Okay, just had new wheels put on my Maxima (the second ones, the ones I had put on a week or so ago I decided I didn't like, so I changed them).

The stock 02/03 Maxima GLE wheels weigh 24.5 pounds.
My new wheels weigh (on a digital scale) 18.5 pounds.
I kept the same 17x7 inch size.

The car definitely feels snappier, especially off the line, but was wondering:

All else being equal, how much quicker do you think the car is with the new wheels.

Has anybody ran their car at a track after they put on new lightweight wheels? How much quicker?

And what about the dyno? How much more power do you think would be generated on the dyno from the lighter wheels?

Thanks.


P.S. Having NO search option on this forum really stinks! I miss it, still.

 

multiply the rotational mass by the square root of the hypoteneuse by Pi by the diameter of the wheel, divide by 3.44561 x 10 to the 3rd power.... and you will have your answer.

overall weight is one thing, but it also has alot to do with where the major weight reduciton in the rim is (hub area, outer rim, etc...)

 

Ahh sorry for no pictures, here's the new wheels:

http://www.discounttire.com/dtc/find...INT&vid=007085

 

Other than the obvious performance gains from switching to a lighter wheel, has anybody noticed a difference in the way their car DRIVES?

My car now feels a bit more "nervous" at freeway speeds. I seem to feel bumps through the car and into the steering wheel a bit more. And I'm sure it's not the case, but the car doesn't feel as planted.

I've never switched to wheels that were so much lighter than stock before.

Is this normal, or could the new wheels not be balanced correctly giving that bumpy, nervous feel?

Thanks

 

One thing lighter wheels (as any unsprung suspension part) does is it provides greater feedback to the driver as to what's going on. Yesterday I ran a 41.6lb combo then a 36.7lb combo of exactly same size & diamater. I not only felt a vast difference in acceleration but also in steering feel and control.

 

Yeah, but the strange thing at higher speed it seemed in less control. At lower speed, no doubt did the steering feel "easier" and turned better. But at highway speed going straight, I felt like I needed to make constant little adjustments because every ripple, or bump seemed to register through the steering wheel and the car seemed to be more "nervous" and twitchy.

I'm going to run out and drive it on the highway again, hopefully on a smoother section and see if it feels the same. Worst case scenario, I'll have the guys at Discount "rebalance" them to make sure it wasn't done in haste and the bumpy feeling I'm getting at speed is not coming from an unbalanced wheel or two.

Any more thoughts anyone?
Thanks

 

Well after a spirited drive on a smoother road and freeway, I've come to realize it's just the new feeling from the lighter wheels.
At a steady 90 mph, on a smooth surface, it drove like normal.
It's just a lighter, more precise feedback through the steering on the bumpier roads.

The car performs much better with such a drastic lightening of the unsprung weight and significantly less rotational mass.

It leaps off the line better and kick downs for passing happen with more authority too.