OE Steelies Weigh? The answer is ...

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Charles Lasitter - 11 Apr 2005 16:50 GMT

After quite a bit of searching, I found this site:

http://www.wheelweights.net/

Which has mostly only alloy wheel weights, but just enough info on
steel wheels to approximate the weight of 15x6.5 wheels at 22 pounds.

It also means that affordable alloys (carefully selected) can give
you a savings of unsprung weight of about:

OE: 7# (Alloy=15)
+1: 6# (" =16)
+2: 5# (" =17)

Then, again by carefully selecting the replacement tire for Michelin
MXV4 S8s, you could go up in wheel size and STILL have less unsprung
weight!

-- CL.

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Steve Bigelow - 11 Apr 2005 23:13 GMT

> After quite a bit of searching, I found this site:
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> MXV4 S8s, you could go up in wheel size and STILL have less unsprung
> weight!

Still don't want to use the bathroom scale, huh?
Tire rack lists tire weights for those tires...a 195/65-15 is 20 lbs.

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Charles Lasitter - 12 Apr 2005 02:58 GMT

> Still don't want to use the bathroom scale, huh?

I would have, but the folks at the local salvage yard didn't answer
the phone. Besides, I was impressed by the resource.

> Tire rack lists tire weights for those tires ... a 195/65-15 is 20
> lbs.

Tire Rack Lists the weight for LOTS of tires, and there is a very
significant variation to be found in tires of supposedly the same
size.

The load ratings and speed ratings seem to have significant influence
between tires of the same size, but it also varies substantially from
manufacturer to manufacturer.

The stock 205/65HR15 with a load index of 92 is 21 pounds, and it's
fairly light for a grand touring all-season tire. The Turanza LS-H,
and LS-V tires are 25 pounds. (They give you a full 11/32") But the
Turanza LS-T (92T) is only _20_ pounds. Go figr!

Now this all assumes the Tire Rack numbers are accurate, and that may
be assuming too much ...

There are a lot of interesting numbers on the Tire Rack web site. I
just wish I had a better feel for the laws of diminishing returns as
it applies to unsprung weight, and rubber on the road.

If you could be two pounds lighter on the corners or have an extra
half inch of rubber on the road what would you choose? I'm cornering
on a lot of choppy, uneven pavement, and on the margin, I don't know
what I should maximize.

-- CL.

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merlotbrougham@hotmail.com - 12 Apr 2005 21:07 GMT

Charles, I've been sorta following all your inquiries about wheels and
tires. I have a '92 Civic EX that I'd love to upgrade with a package
from TireRack. What model are you upgrading? Have you googled honda
performance groups? I'd bet there are a ton of west coast tuner guys to
give advice from experience.

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merlotbrougham@hotmail.com - 12 Apr 2005 22:02 GMT

merlotbroug...@hotmail.com wrote:

> Charles, I've been sorta following all your inquiries about wheels and
> tires. I have a '92 Civic EX that I'd love to upgrade with a package
> from TireRack. What model are you upgrading? Have you googled honda
> performance groups? I'd bet there are a ton of west coast tuner guys to
> give advice from experience.

Whoops- I see it's a newer Accord.

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Charles Lasitter - 13 Apr 2005 00:02 GMT

merlotbrougham@hotmail.com wrote in news:1113339722.681049.199500
@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com:

> Whoops- I see it's a newer Accord.

Yes, but the relevant theory still applies.

I think you can learn a great deal with (a grain of salt) studying the
tables and numbers that the Tire Rack has compiled. They could be
better, without a doubt, but for free, they beat the hell out of
nothing at all.

-- CL.

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