would 18s slow me down

[12secondv6]

Originally posted by beeker82:
i might have a good deal going on some polished z06 18 inch wheels and tires,would these slow me down at all????? i have a 95 3.4 with an a4

What do you have now?
Are you looking at the 17 inch front Z06 and 18 inch rear Z06 wheels?

Normally, going to a bigger wheel can slow you down..... but... Z06 wheels are nice and light!

Typical 16 X 8 wheel with a 225/50 or 255/50 (and any sized in between) will weigh in at 46 lbs.

I do not know the weight of STOCK Z06 wheels. On tirerack I see aftermarket wheels (17 inch and 18 inch) ranging from as heavy as 25 lbs and as light as 16.

Personally, if these are the 17 and 18 inch gunmetal Z06 wheels.... get them! They are bad @ss!

My guess is, with the light weight wheel, it will cancel out the possible increase of rotational mass.

BTW, reducing 50 pounds off a car and 50 pounds of rotational mass are VASTLY different.

Reducing rotating mass makes HUGE differences!

[shenanigans]

There is a difference I have seen it at the track and elsewhere my car is generally pretyt consistant.

275/40/17s slowed me down alot.

**** I noticed a differnece between Firebird 5-starts with 245s, and Camaro V-spokes with 235s.

The 5-stars weghed roughly 6 lbs more a wheel.


Wheel weight is not like car weight, don't think a if your wheels weigh 6 lbs, that just removing 24 lbs. and your car will perform the same.

It not horrid going to bigger wheels but it slows you down, just keep your stockers, and swap them on for the track. I feel the difference just swapping them and driving and see it at the track.

That is why everybody goes for lighter wheels, not for the 10 lbs. weight reduction but the 10 lbs. rotating mass weight reduction.

[shenanigans]

also as a tip...

prices between 17 in tires and 18 in tires is huge, like roughly $50 a tire...

just a warning, 275/40/17 is a very common and cheaper tire size.

[1DangerousV6]

i think this is why i did not see a difference..the weight of my 16" weld prostar XPs was 19 pounds..and i think the weight of my 18" C5 reps are 20 pounds..but i am not sure..some say they are 20 and some say they are 23?..

[Shirl]

My 18" Z06 wheels with 275/35/18's weigh 43lbs. a piece.

[99v6cam]

smaller (profile) tires = lighter tires, less rubber on the low profile tire, that's why your's are so light.

[TopFliteRS]

i have 245/40/18's and it seems to work pretty well with my 3.8. you also have to consider that with smaller side walls, you can feel EVERYTHING you roll over. just shop around and look at the wieghts of the wheels and for a warranty on tires. i have a warranty with Discount Tire and it costs me $20 for new $200 Nitto 555's!!
i used to have chrome MOMOs which were much heavier than my Voxxs i have now... oh and it'll take you longer to slow down with heavier wheels to

[Jerriko]

Originally posted by 99v6cam:
smaller (profile) tires = lighter tires, less rubber on the low profile tire, that's why your's are so light.

smaller profile tires also=more metal on the wheels=more weight

[Jerriko]

Originally posted by 1DangerousV6:
i didnt give any advice..i didnt say to go one way or another..simply posted my own findings just like Shirl..its not because im better than you..its because comments that come from a personal problem are SO easy to correct..you let your anger show your stupidity..me?..i dont have any anger..so i dont have any problem [img]smile.gif[/img]

You can't stop, can you?
Anger, stupidity???What are you talking about?If you really feel the need to keep this going, go talk to a wall or something.

[ May 02, 2005, 02:58 AM: Message edited by: Jerriko ]

[Jtownrook99firebird]

would the metal from the corvette wheels not be lighter than the metal on the stock wheels even if they are bigger shouldn't they balance out?...

[shenanigans]

Originally posted by Jerriko:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by 99v6cam:
smaller (profile) tires = lighter tires, less rubber on the low profile tire, that's why your's are so light.

smaller profile tires also=more metal on the wheels=more weight </font>[/QUOTE]Also lets remember most of us go to fatter tires as well with lower profile tires...

Wheels that weigh more, is more unsprung weight and rotational mass...

It robs HP from the car, and makes the ride worse.

Notice lots of big cars like Caddies, lincolns, and crown vics have nice rides, there unsprung, to sprung weight ratio is very low. And helps with a nice ride.


Ideally you want the less rotational mass...

hence lighter engine internals, lightweight flywheels, lightweight driveshafts(Aluminum, FF), lightened gears, and lighter wheels.


You can get bigger wheels that are jsut as light as stockers, but they cost more money since they start to be costlier then the normal materials and still keep the same strength.

On that not I believe that factory z06 rims are pretty light, now replicas, chrome and other types aren't as light.

[AlienInv8r]

your rotational inertia isn't affected by mass of the wheel as much as it is the radius/diameter of the wheel. Dont get the two confused; a 16" wheel and 18" wheel that weigh the same will not have the same moment of inertia. The 18" will still be slower.

I'm gonna end all your guys silly arguments, and explain why with a physics explanation. The torque required to turn your wheel is equated by moment of inertia times angular acceleration (T=Ia). Moment of Inertia, I, is equal to mass of the wheel times the radius squared. Now, you're trying to get the wheel to move your car at the same speed, so you have to apply torque to the wheels for them to turn. Since you have the square the value of your radius in moment of inertia, the larger radius has a much bigger effect on the amount of torque required.

Going from a 16" wheel to an 18"inch wheel, lets figure out the ratios of the two.

8^2 = 64
9^2 = 81

So, 81/64 = 1.2656.
So in conclusion, it's going to take you roughly 1.26 times as much torque to move your 18" at the same speed as your 16" wheels. This is all assuming same weight wheels and does not take tire height into account, but it proves the point enough to show you the difference. Now, for street driving and all that, you wont notice much of a difference and you will get more traction through turns and everything. Personally, I say get the 18s and drive around with them; the difference in looks and handling is well worth it. If you want to go to the track and race, keep your 16s as spares and throw them on when you go to the track to get better times.

[ May 08, 2005, 12:51 PM: Message edited by: AlienInv8r ]

[Ender2664]

My 18" Z06 wheels with 275/35/18's weigh 43lbs. a piece.

If that is right isn't that lighter than the stock rims? Arn't the stock rims and tires like 46 or 48 or something like that anyways? What is the brand of the Z06 rims you have? Chevy or aftermarket?

[99v6cam]

my stock salad shooters with tires are 42lbs (I've been going to the ups store for shipping on them alot so I know)

[Crashtest]

So, with 17's @ 275/40/17s . I would got slower with my 150lb dog in the back & even slower with my 115lb wife in the pass seat? [img]graemlins/banana.gif[/img]