In my search for new high performance tires, I've also considered doing a full wheel/tire package. One of my favorite pair of wheels are the 17" Centerline wheels which only weight 13.5lbs! I know that for each pound of unsprung weight you gain a certain amount of horsepower. I want to know what the weight of the stock 17" wheels is and if anyone has a formula that will tell you how much horsepower is freed up with lighter wheels.

 

I think it was somewhere in the 26lbs. range w/o the tires. As for gaining horsepower, you don't actually gain any... you just free up some weight that otherwise robs you of power.

Not sure about the conversion but i think it goes 1:8. 1lb unsprung = 8lb. dead weight.

 

Okay, so here is a rough calculation...........
OEM@approx. 26lbs - Centerline@approx. 14lbs = 12 lbs each

12lbs unsprung weight savings = 96lbs standard weight savings

96lbs standard weight savings X 4 wheels = 384lbs total weight saved

384lbs total weight saved =

 

That looks just about right. (again, granted i got the ratio right)

Though you also have to consider rim size.

If you want the easy way out, go on a diet (I once tried losing 30lbs just for the heck of it and it really helped! hehehe).

Get rid of your tools, spare tire, back seats and you're all set.

 

Another way to go is to kick out your fat *** friends in the car. HAHAHA...I did that and it helped a BUNCH!

 

Not exactly, the unsprung 1:8 ratio only applys to the two front drive wheels.

 

Come on , what is this a CIVIC boardd , where we are worried about an extra 40 lbs of weight ! Guys we are running 255+ HP. That tootsie roll you threw out from your ashtray wont make you hit 12's !

 

I thought weight didnt matter? Do very light rims make a noticible differnce in breaking, I shed a few lbs with my rims and didnt see any real difference?

 

its some 48 lbs..i put it on my bathroom scale when i rotated my tires...at 11k..

 

I'm not worried about 40lbs, but if that equaled into a weight savings equivalent to almost 400lbs, that WILL make a heck of a difference. I'd say along the lines of at least two tenths in the 1/4 mile. That would put me in the 13s with no engine mods.

 

26lbs for those 17" rims??
that's freakin heavy!!! Can anyone else support this fact..I am really curious about the weight of the 2k2SE rims

 

That sounds right. Mitsubishi 17X6.5 rims weigh about 24.5 lbs.

Jesse