If I have rims that currently weigh 24 lbs each and decided to go with rims that weigh 13lbs each.....how much would it shave off my 1/4 mile time if (for example) I was running 14.8 seconds


thanks

 

Depends on what tires you are using more than the weight of the rims. If you are still using street tires with lighter rims you probably won't gain anything. If you are using slicks I would guess .1-.2 possibly.

 

thanks Jime


you are always a great help

 

another question....would rim/tire diameter matter much?

for example if I went with 15" rims that weigh 13 lbs from 17" rims that weigh 24 lbs

or will street tires make no difference here as well?


thanks

 

Well if you are good at it. ie taking tips from Nealoc I am sure it would make a difference. 15" Rims are always an advantage over the larger ones if you can take advantage of it. 5 speeds take talent unlike an auto. (Thats why I have one, they are Jime proof)

 

The weight of the wheels will have a minimal affect...besides slicks another option to improve you 1/4 mile time would be tire size...a shorter tire will improve accleration..this is a good website for calculating tire size differences

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

 

I have a question that is related to the topic here...

I have 18 inch rims that weigh 16lbs on my car right now. My stock 2k2 17 inch wheels are 24lbs....thats 8lbs lighter than stock....now granted they are 8lbs lighter, the 18 inch wheels are further away from the hub...and I read somewhere that going away further from the hub is a minus? So would my rims benefit me or nay?

 

Don't forget that the tire is where the weight is. Find out how much your brand of 18in tires weigh compared to the same in 17in. IMHO the best setup is a 22lb 15in bogart rim + slicks.

 

I thought reducing unsprung weight helped in acceleration?

I have 17 inch 13.5 lb rims with y rated tires. Total weight with tires is 32 lbs each (not exact -- bathroom scale). Stock I have 15 inch sawblades. I have never weighed the wheel itself, but the combination is 40 lbs each. My set up (tires and wheels) are 8 lbs lighter each.

I could see where better tires would help the 60 foot times the most, but I thought overall (since you accelerating through basically the entire 1/4 mile) it would add a tenth or more.

 

You will be faster with the 15-inch sawblades, even at 8 lbs heavier. Wheel diameter is even more important than total weight, because it pushes the weight towards the exterior of the wheel.

Someone did compare lightweight 17-inch wheels with 15-inch sawblades at the track and he was consistantly .15 and 1 mph faster with the sawblades.

Now, lightweight 15-inch wheels, if you have access to some, are perfect. Sawblades weight 19 lbs and you can get 15s that weight 9-13 lbs.

 

You'd really have to do the calculations to make that determination Jclaw. 13.5lbs is pretty damn light for a 17" wheel, but without knowing tire weight, and doing the inertial calculation you really can't say for sure.

Anyways I've posted extensively on this topic, with about three hundred timeslips, and some DIRECT, same day, multiple wheel/tire combination comparisons. If you'd care to search for the posts you're welcome to.

Bottom line though was that yes it made a small difference for me for the combos I tested.

 

thanks guys




1 tenth is a big difference for me


Im going with 12.5 lb 15" rims all around with 205/50 tires

 

a list of light weight 15" rims would be great....


so far I know of Mazda Millenia, Kosei K-1, and Rota Subzero rims

 

12.5 lbs sound good... what kind and how much were they?

There are 8 lbs 15-inchers out there, but they aren't cheap. And spending nearly 1k for 2 slicks + 2 wheels is a bit too much for me.

 

www.wheelweights.net for your wheel weight needs. Has been very accurate in my experience (weighed 3 sets within .2lbs of what it says on there).

 

Rule of thumb: Every 100lbs your car loses gives the potential for a .1 gain in the 1/4

 

i think rim weight would make a big difference! Your motor has to work harder to give your wheels more torque to turn them!

Bigger rims have more weight concentrated on the outside of the rim, and smaller rims have it near the center. Moment of inertia anyone?

I think reducing rotational mass is one of the best things one can do on a Maxima. Get lightweight tires after you burn your current oens down to the treads.