Wheel weights - steel is real?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

A lower unsprung mass is often pointed out as an improvement for handling, so even if the aluminium wheels could have a negligible effect on fuel-efficiency it might be worth taking a look.

[alexshock]

Originally Posted by Ecky

-Typical Honda 14" steel wheels weigh about 18lbs / 8.2kg
-Honda Insight 14" wheels (aluminum alloy) weigh 11lbs / 5.0kg
-Honda Civic Hybrid 14" (aluminum alloy) weigh 16lbs / 7.3kg

- Honda Civic Hybrid 15" (aluminum alloy) weigh 7.0kg

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by alexshock

- Honda Civic Hybrid 15" (aluminum alloy) weigh 7.0kg

Not bad! The material being farther away from the center of rotation has a multiplicative effect on the moment of inertia, but if the overall diameter of the wheel is larger (and spinning more slowly) that partly negates it.

[freebeard]

IIRC aluminum and car tire are about equal, while steel is heavier. So for a given rolling diameter, there'd be no penalty with aluminum.

Say for instance, an i3 155-19 vs a Beetle's 165-15.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by freebeard

a Beetle's 165-15.

IIRC the last Beetles resorted to 155R15 when they were still available in Mexico, yet in Brazil the Itamar series resorted to 165R15 only because the suppliers had already discontinued the 155R15 locally. Seems like Tornel had also discontinued this size, which now is only available through specialist tire suppliers such as Coker Tire, or from Pirelli at an extra cost as part of a range of tires which caters specifically to ancient/collectible cars.