Help me choose new wheels!
 

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.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...z/IMG_1854.jpg

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)

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...pstream_gm.jpg

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

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.... :

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...Konig_Bump.jpg

How about something like this? :

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...lack_RS_sm.jpg

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.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...6inchsteel.jpg

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!

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!

http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheel...f1_s_ci3_l.jpg
Enkei Racing RPF1 Bright Silver Paint
13.7lbs $219

http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheel...t_bs_ci3_l.jpg
O.Z. Crono HT Bright Silver Paint
15.5lbs $203

http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheel...mblk_ci3_l.jpg
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.

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?...?...?...?

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.

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...

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

Potential new look for this summer:

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...tealthMode.jpg

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

Deezler -

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

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1238042666

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

.

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.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...opx5-gm_lg.jpg

Getting better at gimp:

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...aywithNX05.jpg

And with other mods.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...NX05modded.jpg

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

Carlos,

I'm curious how they will work out for you - please document the install for us accordingly!

Ok, so I know bumping your own thread is kind of lame, but whatever. I settled on these wheels. Pretty cheap, but hopefully they will last.

Nexo NT-05, 16x7 et40 5x100, 18lbs, $82/wheel (!)
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...O-NT-05-GM.jpg

Perhaps the best feature of these wheels is that they are actually in stock. It's been a brain busting experience trying to find wheels that meet my strict criteria and are actually available for purchase.

Couldn't resist another gimp trial
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...T-05tinted.jpg

Real pics to come upon mounting. Mileage comparison results will be next to impossible to determine, since I haven't run the old 17's since October 2008 and theres just way too many variables going on with my car right now. Seems like every tank fill up I have a new batch of changes to the engine, aero, wheels, weather, etc. I suppose it would help if I ran shorter fill intervals though. 650+ miles per tank spaces them out quite a bit.

You know this gimp experience has me thinking a bit. On some other forums, like vwvortex.com, they have dedicated threads for people requesting photoshopped changes made to their car (what would it look like with new wheels, body kits, etc).
It would be cool if we had the same thing here, to visualize aero mods, etc.

Apparently, I'm too late... but Motegi TrakLite and TL 2.0 are both under 17#.

They're not cheap though... you can buy them at Sears. (Order them at Sears.)

They're not really all that Aero though...

Christ, Motegi track-lites are nice wheels, but I find them somewhat unattractive for a VW. I appreciate any and all suggestions though, of course.

And yes, you are too late, because 4 of these bad boys arrived today:

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...z/IMG_1081.jpg http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...z/IMG_1082.jpg

I was very much pleasantly surprised to see that Fedex spec'd the shipment weight at 52 lbs, total! The wheels are all stamped on both sides with the following:

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...z/IMG_1080.jpg

6.90 kg = 15.2 lbs. I'll weigh these sucker tomorrow at work to find out for sure. Really don't understand why wheel retailers won't tell you the weight though...

$418, with shipping and tax, from wheelmax.com. After purchasing, I read a lot of horror stories online about their customer service, but I have to commend them on my experience. 3 days for shipping, exact right order, with all needed accessories.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...z/IMG_1083.jpg

Can't wait to get them on and finally get onto my Michelin Energy S8 tires! Snow tires are only fun, well, on snow.

Those are defo nice... I bet they're gonna look great on your dub too.

Given those wheels as a used set, and just looking at the pictures you've shown, I can already see a few ounces of "extra" material on them that I'd gladly take off LOL.

Hope they're everything you wanted!

I'm picking up some used 17's for Cara tomorrow.. they're TSW ReVo, in white, which matches Cara's paint LOL.

5 of them for $90, and the only problems are two of them having slight lip bends in them, which I have the tools to fix on my own!

Thanks!

[/QUOTE]
Given those wheels as a used set, and just looking at the pictures you've shown, I can already see a few ounces of "extra" material on them that I'd gladly take off LOL.[/QUOTE]

Not getting that, what do you mean? Just the raw shape? They are definitely a form over function design, but if they are really anywhere between 13 and 16 lbs apiece, I'll be very satisfied.

I think the only real issue with wheels this cheap could be whether the clearcoat/finish will start peeling off within a few years...:rolleyes:

I just see places that I could "refine" the wheels to lighten them. I dont use lip weights, so both lips could be removed, as well as smoothing out the outer edges (lip edge) of the spokes on the front side.

Obviously, I wouldn't go buy new wheels and do this to them... I'd get them used before considering something like that... the $90 wheels I'm getting tomorrow, are getting a lightening treatment, similar to what I've laid out above.

There's never alot of material that I would shave away for a street wheel, but there's always some! LOL.

That's all I meant by it, nothing derogatory, or anything like that.

Deezler -

I am curious. I think the VIA is a load rating :

VIA Registration of Aluminum Wheel
http://www.jwtc.jp/open/html/e/image/aa01_2.gif


CarloSW2

Christ, you're really going to shave the lip off your wheels? What keeps the tire on the rim then? 5 wheels for 90 bucks is hard to argue with. I love van's on tuner wheels, haha. Feel free to post up here or elsewhere when you get them on, I am interested in what you plan to do.

cfg, thanks for the info. I thought it was kind of odd for the weight to be stamped on the rim like that. Load rating makes much more sense...

The wheel is going on the scales at lunch time.

Dang. A little heavier than I'd hoped. Fedex got duped by about 25 lbs worth of shipping costs, haha.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...z/DSC00346.jpg

For reference, I grabbed a wheel out of the dumpster at work. 15x6 steel rim:

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...z/DSC00341.jpg

So as for weight, I'm still looking ok, but I'll never know the aero losses....
No remorse though. The plan in the back of my head all along was to keep these wheels mint, and flip them once the Rota's are in stock... we'll see if I find the motivation though.

Suppose I'll bump this one last time if anyone had subscriptions.

Continued the wheel/tire development in the build thread:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...html#post97524

Deezler -

Thanks for reminding me. I just ordered the Kleen Wheels dust shield (1 pair). My Hawk HPS brake pads generate a lot of dust (but no squeek), so it will (hopefully) be a two-for-one benefit. I will get them installed on my next oil change.

CarloSW2

Deezler -

Here they are :

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/2...cover01.th.jpg http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/5...cover02.th.jpg

They don't have that "crisp seal" that we want, so I don't think they will help very much for my wheels. However, for your "thin spoked" wheels, they might be more efficient.

I have a lot of dust with my Hawk HPS pads anyway, so they can still do what they were intended to.

CarloSW2

http://truck.hownd.com/images/thumb-...s_smoothie.jpg

Just throwing it out there.

my first gmc -

Beautiful. Looks "big truck size" with those 6 lugs. What's the brand/make?

CarloSW2

Centerline smoothies. Milled to order, so it comes in any lug size and offset. On any kind of car you'd probably have little to no lip on them.

Edit: centerline doesn't have custom cut wheels. Intro wheels have a smoothy wheel that's custom order and even has a hub cap to cover the lugs for ultra smoothness.
http://www.introwheels.com/uploads/f...0_smoothie.jpg

Dang. Those would look awesome. Couple guesses: 1) Not cheap, and 2) Not light.

Thanks for posting your dust shields cfg.

Deezler -

I just found these :

Wheel Accents - Polished Wheel Accents
https://www.newstalgiawheel.com/imag...OL_105_250.gif
It wouldn't work for my 4-lug wheel, but maybe there's a possibility for you, in addition to the bling factor.

CarloSW2