Wheel question
I asked my friend about my decision to put 18 inch wheels on my car. He said that I should get 7s because if I put 18s, I will loose torque.
Any truth to this? Feedback would be greatly appreciated. OmarTT 180fwd |
18"s are heavier than identical 17"s. More metal.
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And more unsprung weight translates into performance detriment.
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Lighter 18"s would be better than heavier 17"s tho, less weight by rim *and* tire, smaller sidewall.
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If wheel + tire heavier, acceleration suffers...
Really it's about 'moment of inertia', but practically it's about weight. Think of the wheel and tire combination as a 45 lb (or so) flywheel on each corner of the car that must be spun up from 0 to 750 rpm (about 60 mph), in 7 seconds or so.
Now increase each wheel/tire weight 5 lbs. near it's outer edge. Now you're spinning up 4 50 lb. flywheels. This takes more power, so there is less left to accelerate the vehicle. You could probably measure the diffrence. The extra 20 lbs. of weight also makes a tiny difference in acceleration. (a little over 3 gallons of gas worth of weight) Second point is 'unsprung weight'. 5 lbs extra can probably be felt by someone who is very sensitive to ride/handling motions, but most of us won't notice, nor be able to measure, the difference. Heavier tire/wheel combinations probably hurt vehicle performance more than they help handling, (assuming you are starting with 225/45-17 Portenza 040's). If you are concerned, look for a tire/wheel combination the same weight or even lighter than stock. That weight data isn't easy to find from manufacturers. Ask people here to weigh their aftermarket tire/wheel combinations. In the end, changing tires/wheels on a TT is often about looks, not performance. If it fits well, and you like the look, go for it, as long as you know the +'s and -'s. |
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