Well the wheelweights.net website reminded me of something else. Tires make a difference, if not the biggest difference, in power to the wheels. Since its the material and mass thats on the outermost axis of the spinning body, the heavier the tire, the slower the acceleration. Imagine a weight on the end of a string. It would be easy to start spinning it if the weight was light, but if it was heavy, it would take a greater amount of energy (rotational) to get it started and to keep it going.

I think we should start compiling a list of which tires are light/heavy, because performance-wise it's very important.

 

phantom zrx =

 

how do you know they're heavy?

I just looked at your cardomain page too, nice. But is the mirror tint gone?

 

ahh, someone create a tireweights.net !

 

get your ASP in gear and do it

 

well here is a start

Dunlop sp9000 - 23 lbs
bridgestone so-3 - 25 lbs
sumitomo htrz II - 27 lbs

got that info from tirerack when i was on the verge of ordering my wheels but i didn't. all these are 235-40-18 sizes

 

Yokohama Avid V4 215-55R16 = 27lbs
Sumitomo HTR Z 225/50R16 - 25lbs

Tire weight is just as important and wheel weight.


Dave

 

Bridgestone RE950 215/60/15 = 24lbs.

 

I decided it was time to weigh my wheels.

I have two setups I use for racing both on same 15" alloy rims which weigh 19 lbs.

1. 205x45x15 Nitto 555R Drag Radials = 17 lbs.
2. 22x8x15 Mickey Thomson Slicks = 11 lbs.

 

Next thing you know somebody will start talking about the weight of Springs then Shocks and sooner or later the weight of an intake.

 

The main thing especially when you are racing though is not to put you full weight down on the seat, especially at the start. Its good for at least 2/10's in the quarter.

 

Yeah, I you were also supposed to fast the day before.

 

Kumho 712 - 245/45/17 = 27 LBS

_____


I agree that tire weights are just as important.

However, I think people or overly zealous about their infatuations with wheel weights. I went from 21 LB BBS to 13 LB SSR's and couldn't feel a difference (both 17" rims), so go figure. I'm sure they made a difference, but I'm not the type who always compensates for my mods mentally.

(I added a sticker, my car feels faster). It's all in your heads.

To me, on an S/C application I'd rather have a 30LB tire that grabs traction, then a 22 LB one that does not. N/A I didn't have first gear traction problems too bad, so then I might worry, but to me it's all about traction, that's why I'm on 255/40/17 now, which probably weigh 28 LBS.

 

That is also how I think. It's much more important to get the power to the ground. Why do you think adding slicks makes such a huge difference? If you have rims that weight 10 pounds and I have rims that weight 30 pounds I will beat you if all your wheels are doing is spinning in place. And I'm not saying that 30 pound rims will always beat 10 pound rims, only if you could get better traction. This is really importantif you are running boost.
Good Luck,
Paul

 

I don't know why people assume that lighter weight rims and tires are easier to "spin" than heavy rims and tires. The heavier the rim, the harder it is to modulate and control under spin. I've found that my 39lbs 16" combo is far easier to control on launch than my old 46lb 17" combo. There's no denying physics. You guys need to go to the track and study the numbers.

Assuming the same car, with heavy/light (46lb/39lb) wheels and tires being the only difference, I've got $50 saying that the lighter set rim combo will be quicker and faster on average. I've already seen the results on my car.

IT'S NOT IN MY HEAD


Dave

 

i dont think a 235/40/18 S-03 is 2 lbs less than a 245/40/18. but thats just a feeling i get.


245/40/18 Bridgestone S-03 = 27.0 lbs (according to bridgestone themselves AND my home scale)

245/40/18 Michelin Pilot Sports = 25.8 lbs (according to Michelin themselves)

 

well when i was talking to lee at tirerack about the sp9000 she said the 235 was 23 lbs and the 245 was 25 lbs so i dunno but thats he figures she gave me. give them a call and see what they tell you

 

You got rid of your caffeines?

 

Hmm, maybe I'll start making a table of tire weights. We just need a bit more data, that's all.

 

DaveB, I never said that lighter wheels are easier to spin, I just think people are too obssessed with this lighter weight wheel will make my car so much faster. I have some of the lightest 17" wheels available and I don't think of it even as a gofast mod. I was actually stating, rather then purchase a tire because it is 2 lbs lighter then another, I would purchase one on other differences (price, traction, noise, wet-weather safety, etc.)

 

The Toyo T1-S Proxes weigh 20.9lbs in 225/45ZR 17"

 

Tires average between 25-28 Lbs, even in 17 inch. Thats why I went with a 18 again. Brian your 17 inch SSRS in my opinion are the lightest wheels made in 17, if they have lighter 17's then the SSR's either they are very very expensive or ugly as heck. But you pointed a something good out, traction, noise and rubber compound so on are factors that need to be considered when purchasing a tire.

 

I feel that these specifics should be considered equally with weight. I would simply wouldn't put a tire on my car because it was light. However, if I had to exactly even tires and I couldn't decide between the two, and all other uncontrollable variables were equal (price, sizes, availability, etc) then I would definately lean for the lighter tire, but frankly when I tire shop I don't even look at weights.

I don't order tires I goto Discount Tire Center / America's Tire Co, and they usually only have about 8 tires that will fit on my car. Three tires being ridiculously over priced, and another three tires that are junk.

Usually leaves me with Kumho 712, BF Goodwrich something or other, Yoko A520 (way too noisy). Thus, for the second time in a row I'm on the 27 LB Kumho's (a decent tire, great value, not too loud {not necessarily quiet either}, good traction, good wet performance, and did I mention a GREAT value).

 

I see and I agree somewhat. With lighter rims, you get better braking, acceleration, better ride, and ultimately better handling. The differences are fairly minimal unless you've got 60lb wheels, but I can tell a difference and I wouldn't have it any other way.


Dave

 

If you guys are really serious about a site for tire weights then I could start something up where you can submit weights into a database for everyone to view.
Thanks,
Paul