This question was inspired by the tread on wheel weight and 0-60 times.

To take the wheel weight one step further: Does a heavier wheel negatively affect the suspension due to greater roatating mass that needs to be controlled by both shocks an springs?

And if handling does worsen, is it at a level that can be felt?

Some Max owners on this forum describe over sprung/under dampened suspensions as dangerous due to wheel hop. So maybe that is a clue.

Also, I believe the new A4 has aluminum suspension arms for this reason - but that is engineered into the overall handling.

Anyone want to try and tackle this?

Mr.P

 

it won't, all it would affect is ur motor and the tranny sence they spin the dam thing, so it would put more stress on it...or should i say take away torque/hp

but now for wheel hop just fill ur mounts with polyurethane like i did and it reduces it

 

It affects it a bit. If the wheel/tire combo is too big or too heavy your suspenion components WILL wear out much quicker. I was watching that new show on SPEED, with the 2 guys from DREAM CAR GARAGE, and they said what I wrote above. The stock components are made to withstand these things to a certain point, but if you drive on 20" rims that weigh 60lbs+, expect your suspension to go bad pretty soon.

 

yea true that but i was just thinking of like stock size tire/wheel combo

 

This is all assuming that the wheel is heavier than stock. What about if its lighter like me? I guess it has some effect as well.

 

But with less weight, say a 16'' wheel vs an 18", wouldn't the springs be more responsive to harshly uneven road?

Or would the dampers be the over-riding factor?

Or would the difference between a 16 and and 18 inch wheel all be within spec?

Mr.P

 

Big D,

Good point about wear on the parts from very heavy wheels. I guess I'll have to re-evaluate my solid gold wheel idea. ;-)

Mr.P

 

solid gold?!?!?!!? WTF ur not turning low rider on us are you. Well i would think that if the wheel is lighter then yes the suspension would be more eresponsive but there would be as much wear on the parts, but some wear sence the suspension would be moving more faster.

 

With a heavier wheel/tire combo more force is put on the suspensin when a bump is hit. More weight going up and compressing the spring/strut. Not a huge problem but it does make a difference.

 

Also, when you have heavier wheels, that is more weight to move up and down, the suspension will be less responsive. You have to take inertia into account with anything that moves relative to your car, especially wheels and tires. Everything down to the weight of your brakes affects the way the car will handle, the way the suspension acts.
My .02.

Sinister

 

SinisterPR,
Thanks for bringing up the brakes. I totally forgot that weight is there too.

I30tMikeD,
Do you think there is any difference between 16" wheels vs. 17"? Would handling be better? Ride quality?

Mr.P

 

sorry, double post.

 

Dude you got a 40 profile tire. That's why you can feel everything. How much does each rim weigh?

 

How much were they?

 

the amount of psi in each tire also affect the suspesion a bit (stiff vs. soft). it is essential to pump up your tire to proper psi for ride quality, handling, gas mileage, and rotation energy.

 

Increased wheel weight will make for worse handling, ride, braking, and acceleration. Larger diameter heavy rims only compound these issues. All this is assuming that the tires between the two different rims are the same (ie grippy ultra high performance tires). The the effects of increased weight is largely dependent on how much extra weight has been added and the increase in the size of the rim.

IMO, the best wheel setup for performance on a 4th gen is a ultra light 16X7.5+ rim with sticky tires.


Dave

 

Dont forget about steering input - according to physics it should make the steering a little harder, maybe not enough to where you would feel it since the power steering but it would affect it some. Larger diameter wheels could compound a suspension problem and magnify the effect of such a thing as camber/toe (maybe caster?).

 

i don't think it would affect caster......caster is a non tire wearing angle so i donno...but it would sure affect the sterring.