Thread: light wheels
View Single Post
Old 06-18-2012, 02:24 PM   #16 (permalink)
vrmilionzx
Function over form!
 
vrmilionzx's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: NorCal
Posts: 87

S14 - '95 Nissan 240sx se
Sports Cars
90 day: 19.89 mpg (US)

S13 - '93 Nissan 240sx base
Sports Cars
90 day: 25.42 mpg (US)
Thanks: 5
Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Send a message via AIM to vrmilionzx
So, maybe I'm missing some key concept here - while what everyone has mentioned seems pretty on target, I haven't seen anybody address the fact the the prius picks up a serious bit of it's fuel efficiency due to the elec motor. The motor starts the car moving, and starting from zero is one of the more wasteful bits of driving - which is why stop and go is absolutely awful for your mpg. Since the electric motor starts you off, the lightweight wheels won't have as great an effect for a hybrid (my thoughts, not verified, not claiming it's fact). Seems to me that on things like a prius, while you might see small gains (although if what everyone is saying about heavier wheels kicking more juice back via regen. braking, then heavier might work better that way) from lighter wheels, you'd do better to get some taller (overall) wheel/tire combos, and work on aero.
My .02
  Reply With Quote