Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Alloy wheels + Metallic Tape = Aero Racing Disk

cfg83 · 03-08-2009, 08:43 PM

Hello -

Ok, the tape finally got some holes in it yesterday at the car wash :

I don't blame the dude because I failed to warn him to be careful. Lasting for 8 months is more than I would have predicted.

So, I went to work on the "2.0" version I was thinking about :

The logic was that if I used a bigger sheet, I would get a better aesthetic effect. That wasn't the case :

The problem is that the bigger "sheet" of metal tape is very unwieldy. It's basically sticky-back aluminum foil, so it crinkles easily. Also, the holes I left in the wheel for symmetry and smaller venting are weak spots in the tape. They are prime spots for ripping. The above picture is the driver side of the car, so the wheel moves forward counter-clockwise in the picture. I think I will be ok, but for the passenger side of the car, the air will probably rip and fray them.

I think the better idea would have been to have smaller overlapping strips :

But, that would also mean a lot more work, with all the same vulnerabilities,

.

In the long run I think I need to figure out a viable pizza pan solution like the ones I have seen here. That way I can also cover the 4 bolts. Hrrmmmm, maybe those plastic bolt covers could become "housings" for neodimium magnets that work in tandem with a center locking bolt.

CarloSW2

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03-08-2009, 08:43 PM	#18 (permalink)
cfg83 Pokémoderator Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 5,864 1999 Saturn SW2 - '99 Saturn SW2 Wagon Team Saturn 90 day: 40.49 mpg (US) Thanks: 439 Thanked 532 Times in 358 Posts	Hello - Ok, the tape finally got some holes in it yesterday at the car wash : I don't blame the dude because I failed to warn him to be careful. Lasting for 8 months is more than I would have predicted. So, I went to work on the "2.0" version I was thinking about : The logic was that if I used a bigger sheet, I would get a better aesthetic effect. That wasn't the case : The problem is that the bigger "sheet" of metal tape is very unwieldy. It's basically sticky-back aluminum foil, so it crinkles easily. Also, the holes I left in the wheel for symmetry and smaller venting are weak spots in the tape. They are prime spots for ripping. The above picture is the driver side of the car, so the wheel moves forward counter-clockwise in the picture. I think I will be ok, but for the passenger side of the car, the air will probably rip and fray them. I think the better idea would have been to have smaller overlapping strips : But, that would also mean a lot more work, with all the same vulnerabilities, . In the long run I think I need to figure out a viable pizza pan solution like the ones I have seen here. That way I can also cover the 4 bolts. Hrrmmmm, maybe those plastic bolt covers could become "housings" for neodimium magnets that work in tandem with a center locking bolt. CarloSW2 . Attached Thumbnails __________________ *What's your* EPA MPG? Go Here and find out!** American Solar Energy Society Last edited by cfg83; 03-09-2009 at 05:43 AM..