Do lightweight wheels make a noticeable difference in acceleration?

[Goingnowherefast]

^^^This is interesting, and goes totally AGAINST what all of the wheel weight 'weenies' on here (AND physics) say about this topic, and how they can actually "feel" the 'seat of the pants' difference.

Maybe I SHOULD just go get those "heavy" 17x8 1.2s, and stop fretting about a couple of pounds?

I'll try to find the thread for you. It was really well done from a science perspective. Variables were as limited as they could be for a normal person with a limited budget.

Basically my thing is get the wheels and tires that you think will look the best and you'll be happy with for other factors like cost, size, tire availability etc. If you spend your life chasing numbers you'll never be satisfied and again I don't think a normal person is going to see or feel any difference in weight savings on a street wheel/tire in a street car. Any difference in butt dyno can probably be contributed to the "shiny part syndrome".

Shiny Parts Syndrome: First discovered by German scientist Edward Von Hugendong in 1949, the Shiny Part Syndrome is the mental process where one's brain comes in contact with a shiny new car part. The synapses then fire and release an excess of dopamine in order to justify one's purchase. Upon first test drive, the increased dopamine levels give the owner a sense of euphoria and gratification in the new found part, regardless of any quantifiable effect the part may have had in the vehicles operation.

Jokes aside I'd say go with what you think would make you happier. Don't sweat the numbers.

 

[M-Sport fan]

Shiny Parts Syndrome: First discovered by German scientist Edward Von Hugendong in 1949, the Shiny Part Syndrome is the mental process where one's brain comes in contact with a shiny new car part. The synapses than fire and release an excess of dopamine in order to justify one's purchase. Upon first test drive, the increased dopamine levels give the owner a sense of euphoria and gratification in the new found part, regardless of any quantifiable effect the part may have had in the vehicles operation.

^^^

I LOVE that!

I liken it to what I call the MKIV TT Syndrome, where the worshippers, fanboyzz (and owners) convince themselves (probably with a similar neurotransmitter compound to dopamine, which is released autonomically) that it is THE BEST LOOKING, most beautiful work of automotive art/gift to the automotive world just because it can be made to make big numbers with a house sized, big single hairdryer on it. LOL

 

[BronxBomber]

^^^This is interesting, and goes totally AGAINST what all of the wheel weight 'weenies' on here (AND physics) say about this topic, and how they can actually "feel" the 'seat of the pants' difference.

Maybe I SHOULD just go get those "heavy" 17x8 1.2s, and stop fretting about a couple of pounds?

People should run whatever wheel package they so choose. Performance on the track may not improve, but feel definitely does. I can feel the difference between my original wheel setup wand my current setup and it is quite noticeable. Now for me feel is paramount in a car like the FiST, which is so much more than a numbers car. I'm sure we can all agree that this is not the fastest car, or that it generates the highest skid pad numbers, but the car just feels right in so many ways. That's what makes it such a joy to drive. So if this car is all about feel, and I can feel the difference in wheel weight, then I say lightweight wheels are a no brainer, at least to me. Most of us aren't out there tracking or drag racing our cars. Many do, but still the minority. Most of us drive these cars daily as commuters, canyon carvers etc. In this setting, I'd rather drive a car that feels fast and fun than a car that is fast and not as fun and if lightweight wheels add to my enjoyment of the car, whether able to demonstrate any quantifiable advantage, I'm all for it. Check out what Motor Trend had to say about lightweight wheels.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.moto...n-the-regular-gt350-wvideo/amp/?client=safari

 

[M-Sport fan]

^^^That is fine, but for me at least, I am REALLY sad (and disappointed) to say, this car does not live up to it's hype even as far as handling/response "feel" goes (let alone any outright feeling of speed), at least not so far.

It feels like a VERY high center of gravity/poor instant center, luxury car to me, and I just don't get how everyone on here thinks that it rides soooo 'rough' and too 'sharp' right from the factory.
Maybe all of the Nippon nameplates everyone on here came from (whether they be one of the rally 'supacars' {STI/Evo}, or one of the anemic econoboxes {Civic/Corolla}) ride like a Town Car?

Maybe I was just spoiled by a lightened, heavily suspension modded, LOW cg, 4th gen LS1 f body, which I am guessing would be TOTALLY UNBEARABLE to most on here as far as 'ride' goes, but to me at least, had a MUCH sharper 'turn-in' than the FiST does from the factory, despite it's size and ~3200 lb. weight, AND 50 series profile tires.

The point being, that maybe I should just go with what I like (or can at least 'live with') the looks of, instead of going for every gram of wheel weight savings, since the car does not "feel" all that great/sharp to me anyway, and the weight savings is NOT going to make that appreciably any better in my case.

 

[BronxBomber]

^^^That is fine, but for me at least, I am REALLY sad (and disappointed) to say, this car does not live up to it's hype even as far as handling/response "feel" goes (let alone any outright feeling of speed), at least not so far.

It feels like a VERY high center of gravity/poor instant center, luxury car to me, and I just don't get how everyone on here thinks that it rides soooo 'rough' and too 'sharp' right from the factory.
Maybe all of the Nippon nameplates everyone on here came from (whether they be one of the rally 'supacars' {STI/Evo}, or one of the anemic econoboxes {Civic/Corolla}) ride like a Town Car?

Maybe I was just spoiled by a lightened, heavily suspension modded, LOW cg, 4th gen LS1 f body, which I am guessing would be TOTALLY UNBEARABLE to most on here as far as 'ride' goes, but to me at least, had a MUCH sharper 'turn-in' than the FiST does from the factory, despite it's size and ~3200 lb. weight, AND 50 series profile tires.

The point being, that maybe I should just go with what I like (or can at least 'live with') the looks of, instead of going for every gram of wheel weight savings, since the car does not "feel" all that great/sharp to me anyway, and the weight savings is NOT going to make that appreciably any better in my case.

Hey to each his own. I bought my car without ever having driven one. I went solely based on the reviews and video driving impressions. In my opinion, they were all spot on. I don't know what kind of rubber you have on your car, but I've personally never driven a vehicle wih this type of immediate turn in response. Mine came with Bridgestone Potenza Re05a tires which feel way better than the all season Michelins that come on some of these cars. Now I'm not trying to convince you otherwise, but I've driven all manner of cars including my friends heavily modded 2000 Camaro Z-28 SS, and that car feels like an absolute pig compared to a FiST. Driven brand new Coyote Mustang and was going to trade in my FiST for one, but that too drove like a barge. It's not the greatest car in the world. There are lots of other cars I would gladly trade Amy FiST for, but not for the price of entry. No other car can compare to me for the price. Again, just my .02

 

[spoon]

There was a thread on the Miata forums about a wheel weight vs. track times. With a setup that was ten pounds lighter per corner (Huge deal on a Miata) on the same tire, on the same day, same driver they found that there was absolutely no noticeable difference in track times between the two. So while on paper it provides a benefit, in the real world I highly highly doubt you will ever see the benefit in a quantifiable way.

Link please?

I find that hard to believe, but I would like to check it out. Granted for me, I was able to shave over 15lbs per corner on a car weighing in at over 4000lbs, butt dyno showed a very, very noticeable difference.

 

[Based]

I am enjoying reading this thread. Thanks guys.

I will be making about 250-260whp by the end of this year on the Cyborg39 Turbo. I'm going to have a decent amount of power. I just like the IDEA of having the car as light as possible, but I realize that it will probably make a negligible difference.


I think I am going to go with 15x7 once I do get different wheels. I am starting to like the look and I am interested in the weight savings. I can save 10lbs per corner on the wheels then maybe another 10lbs per corner depending on what tire I get. That's 80lbs right there.

 

[TrickSTer]

Does anyone have access to a light-weight and a stock tire/wheel combos that they could mount on a high speed wheel balancer and time its acceleration to full speed, averaging a number of trials of each? That would give a definitive answer to the effect of light wheels on acceleration question.

 

[BronxBomber]

Does anyone have access to a light-weight and a stock tire/wheel combos that they could mount on a high speed wheel balancer and time its acceleration to full speed, averaging a number of trials of each? That would give a definitive answer to the effect of light wheels on acceleration question.

wouldn't this be dependant on power turning the wheel. For example on a car like an NA miata with 100whp, wouldn't the benefits of light weight wheels be more apparent on a low horsepower car as opposed to a high horsepower car. The logic is no different than adding 20WHP to a 100WHP car vs adding 20WHP to a 500WHP car. You're definitely going to feel a 20% HP increase over a 4% HP increase. I know you're talking about putting it on a wheel balancer, but the same logic would apply?

 

[M-Sport fan]

I think I am going to go with 15x7 once I do get different wheels. I am starting to like the look and I am interested in the weight savings. I can save 10lbs per corner on the wheels then maybe another 10lbs per corner depending on what tire I get. That's 80lbs right there.

That would be the lowest weight setup you could put on these cars (as long as you NEVER plan on a big brake kit), but, the 'stretchies' on here will tell you that you cannot put a tire narrow enough on those 7s to get a good steering response/turn-in out of them.

 

[M-Sport fan]

Now I'm not trying to convince you otherwise, but I've driven all manner of cars including my friends heavily modded 2000 Camaro Z-28 SS, and that car feels like an absolute pig compared to a FiST.

Was it either stock suspension, or setup for DRAG racing (like most of them are, sadly), or was it REALLY setup for road course use (NOT with the all in one adjustment, more drag race oriented Viking, Afco, or QA1 coilovers, and binding poly suspension bushings)??

BTW; Yes, I have the PS AS3s on the factory wheels right now, but some on here say their turn-in/response is as good as the B-stones.
Maybe the car will 'wake up' for me with much more max performance rubber (Star Spec 2s, Rival Ses, etc.) on it??

 

[BronxBomber]

Was it either stock suspension, or setup for DRAG racing (like most of them are, sadly), or was it REALLY setup for road course use (NOT with the all in one adjustment, more drag race oriented Viking, Afco, or QA1 coilovers, and binding poly suspension bushings)??

BTW; Yes, I have the PS AS3s on the factory wheels right now, but some on here say their turn-in/response is as good as the B-stones.
Maybe the car will 'wake up' for me with much more max performance rubber (Star Spec 2s, Rival Ses, etc.) on it??

It was mild street suspension set up. But my point is we are comparing a stock suspension FiST to a heavily modded Z28 in your case. If the turn in is not to your liking, I'm sure tires and suspension upgrades will do the trick because stock for stock I don't think there is much out there, particularly in this price range that can touch it. I've driven both the stock Bridgestones and the PS AS3's and I can say without a doubt the Bridgestones are superior. They are max perormance summer tire vs. ultra HP all season in the Ps AS3's. Obviously more extreme performance tires would be better than either, but you get my drift.

 

[Waterfan]

I think I am going to go with 15x7 once I do get different wheels. I am starting to like the look and I am interested in the weight savings. I can save 10lbs per corner on the wheels then maybe another 10lbs per corner depending on what tire I get. That's 80lbs right there.

Do not plan to save more than 1-2 pounds per tire. The weight range of different tires that fit our car for wheels between 15x7 to 18x8 is ~5 pounds (lightest tires are ~18 lbs each, heaviest are ~23)

The stock 050As are on the light end of the range at 19 lbs. Chances are you will add a pound or 2 with any different tire.