[morkys]

Has anybody compared an open spoke designed alloy wheel with an flatter aero wheel or wheel-cover? How did you find the difference in wheels affected your fuel-economy?

I am a Corolla owner caught between two worlds. I own a 2001 Toyota Corolla CE and like the fact that I get very good fuel economy most of the time, but, can move a little quicker when needed.

Last year, I bought wider 'low' profile tires when my original 175/65R 14 tires died at 100,000 KM. Although wider & slightly taller 195/60R 14 tires, they are H-rated and reasonabley light compared to similar or higher performance tires. With a few extra PSI over stock, I get effectively the same fuel economy or better. In winter I have 175/65R 14 winter tires & with a few extra PSI, they are ok for fuel economy & better grip in snow/ice.

This week, as spring is arriving, I took off the steel winter wheels and tires and bought a new set of 14" Sport Edition D5 alloy rims to mount the 195/60R 14 H-rated all-season tires. Even with bigger tires, the alloy rims and tires are at least a full LBS lighter than the smaller winter tires on steel wheels, because the tires are not much heaiver than the winter tire and the rims are lighter.

I started looking for wheels last year and I remember thinking that the spoke design could potentially be a negative for fuel economy, but I didn't think it too big of a concern. Most of my interest in the alloy wheels were the reduction in weight. Perhaps there was a light-weight 14" alloy rim out there that was more aero. I will track my fuel economy and see what the score is. Other mods I am planning for this car are a freer flowing air intake, freer flowing exhaust including header, lowering the car < 1.3".

Anyhow, if you have had personal experience with wheel designs and fuel-economy, by all means, please let me know your thoughts. If you have a link to something that has measureable data, that's ok too, though I'll be researching that myself too.