HELP - Wheel Drama
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,119
Likes: 799
From: East Lansing, MI
The bigger wheel thing seems nutso to me as all that you get so far as I can tell is a little better turn-in because of the shorter tire sidewalls.
For the street it's not worth the trouble.
BTW, I can remember when 13' wheels came on small cars, 14" wheels on most sedans, and 15" wheels were the big ones. I'm told that one advantage of the resulting longer sidewalls was that the tire flex added comfort to the suspension.
For the street it's not worth the trouble.
BTW, I can remember when 13' wheels came on small cars, 14" wheels on most sedans, and 15" wheels were the big ones. I'm told that one advantage of the resulting longer sidewalls was that the tire flex added comfort to the suspension.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 4,303
Likes: 2,055
From: Margate, FL
I suspect your tires are not runflats, so that should save some weight by itself.
Since the smaller wheels have a higher sidewall, you are replacing aluminum with rubber, not sure if that saves weight or not.
Do you have a weight comparison between your current tires and factory 18/19?
Since the smaller wheels have a higher sidewall, you are replacing aluminum with rubber, not sure if that saves weight or not.
Do you have a weight comparison between your current tires and factory 18/19?
Based on the data I could gather almost all of the weight savings did come from the wheels themselves not the rubber. The rubber difference was about 2lbs per corner. Regardless of weight I would have still gone with 18/19 just for cost savings which adds up when you are tracking the car. The improvement in ride quality was a bonus.
I also liked the look of the taller sidewalls but that is just personal preference. My OEM wheels were chrome... so they had to go
Last edited by JMII; Jan 11, 2021 at 09:25 AM.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 346
Likes: 131
AGENTCO2;
Sold my OEM cast wheels (Fr. 18 X 8.5"; R. 19 X10") for Cray Spider rotary forged (Fr. 18 X 9"; R. 19 X 10.5").
Flow forging, rotary forging, spun rim, or rim rolling, begins with a cast wheel that is loaded into a specialized machine that spins the wheel while pressing steel rollers against the rim area to pull the rim to it's final width and shape.
As a result of the flow forming process, you end up with a wheel capable of handling significant high loads than a cast wheel. Because flow forming literally widens the barrel of the wheel, the precast wheel is narrower and thus lighter than a regular cast wheel. Typically flow formed wheels are 25% lighter than cast wheels of the same size and specs.
The flow forming process stretches and compresses the aluminum in the barrel area of the wheel, and in the process the structure of the alloy is realigned in a way that enhances its tensile strength and stiffness, giving it similar properties to a forged wheel in the barrel area. Flow forming also increases elongation, or the amount that wheel is able to flex before arriving at a breaking point. (Dave Pratte, September 8, 2017)
Many thanks,
Ray
Sold my OEM cast wheels (Fr. 18 X 8.5"; R. 19 X10") for Cray Spider rotary forged (Fr. 18 X 9"; R. 19 X 10.5").
Flow forging, rotary forging, spun rim, or rim rolling, begins with a cast wheel that is loaded into a specialized machine that spins the wheel while pressing steel rollers against the rim area to pull the rim to it's final width and shape.
As a result of the flow forming process, you end up with a wheel capable of handling significant high loads than a cast wheel. Because flow forming literally widens the barrel of the wheel, the precast wheel is narrower and thus lighter than a regular cast wheel. Typically flow formed wheels are 25% lighter than cast wheels of the same size and specs.
The flow forming process stretches and compresses the aluminum in the barrel area of the wheel, and in the process the structure of the alloy is realigned in a way that enhances its tensile strength and stiffness, giving it similar properties to a forged wheel in the barrel area. Flow forming also increases elongation, or the amount that wheel is able to flex before arriving at a breaking point. (Dave Pratte, September 8, 2017)
Many thanks,
Ray
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 45
Likes: 2
From: Bloomington Indiana
Sizing
Ray,
I noticed your new wheels are 1/2” wider on both the fronts and rears. Has that been an issue? Also, what tires and sizes are you running? I’d really like to stick with Michelin AS3’s.
I noticed your new wheels are 1/2” wider on both the fronts and rears. Has that been an issue? Also, what tires and sizes are you running? I’d really like to stick with Michelin AS3’s.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 346
Likes: 131
AGENTCOZ;
Reply:
Front 245/40-18" GM RF OEM Michelins.
Rear 285/35-19" GM RF OEM Michelins.
The front wheel offset is the same or very close to stock. However, the rear wheel offset is more pronounced than the OEM cast wheels.
Moreover, the OEM Michelin tires do fit nicely on the slightly wider Cray spider rims, without obvious sidewall "stretch".
(Special thanks to West Coast Corvette and their team)
Many thanks,
Ray
Reply:
Front 245/40-18" GM RF OEM Michelins.
Rear 285/35-19" GM RF OEM Michelins.
The front wheel offset is the same or very close to stock. However, the rear wheel offset is more pronounced than the OEM cast wheels.
Moreover, the OEM Michelin tires do fit nicely on the slightly wider Cray spider rims, without obvious sidewall "stretch".
(Special thanks to West Coast Corvette and their team)
Many thanks,
Ray
