Help me choose new wheels!

[Deezler]

Ok, been struggling with my wheel search for a couple weeks now, so figured I might as well absorb some insight from y'all here at Ecomodder. If you care enough to read all this and reply, thanks!

In December I sold my old, heavy 17" summer wheel and tire set. I'll miss the bling and handling, but well, that's just a part of the evolution of my car.



I settled on a 16" size for my new summer wheel/tire set. 15" is just too small for aesthetic and handling reasons; the jump to 16" is huge in both. 17" is too big. My goals for the new wheel set are: Lightweight, aesthetically pleasing, and aerodynamic (if possible).

I thought I had my wheel search finalized on these bad boys; only 14lbs and probably ok on aero (Rota slipstreams)



Unfortunately, Rota hasnt made this wheel in a while and no one can tell me when they will.

So, now I am nowhere. Almost everything I can find used is more like 20-22 lbs, which I'm not really too crazy about. Since this wheel set will last the life of my car and be used every year from April through October, why sacrifice my goals...?

So now I am looking into other lighweight wheels, except that all of them appear pretty awful on aero. Or do I not know what I'm talking about? These are only 15 lbs.... :



How about something like this? :



And finally, I could always grab some steel wheels and throw on some moon disc hub caps. This would be heavy (probably 22-25 lbs with caps) but best on aero.



So the question is, how to balance goals of aero and light weight? I do mostly highway driving, which I know negates the wheel weight considerably (still got 49 mpg on the 17s), but I am also modifying my engine for increased power and thus would very much appreciate the benefits of reduced unsprung weight and rotational inertia for accelerating.

Right now I'm driving on snow tires! This sucks! Its above freezing! My LRR Michelin 16" tires sitting in my garage right now are begging for some wheels to get mounted on!

[gascort]

I agree; it seems you have to choose between good looks and good aero often.
I like the top photos for looks, and, let's face it, wheels aren't that big of an aero issue for cars.
I would steer clear of photo #3 - the black/polished rim - I don't like that look on your car at all.
If you go with the steelies, you get a little more unsprung weight.. but you can get them for probably $100 less and you can customize your covers to your liking and aero optimization.
I'd either get the prettiest looking rims or the steelies, rather than compromizing looks and aero in the middle and still paying $$ for it.
Good luck in your search!

[almightybmw]

Enkei Racing RPF1 Bright Silver Paint
13.7lbs $219


O.Z. Crono HT Bright Silver Paint
15.5lbs $203


O.Z. Ultraleggera Black Painted Also comes in bright silver
14.8lbs ($203) $184 - On sale!

That's what I see at tirerack. I didn't search other places, just use them as a ballpark. Everything else was 18lbs and up, except one other that was 17lbs.

Lightweight doesn't come cheap. Search craigslist (use crazedlist, it'll search the whole country) to save money. Personally, I believe in lightweight rims. I have 2 sets of rims both 16" for my GP, and the heavier ones (about 2lbs each) is noticable when I swap.

[Deezler]

Cool, thanks for your opinions guys.

Gascort, I'm with you on the aesthetics of the pics I posted, I was wondering more about aerodynamic effects of the various designs. You say the wheels don't have much effect, but clearly there is some effect. I can't find much hard data other than people who start from a very poor design.

But some of the lightweight wheels available are practically completely open, this cannot be good for induced drag. My brakes rarely get a workout so I'm not too concerned about cooling. Thanks for your research almightybmw, those are attractive wheels but as you noted - not cheap. Thats why I am leaning towards a Rota (don't have what I want in stock) or Konig (yet to fully research) wheel brand. More like $100-120 per wheel.

Another thing I can't really find data on is the weight of a stock or equivalent steel wheel like the one I posted. No one seems to care, so no weight data is ever posted with these wheel types - even on tirerack. I can get out the door with a set of new steel wheels for $240 for all 4, and then $100 for moon discs.... but what will the total package weigh?...?...?...?

[1337]

I like the idea of putting some new alloys onto the Jetta TDI. However, when you're looking at $1000k+ wheel packages, in a $2/gallon diesel climate, how relevant is MPG in your choice?

The point is, unless having aero wheels is a point of pride, buy what you think looks good. Or, go on car-part.com and find some dirt cheap used alloys with a few scuffs for a couple hundred bucks. But, it seems a little delusional to spend $1000 on a set of wheels that might get you a 1-2% MPG gain.

If you really want an MPG-optimized wheel, get some 16" alloys and then cable-tie coroplast circles to them.

[Deezler]

1337, I hear you.

But that's not really my position here. First off I am trying to spend under $500. Second, I have to buy a set of wheels no matter what. I figure they might as well be lightweight and aerodynamic, if possible. I am not buying an expensive set of wheels purely for the fuel economy gain. Also, I already have the tires.

Thanks for the car-part.com suggestion, but damn, junkyards aren't cheap. $100 per used, damaged wheel? no thanks.
But like you say, I think I just have to get something that looks good to me...

[Deezler]

OK, I just burnt way too much time playing around in gimp. That program rocks!

Potential new look for this summer:



Wheels are sort of 17" sized. Side-skirts are in the garage and waiting. Rear wheel skirts will take some planning....

[cfg83]

Deezler -

Your gimp-pic made me think of brake dust covers :



I think they will look like what you have drawn.

I tried to find your 03 Jetta here :

Kleen Wheels Brake Dust Shields - Brake Dust Shields

But you can just start at the top :

Kleen Wheels Brake Dust Shields - Brake Dust Cover - Brake Dust Shield

Ha ha, I think this is going on my todo list!

CarloSW2

.

[Deezler]

cfg,

I was actually thinking about constructing some sort of discs like those brake dust shields, for drag reduction.

The ones you posted seem like a bit of a gamble if they would fit right. Not sure how easy it would be to trim them if they didn't... Plus they would probably look pretty silly? I wonder.

Found this wheel today, $86 per wheel at wheelmax.com is almost too cheap.



Getting better at gimp:



And with other mods.

[cfg83]

Deezler -

I think I will take the risk when some future-money comes in that I am counting on, probably within 3 months. My alloys are OEM, so I have a higher confidence level that they will work. They come in sets of 2, so I will probably order one set to see if they fit.

CarloSW2