Quote:
Originally Posted by ConnClark
Something that nobody has mentioned to take into consideration, Reduction of unsprung weight will reduce rolling resistance
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This. Reduction in RR is good for mpg gains across the board, irregardless of driving.
I'll add my own $0.02. One of the mods I have done to my car is lighter wheels. My stock ZX2 steelies were heavy, I'd have to say upper teens since the 14x4 spare wheel by itself was 16-17 pounds. I replaced the stocks with Mazda MX-3 alloy wheels I got for cheap ($110 with low tread tires!) They weigh 12.5-13 pounds, and have been covered in coroplast covers for over a year. They have provided gains in FE, aero and RR, though all I have is anecdotal evidence and your trust of my word. I have a thread somewhere where I tested the MX3s against the spares in real world driving... let me try to dig it up.
I looked at getting lighter wheels like this - they would help constantly. They would give lower RR during acceleration, cruising and coasting. Every stop sign and traffic light I get caught at and have to accelerate from, the lighter wheels are requiring less fuel to get back up to speed. The only downside is cost. But there are deals out there such as my MX3 wheels for $27.50 a piece, and then selling the steelies for $65 for a grand total of $45
I say go for both if you can!
Tell us what you're driving and we can make better recommendations for you
