Wheels & Tires Forged | Billet | Cast | Radials | Slicks

Deep Dish Wheels & Drag Coefficient???

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 14, 2010 | 12:53 PM
  #1  
transsam's Avatar
Thread Starter
9 Second Club
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 720
Likes: 3
From: San Diego - Gaslamp Quarter
Default Deep Dish Wheels & Drag Coefficient???

So the trend today in cars, you see them from the Civic to the Maxima, and Camaro to BMW, is the deep dish style aftermarket rim (in most cases it is aftermarket). What is this doing to the car's aerodynamics? I recall the Aero package on the 80's Trans Am brought the drag coefficient pretty much to the current z06 at .29 largely by putting all but flat faced rims on the car.

So...
What is the Drag Coefficient change of deep dish wheels?
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2010 | 01:42 PM
  #2  
leadfoot4's Avatar
TECH Veteran
20 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,621
Likes: 11
From: Webster, NY
Default

I don't think that it's all that much, ESPECIALLY at public road speeds. The wheels on the T/A were more hype, than anything else. The spoiler and side skirts probably helped a bit, but then those cars sat SO high from the factory, at least mine was, that I doubt the quoted aero drag numbers were on the money...
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2010 | 02:42 PM
  #3  
LS6427's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 13
From: South Florida
Default

ZERO affect...for street cars. Get it out on a road race track competing and then every little bit helps.

.
Reply
Old Oct 15, 2010 | 12:25 PM
  #4  
thegodfather899's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 492
Likes: 1
From: Milwaukee, WI
Default

agreed with those above. i dont see how this little bit of lip could cause that much drag during average driving to make any difference.
Reply
Old Oct 15, 2010 | 01:52 PM
  #5  
transsam's Avatar
Thread Starter
9 Second Club
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 720
Likes: 3
From: San Diego - Gaslamp Quarter
Default

Actually, I was wondering quite the opposite. I have read a couple, albeit internet and unreliable, people's opinions who say that the deeper dish actually improves drag coefficient over the thin spoke design seen on so many factory and aftermarket wheels i.e. my SS 10 spokes. If it is as efficient as Honda's Civic hybrid rims to have a deep dish, that would make them pretty impressive. I'm not diluted enough to think that it would shave a tenth, or add a couple mph, or even appreciably improve mph. I would flatten the undercarriage with abs plastic first, and I am not about to do that!
Reply
Old Oct 16, 2010 | 06:48 AM
  #6  
leadfoot4's Avatar
TECH Veteran
20 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,621
Likes: 11
From: Webster, NY
Default

Look at it this way...At Bonneville, where top speed is everything, they all run "Moon Discs" on their wheels. But again, those folks are running some big numbers.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:07 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE