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Old 11-12-2008, 09:26 AM   #24 (permalink)
MechEngVT
Mechanical Engineer
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 190

The Truck - '02 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Sport
90 day: 13.32 mpg (US)

The Van 2 - '06 Honda Odyssey EX
90 day: 20.56 mpg (US)

GoKart - '14 Hyundai Elantra GT base 6MT
90 day: 30.46 mpg (US)

Godzilla - '21 Ford F350 XL
90 day: 8.69 mpg (US)
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BDC: Rubber is pretty darn heavy. I was always under the assumption that unless you were going for over-the-top bling that the tires were heavier than the wheels. Remember, tires are all *steel*-belted radials and they have metal in them near the outer diameter.

From tirerack.com's published specs for Michelin Hydroedge tires are the following weights compatible with the wheels you listed:

185/70r14: 19 lbs, 893 revs/mile
185/65/15: 19 lbs, 856 revs/mile (a LARGER tire, same weight/width shorter sidewall)
205/55r16: 23 lbs, 839 revs/mile (a 215/65r16 is 25 lbs at 776 rev/mi)
215/60r17: 25 lbs, 770 revs/mile

Clearly rim size is not the sole determining factor of tire weight. A shorter sidewall can even offset a slight increase in outer diameter for a given width. A larger diameter tire for a given rim and width is heavier. Also tires are much heaver than the (admittedly already light) wheels you listed.
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