Alloy wheels for camry hybrid

[davidhill]

Hello,

I drive a 2015 Camry Hybrid LE with the plastic wheel covers. Mileage is outstanding--been averaging over 44mpg since May 2015.

However, when it comes time to replace my tires, I've been thinking about going with alloy wheels. But I want something that is more aero and lighter weight than the steel wheels w/plastic covers. I don't want to sacrifice fuel economy and I think if I do it right, I can actually improve economy. I might even size up from the 16\" to 17\" as long as they are light and aero, I don't think it will make that much difference.

However, it's so hard to find wheel weights. I considered the Avalon Hybrid wheels which look aero, and are beautiful.

Has anyone else found nice alloy wheels for a Camry Hybrid LE that maintain or enhance fuel economy?
Please help.

Thanks.

[oil pan 4]

Let's get the wheel types you want.
Toyota, so I'm guessing 5 on 4.5 lug pattern, probably 5 or 6 inch wide and 0 or close to 0 offset?

If you stayed with steel 16 inch wheels there are aero covers out there.

It looks like the avalon 17 inch wheels are 7 inch wide. Did you want to go that wide?

[Shortie771]

It's probably a lot easier to find lightweight wheels that aren't aerodynamic then put covers on them. I wouldn't upsize unless you need to, because that's going to add more weight. I'll be upsizing mine, from 14" to 15" only because it's getting harder and harder to find decent tires and I can't find them in LRR in my area unless I get 15". Not sure if you're looking for OEM wheels from another car or buying something aftermarket. If you want aftermarket, I would suggest going to tirerack (if only to look, go to the wheels section, enter in your vehicle and then select the sizes you're considering. After that you can sort the results by weight. I'm considering the Kosei K5R or the Enkei RPF1. They are very light and if I decide to add covers, I could easily do so.

[Ecky]

I'm not advising these particular rims (wrong size), but they were a junkyard find, at $20 each. The cost savings over new rims easily outweighs the fuel savings.




For the Civic in my signature, I went around with one of these and weighed various options in my favorite junkyard. The rims that looked the lightest were actually not even close.




I too advise against upsizing. Even if the weight is the same, more of it is toward the outside, where it will have greater inertia. The close the rotating mass is to center, the better.

[oil pan 4]

16 is the size to have right now.

[freebeard]

No linky, but I did some research and it appears tire weighs about the same as aluminum and less than steel. So the wheel diameter shouldn't matter with aluminum.

On my car with 26" tire diameter and 2000lb weight, the perfect tire would be the 165-50/19 Bridgestone Ecopias from the BMW i3. They are unique and probably undersized for your Camry.

[oldtamiyaphile]

Get yourself some Moondiscs and be done with it I miss how easy they were to clean compared to even the smoothest alloy wheel.

Alloy wheels are usually wider than steelies.

On my Fiat the lightest OEM wheel option is the steelie, wheel cover and 175 tyre. The 16" alloys are heavier, require at least a 195 tyre and they kill the aero.

The alloy wheels cost me at least 4mpg. The car is also notably more peppy and generally happier with the smallest/ lightest OEM option.

IMO if you can't afford to go forged, stick with steel.

No linky, but I did some research and it appears tire weighs about the same as aluminum and less than steel. So the wheel diameter shouldn't matter with aluminum.

But the bigger wheel rim still means greater rolling inertia, even if the overall weight is the same. You also replace an aerodynamically smoothish side wall with and extra inch of aerodynamically dirty open faced alloy.

[freebeard]

Moons rule.

But the bigger wheel rim still means greater rolling inertia, even if the overall weight is the same.

Inertia/momentum? What I was suggesting is that the aluminum wheel distributes the rotational inertia evenly along the radius, while the extra weight of steel is concentrated toward the center where it has less effect.

Like a flywheel with a massive rim vs a disk. All things being equal.

[Ecky]

As you say.

Just as an example, these 15" rims are ~8lbs, some of the lightest you can get in that size:




The Insight's stock 14's are 11lbs on my scale, 3lbs heavier than the above rim:




However, the "dish" of the larger rim is a half inch farther out, and it would appear that most if the weight savings have come from reduction of mass in the spokes and center, so it may well be that, with a tire that gives the same revs/mile, the heavier rim could have lower rotational inertia due to the way it's distributed.

I could see that applying to steel as well, but I'm not finding any steel wheels in my size that are even remotely close to 11lbs plus the weight of moons.

[oldtamiyaphile]

Originally Posted by Ecky

As you say.

Just as an example, these 15" rims are ~8lbs, some of the lightest you can get in that size:




The Insight's stock 14's are 11lbs on my scale, 3lbs heavier than the above rim:

Once you factor in aero, I know which rim my money would be on

I wonder if HCH wheels will fit my Proton...