Is wheel weight all that important?

[Xist]

Arcosine! You are the one with the front skirts! I remember seeing that when I was new to the site, but I have not been able to find it since!

Did you redo them?

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by mcrews

to add to Mech, the spinning weight is 3-4 times more than static weight. SO 5lb at each wheel is 15-20lb.
Unless you are spending a lot more money, I would look to reduce weight.

No it's not 3-4 times more than static weight, it's less than 2x because physics.

Originally Posted by arcosine

The weight inertia is not as important as some claim, the bigger tires turn slower, and the engine turns slower. Besides you have a hybrid, the inertia energy is recovered.

Only partially. Plus hybrid systems are limited in their regen power, so the more weight you add the less energy you can recover overall.

[arcosine]

I got cheap used tires, well free actually, and put them on to see how they fit and drove.

[Cobb]

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[sqidd]

Originally Posted by Cobb

Is wheel weight all that important?

Short answer, yes.

I've done testing on a inertia dyno that showed repeatedly when I swapped a lightweight wheel on (motorcycle) it would pick up power.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by sqidd

Short answer, yes.

I've done testing on a inertia dyno that showed repeatedly when I swapped a lightweight wheel on (motorcycle) it would pick up power.

Yea but I think the wheels of a motorcycle are a bigger proportion of the total vehicle mass.

Anyhow lighter wheels are worth it for just the ride quality and improved acceleration. In terms of dollars spent per pound lost, they're also one of the better values out there.

[sqidd]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Yea but I think the wheels of a motorcycle are a bigger proportion of the total vehicle mass.

Anyhow lighter wheels are worth it for just the ride quality and improved acceleration. In terms of dollars spent per pound lost, they're also one of the better values out there.

I see what you're getting at. And there may be some truth in there. But power at the contact patch is power at the contact patch.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by sqidd

I see what you're getting at. And there may be some truth in there. But power at the contact patch is power at the contact patch.

The wheels aren't sapping power, they're just extra mass that have to be accelerated. Lighter wheels does the same thing for you as losing weight on the rest of the car, except because they spin you get a bit of bonus.

At steady state cruising they don't increase or decrease power usage other than their contribution to rolling resistance.

[sqidd]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

At steady state cruising they don't increase or decrease power usage other than their contribution to rolling resistance.

Correct, but the OP said he was doing a lot of stop and go driving.

[Cobb]

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