this test was we could not find light wt 19" wheel tire combos.
Most of our 17" or 18" tire wheel combos were 40 lbs +/- 2 lbs. When we put on 17" or 18" wheel tire combo at 50-55 Lbs or more the HP dropped like a lead balloon. as 7-9 hp decrease.
The 19" combo use was 57 lbs per wheel.
The other factor is where is the wt located? the farther the wt is away from the center of rotation the slow the wheel, or more energy it will take to get that wheel rotating or slowed down.
any time one can reduce wt the faster the car will go. Reducing the unsprung wt of the wheels is best of all. Each pound reduced off the wheels is almost as much of a power increase as removing 6 1/2 pounds out of the car.
So yes reduce that rotating weight and wheel diameter and go faster.
My road race rear wheel 18x13 CCW Classic Track with GY G19 ( 25.5x11.5x18 )or Hoosier A6 335/30x18 = 39 lbs
My street rear wheel 18x12 CCW classic street with Mich PS 335/30x18 = 51 lbs
Plus we looked at differnt wts of tire and wheel combinations.
First 17" 18" were very close to the same power output. but 19" were down by 10-12 HP. One of the big challenges of this test was we could not find light wt 19" wheel tire combos.
Most of our 17" or 18" tire wheel combos were 40 lbs +/- 2 lbs. When we put on 17" or 18" wheel tire combo at 50-55 Lbs or more the HP dropped like a lead balloon. as 7-9 hp decrease.
The 19" combo use was 57 lbs per wheel.
The other factor is where is the wt located? the farther the wt is away from the center of rotation the slow the wheel, or more energy it will take to get that wheel rotating or slowed down.
any time one can reduce wt the faster the car will go. Reducing the unsprung wt of the wheels is best of all. Each pound reduced off the wheels is almost as much of a power increase as removing 6 1/2 pounds out of the car.
So yes reduce that rotating weight and wheel diameter and go faster.
My road race rear wheel 18x13 CCW Classic Track with GY G19 ( 25.5x11.5x18 )or Hoosier A6 335/30x18 = 39 lbs
My street rear wheel 18x12 CCW classic street with Mich PS 335/30x18 = 51 lbs
Golden Eagle is exactly right, it's the weight that matters most since most folks aren't changing the overall tire height too much. Where the weight is matters also, as mentioned. Unsprung weight and rotating mass are major factors in drivetrain and suspension performance. Wheels/tires are BOTH so you get an additive effect.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
