effect of wheel offset on mpg

[rav]

I am planning to swap the steel wheels on my Honda fit with a 55 mm offset with lightweight alloy wheels with a 45 mm offset. If i understand offset correctly, my wheel will stick out by about 10 mm from the fender. Will the gain in mpg by lighter wheels (low rolling resistance) be more then the additional drag caused by the wheels sticking out or I am just being paranoid and 10 mm will be barely anything at all.

[Sporty Modder]

I dont think it will be a problem, 10mm is only a touch more than a 1/3rd of a inch. Aero shouldn't be affected esp if the rims and tires are still in the fenders.

[YeahPete]

What about when you go over an unexpected bump, won't your tires wack the crap out the top of your fender? Don't think you'll avoid all bumps because all it takes ia one good wack to leave a pretty dent.

[mcrews]

THe 10mm is not from the fender.
THe 10mm is added to the current outside edge of the tire. I dont think it will rub, but you should measure. Again, from the outside edge of the tire.

[wmjinman]

Whoa! Just gave me an idea: get offset wheels the OTHER direction for the rears & then can do a more "complete" fender skirt!!!

[mcrews]

Originally Posted by wmjinman

Whoa! Just gave me an idea: get offset wheels the OTHER direction for the rears & then can do a more "complete" fender skirt!!!

there you have it!

[botsapper]

..so you can tuck in all the wheels inside all the skirts...

http://s.images.boldride.com/saab/19...197314-304.jpg

http://images.thetruthaboutcars.com/...97a-119008.jpg

[Sven7]

crews is right.


Offset (wheel) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It should not make a discernible difference in fuel economy.

[Frank Lee]

The Bonneville speed guys carefully place the wheel offset for minimum drag. That said, I don't know if you can do it by eyeball, and furthermore at highway speeds I doubt it makes a detectable difference. But if you are going whole hog, it should be investigated via tuft tests or ?

[Sven7]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

The Bonneville speed guys carefully place the wheel offset for minimum drag. That said, I don't know if you can do it by eyeball, and furthermore at highway speeds I doubt it makes a detectable difference. But if you are going whole hog, it should be investigated via tuft tests or ?

Or go to one of those speed runs at airports and do coast-down testing from 100mph. You'd need to have the same tires on each set of wheels, though, for consistency.