Wheel performance question
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,320
Likes: 4
From: Kyle TX (Because Mojo Made me fill it in)
Wheel performance question
How much difference does 2 lbs make per wheel in relations to performance?
My dilema.
I have a set of A-molds coming that I'm 99.5% sure are made by Performance Wheels. I've been told they are about 2 lbs lighter than the AFS wheels I just won on eBay. The AFS wheels have the 11" rear wheels. They are cosmetically not identical from what I understand, plus AFS silver wheels no longer have the machined lip like they used to. Im planning on selling one set.
Which set should I sell? I will definitely sell of of the sets since I dont need 2 set of wheels....or do I?
Just curious as to what you guys think about rotating mass and stuff.
Thanks!@
My dilema.
I have a set of A-molds coming that I'm 99.5% sure are made by Performance Wheels. I've been told they are about 2 lbs lighter than the AFS wheels I just won on eBay. The AFS wheels have the 11" rear wheels. They are cosmetically not identical from what I understand, plus AFS silver wheels no longer have the machined lip like they used to. Im planning on selling one set.
Which set should I sell? I will definitely sell of of the sets since I dont need 2 set of wheels....or do I?
Just curious as to what you guys think about rotating mass and stuff.
Thanks!@
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,036
Likes: 13
From: Edmonton AB
Re: Wheel performance question (VetteNoob)
How much difference does 2 lbs make per wheel in relations to performance?
to perhaps 3 fwhp on a 3,000 lb vehicle.
In considering where to focus your effort and cash in a weight loss
program, reducing components that rotate at axle speed produces
about 3 times the benefit that comes from shedding non-rotating
weight. Reducing componants that rotate at engine speed produces
15 times the benefit.
In Chp 15 of "Chassis Engineering" (HPBooks #1055, 1993) Herb
Adams gives examples of the effective fwhp gain derived from
chopping 15 lbs off a 3,000 lb car with 428 fwhp:
Chassis = +2.1 fwhp
Axle speed = +6.4 fwhp
Eng speed = +32.1 fwhp
My dilema.
I have a set of A-molds coming that I'm 99.5% sure are made by
Performance Wheels. I've been told they are about 2 lbs lighter than
the AFS wheels I just won on eBay. The AFS wheels have the 11" rear
wheels. They are cosmetically not identical from what I understand,
plus AFS silver wheels no longer have the machined lip like they used to.
I'm planning on selling one set.
I have a set of A-molds coming that I'm 99.5% sure are made by
Performance Wheels. I've been told they are about 2 lbs lighter than
the AFS wheels I just won on eBay. The AFS wheels have the 11" rear
wheels. They are cosmetically not identical from what I understand,
plus AFS silver wheels no longer have the machined lip like they used to.
I'm planning on selling one set.
reason, wheel weight info seems to be unreliable. Once you know weights
for certain, if there really is only 2 lbs difference then just keep the ones
you like the most. (If this happens to be the heavier of the two sets, use
helium to inflate them and you'll never know the difference.)
[Modified by Slalom4me, 1:24 AM 7/21/2003]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,464
Likes: 1
From: Modesto CA
Re: Wheel performance question (Slalom4me)
Don't make any decisions until you weigh the wheels yourself. For some reason, wheel weight info seems to be unreliable.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,154
Likes: 1,731
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: Wheel performance question (TIMSPEED)
2lbs is nothing, just make sure they look good.
Id keep both if you can afford it, use one set for autox/drag/road racing.
Id keep both if you can afford it, use one set for autox/drag/road racing.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,661
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Re: Wheel performance question (VetteNoob)
Good info from Slalom4me. I suggest you weigh your wheels before deciding which to sell, if any. AFS, like many vendors of A-mold copies, has changed manufacturers several times. Over time - Japan, USA, China, etc. The result is differing weights. I have two sets (8 wheels) of AFS 11-inchers. One set has wheels 1.5 pounds lighter - two different manufacturers. :flag
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,320
Likes: 4
From: Kyle TX (Because Mojo Made me fill it in)
Re: Wheel performance question
Thanks for the feedback guys.
So you can really use helium to inflate your tires? Will it really make that much difference? Is it worth the time and effort? Same PSI? Arent the helium molecules smaller than the molecules in the air we breathe and thus tend to leak out faster from the tires?
Oh dang...chemistry.
I may try to keep both sets, but then again...you may see some 5 spokes popping up in the 4sale section in the near future.
So you can really use helium to inflate your tires? Will it really make that much difference? Is it worth the time and effort? Same PSI? Arent the helium molecules smaller than the molecules in the air we breathe and thus tend to leak out faster from the tires?
Oh dang...chemistry.
I may try to keep both sets, but then again...you may see some 5 spokes popping up in the 4sale section in the near future.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,036
Likes: 13
From: Edmonton AB
Re: Wheel performance question (VetteNoob)
Thanks for the feedback guys.
So you can really use helium to inflate your tires? Will it really make
that much difference? Is it worth the time and effort? Same PSI? Aren't
the helium molecules smaller than the molecules in the air we breathe
and thus tend to leak out faster from the tires?
Oh dang...chemistry.
So you can really use helium to inflate your tires? Will it really make
that much difference? Is it worth the time and effort? Same PSI? Aren't
the helium molecules smaller than the molecules in the air we breathe
and thus tend to leak out faster from the tires?
Oh dang...chemistry.
when they hear helium-filled tires spin. The unusual sound cracks
'em up everytime.
<disengaging fertilizer-dispenser now...>
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,238
Likes: 0
From: walled lake MI
Re: Wheel performance question (Slalom4me)
... For some reason, wheel weight info seems to be unreliable
i don't think many wheel manufacturers could easily tell you the rotational inertia of their wheel, but it certainly would be the most objective way to measure how "heavy" a wheel is.
also to keep in mind that a wheel must not only be light, but it must be strong as well. the loads our wheels take can be huge and distort them more than we think.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,036
Likes: 13
From: Edmonton AB
Re: Wheel performance question (tempest)
one of the reasons why i think wheel weight info is unreliable
is because WHERE the weight (mass actually) is distributed ...
is because WHERE the weight (mass actually) is distributed ...
wheel will scale at turns out to be at variance with what they see for
themselves. But I agree with everything else you say.
[Modified by Slalom4me, 12:54 AM 7/22/2003]