LIGHTWEIGHT Wheels

[bnperrone]

Those custom heavy wheels are insanely closed off to airflow - I don’t doubt that was also a major contributor to the brake heat problems.






To throw more shit into the mix to consider:
On cars I’ve had with enough suspension travel, lighter wheels have always improved ride. Small imperfections and all.

These cars even in stock form (and BMWs from the factory) heavily rely on the bump stops even in normal use. Golf Rs are on or just a couple mm off the front bump stops at stock ride height.

It’s entirely possible that lighter wheel hitting small imperfections is more jarring because there’s some additional “spring rate” at play earlier in the suspension travel. Whereas heavier wheels yes resist movement so deform the tire a bit more.

It all also will be affected by damping as well.

There’s no clear cut blanket statement for every case.

In all of my experiences, all the other obvious benefits of a light wheel outshine whatever minor (if at all even perceptible) downsides.

Yeah, the heavy wheel setup is unrealistic as you and goodvibes pointed out. It does, however, follow that heavier unsprung rotational mass places additional stress on related parts, and reducing that mass can be helpful for longevity.

At the end of the day I’ve experienced the same thing you have. Massive subjective benefits on multiple cars. I’ve never felt less stability or had any negative subjective feedback, and if there’s something happening in the first mm of travel like the first article posted shows, I can’t perceive it.

If I’d never tried high quality lighter wheels I may have a hard time believing it, but the benefits are impressive. That and the 2019 35th AE GLI wheels have that red stripe which was a little much for me.

 

[GTIfan99]

The anti-Lotus. Add complexity and weight.

 

[bentin]

The anti-Lotus. Add complexity and weight.

Lotus un-Lotused themselves.

 

[GTIfan99]

Ignoring the really heavy wheel, I don't understand the conclusion in the video that 1 sec a lap isn't a big deal. People spend big money to lose a second off lap times. Light wheels is a great value.

 

[goodvibes]

You don’t like the results shown in the video? You posted it!

The “send more vibes into the suspension” is a drop in the bucket against the myriad subjective benefits you leave out.

You want an experiment? Get a set of 20lb high quality wheels and put em on your car. Have you even done that? Or are you just guessing?

You’re a clown

I never argued the light wheels aren't clearly better for handling or road feel. In fact, I have lighter wheels on my VW. Just saying some of the responses are overstated. I also clearly stated where that vid went against my own predilections. I'm actually happy that it's being discussed but sometimes unfortunately, disgusting.

Internet tough guy has been reported. Please look in the mirror and keep your emo to yourself.

 

[goodvibes]

Ignoring the really heavy wheel, I don't understand the conclusion in the video that 1 sec a lap isn't a big deal. People spend big money to lose a second off lap times. Light wheels is a great value.

Yup. Light wheel improve tracking and let you feel more road, give better response. I've said that from the beginning. I get that folks like to have that feel ( I do) but it's the opposite of smoother.

Don't understand a few of the other emo responses.

 

[jay745]

I always like when threads like this get reported by the person arguing and incorrect in almost every aspect. You kids play nice.

In short, lighter wheels are better in every way.

Report rejected.

 

[GTIfan99]

I always like when threads like this get reported by the person arguing and incorrect in almost every aspect. You kids play nice.

In short, lighter wheels are better in every way.

Report rejected.

Who do you think you are, the only moderator on the forum?

 

[GTIfan99]

I will come to the defense of the guy that's wrong a little bit though. I can't find the article, but a few years ago I read an article where they tested 2 Enki wheels, The super light ones everyone loves, can't remember the name and another slightly heavier wheel that had more lateral rigid.

The heavier wheel was faster around track, not because it was heavier, but because it was stiffer. Likely only a real consideration if you're running really sticky tires and have stiffer bushings.

 

[jay745]

I will come to the defense of the guy that's wrong a little bit though. I can't find the article, but a few years ago I read an article where they tested 2 Enki wheels, The super light ones everyone loves, can't remember the name and another slightly heavier wheel that had more lateral rigid.

The heavier wheel was faster around track, not because it was heavier, but because it was stiffer. Likely only a real consideration if you're running really sticky tires and have stiffer bushings.

Sticky tires + full poly bushings is an incredible thing.

But to your point yes lighter means expensive. Lighter and inexpensive is typically bad. n00bvibe probably doesn't know the difference.

 

[goodvibes]

I will come to the defense of the guy that's wrong a little bit though. I can't find the article, but a few years ago I read an article where they tested 2 Enki wheels, The super light ones everyone loves, can't remember the name and another slightly heavier wheel that had more lateral rigid.

The heavier wheel was faster around track, not because it was heavier, but because it was stiffer. Likely only a real consideration if you're running really sticky tires and have stiffer bushings.

Thanks man but it's not helping my case, LOL. Lighter wheels should always be faster around a track unless something like that is the case. Must have made it more difficult to feel the limits and transitions as well. My position has to do with a heavier wheel/tire combo absorbing more road imperfections because it's heavier and has a greater gyroscopic effect which causes the the tire to deflect more and therefore move the suspension less. I also prefer lighter wheels and partially because they make it easier to feel the road. Less numb.

 

[GTIfan99]

Thanks man but it's not helping my case, LOL. Lighter wheels should always be faster around a track unless something like that is the case. Must have made it more difficult to feel the limits and transitions as well. My position has to do with a heavier wheel/tire combo absorbing more road imperfections because it's heavier and has a greater gyroscopic effect which causes the the tire to deflect more and therefore move the suspension less. I also prefer lighter wheels and partially because they make it easier to feel the road. Less numb.

Most people don't realize that wheels can deflect significantly.

 

[krs]

I will come to the defense of the guy that's wrong a little bit though. I can't find the article, but a few years ago I read an article where they tested 2 Enki wheels, The super light ones everyone loves, can't remember the name and another slightly heavier wheel that had more lateral rigid.

The heavier wheel was faster around track, not because it was heavier, but because it was stiffer. Likely only a real consideration if you're running really sticky tires and have stiffer bushings.

 

[victorofhavoc]

I will come to the defense of the guy that's wrong a little bit though. I can't find the article, but a few years ago I read an article where they tested 2 Enki wheels, The super light ones everyone loves, can't remember the name and another slightly heavier wheel that had more lateral rigid.

The heavier wheel was faster around track, not because it was heavier, but because it was stiffer. Likely only a real consideration if you're running really sticky tires and have stiffer bushings.

That enkei test is super old (still valid), and at that time a 1.0G tire was "sticky". Today that's less grip than a ps4s can provide.

I find it funny everyone just keeps arguing "lighter is better in every way." There's just so much else that can go into it. I've run 16.2lb flow formed wheels and 17.8lb forged wheels with the same tire (back to back as well... Err back to front and front to back..?). The forged wheel felt better and more responsive around a road course. It was a weird toss up on rough curbs, though. Some the forged wheel took it better and some the flow formed wheel felt better. Both felt worse than the oe wheel on metal expansion joists on overpasses .

Ymmv based on your road, tires, and many other details. I'd take a lighter wheel on a road course almost any day, but given a choice, I'd take a stiffer and slightly heavier wheel over a softer lighter wheel.

Another point... There's a great Ford racing article out there that talks about the carbon wheels and why they're so trick. Basically the weight is a minor factor compared to the overall stiffness and for the 350R, Ford worked hard with their supplier to get the stiffest carbon wheel possible with the greatest heat tolerance (to prevent the brakes heating up the tire).

 

[bnperrone]

I find it funny everyone just keeps arguing "lighter is better in every way." There's just so much else that can go into it. I've run 16.2lb flow formed wheels and 17.8lb forged wheels with the same tire

I don’t want to speak for anybody else, but I don’t view it as a “lightest possible option is best in every way” discussion. I’m comparing 28-30lb OEM wheels against high quality but not exorbitant wheels that generally fall in the ~20lb range. Without reading all 200+ pages of discussion, I think lighter wheels vs OEM is the heart of the topic here.

On a daily driver I have only ever noticed positive changes with this. I’ve never gone chasing the lightest possible wheel or bought no-name replicas nor have I had $5k wheel sets, so I can’t speak to any of that.