Author Topic: Wheel & Tyre weights!  (Read 8094 times)

Offline CHB100

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Wheel & Tyre weights!
« on: 18 June 2011, 14:45 »
Have just removed 17" Monza's and replaced with 18" DOTZ exiles (Pics above) and weighed each, guess

what.........

17" Monza with Dunlop 245/45 R17 circa 5mm tread  =  23KG

18" DOTZ Exile with Contisport 3 225/40ZR18 circa 7mm tread = 20KG

So that's 3KG a corner!! Alloy wheel weight or tyres (rubber & canvas) are heavier than you think?

So an unsprung weight saving of 12KG, will it be noticeable?
« Last Edit: 18 June 2011, 14:50 by CHB100 »
Arrived 15/5/17 Mk 7.5 R Lapiz 5dr DSG, Prets, Pan Roof, DCC, Rear View Cam.
Our other car is a Mk7 GTI DSG 5dr Tungsten, Vienna, Rear View Cam, Park assist.

Offline am1w

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Re: Wheel & Tyre weights!
« Reply #1 on: 18 June 2011, 15:33 »
Every little bit counts. Possibly one of the reasons SteveP bought the wheels.
If you look at my Summer Tyre Sticky you'll find that Conti tyres are probably the lightest. Perilli are quite light too. Can't check as I am away from home having a haircut!
Glad you like the wheels. We were all careful owners!
RED TORNADO 7R, 5 DR, DSG, DCC, DNS, DYNAUDIO, KI, WP, HBA, LN, SP

Offline Exonian

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Re: Wheel & Tyre weights!
« Reply #2 on: 19 June 2011, 15:54 »
When I picked up one of my BBS CKs my back nearly snapped.
When I picked up one of my ex SteveP Pro Races it was as light as a feather (f**king big heavy aluminium and rubber feather though). So you can see the motorsport heritage there, every unsprung kilo saved is worth quite a bit of sprung kilo-age.

Not very scientific but a fact.
‘25 8.5R, ‘23 8R, ‘20 8CS, ‘19 135iX, ‘19 TCR, ‘17 Ed40, ‘17 GTD, ‘15 7R, ‘13 GTI PP, ‘11 GTI, ‘09 GTI, ‘98 Ibiza Cupra, ‘05 GTI, ‘06 Polo GTI, ‘04 GT TDI, ‘05 Fabia vRS, ‘02 GTI T, ‘03 Ibiza TDI 130, ‘01 Leon 180, ‘89 mk2 16v, ‘99 Ibiza TDI, ‘96 VR6, ‘98 Ibiza TDI, ‘92 VR6, ‘88 mk2 8v, ‘92 Polo G40, ‘91 mk2 8v, ‘89 mk2 8v, 205 GTI 1.9, ‘83 mk1 GTI, ‘80 Scirocco GTI, plus some others I’ve forgotten 

Offline Hurdy

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Re: Wheel & Tyre weights!
« Reply #3 on: 19 June 2011, 17:27 »
1kg off the unsprung rotating mass is the equivalent of 5kg from the sprung static weight of the car. Rotational inertia plays a big part in acceleration, deceleration and cornering of a car. Ascari used carbon fibre Dymag alloys on their cars and found that it reduced the 0-60mph times and lap times by a significant amount.

The 17" Monza's weigh just over 11kg on their own, compare that to OZ Alleggerita's at 6.4kg each.

That equates to 4.6kg a corner or 18.4kg for the car. Multiply this by 5 and the effect on the car is like removing 92kg from the sprung static weight. :cool:

Tyres can be around 1-2kg different in weight depending on the compound and the inner wall make up. Some use kevlar reinforcing for the sidewalls now instead of steel braiding as it is stronger AND lighter. :smiley:
Seat Leon Cupra Black 290 DSG

Offline R32UK

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Re: Wheel & Tyre weights!
« Reply #4 on: 19 June 2011, 20:17 »
I think the bbs on my car at the moment probably weigh twice as much as one of the monzas  :laugh:

i dont avoid potholes.. i make them :laugh:

Offline ajmoir36

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Re: Wheel & Tyre weights!
« Reply #5 on: 19 June 2011, 21:38 »
Whats the weight of a Vancouver then?

Waht about strength?, I had some Kahns (once) and they bent in a pot hole like cheese.
Diagonally parked in a parallel universe.
On Order: Mk8 R, Pure White, Reversing Camera, Harmon Kardon, Heated seats all round.
Gone: Mk7.5 R, 5dr, DSG, Deep Pearl Black, 18” Cadiz, Nav, Winter Pack, Keyless, Dynaudio and Reversing camera.
Gone: Mk7 R, 5dr, DSG, Limestone Grey, 19" Pretoria's, Nav Pro, DCC, Winter Pack, Keyless, Mobile Prep and Reversing Camera.
Gone: Mk6 GTD, 5dr, Manual, Tornado Red, 18" Vancouvers, RCD510 + Dynaudio, heated seats.

Offline am1w

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Re: Wheel & Tyre weights!
« Reply #6 on: 19 June 2011, 23:46 »
Ajmoir makes a very good point about strength.
Today, my nearside front 18" Monza Shadow hit a massive pot hole, nay a crater, on the A40. There was no way to avoid it. However, I managed to avoid the massive lump of tarmac that lay alongside it. Must admit I was canning the car a bit.
I felt sick to the stomach when this happened and prayed to all the relevant gods for my beloved Monza and not so loved Bridgestone not to be wrecked. My prayers were answered this time. Never needed a drink afterwards so badly!
Tough wheel that Monza Shadow, but possibly not very light. Fine by me! :smug:
« Last Edit: 20 June 2011, 07:21 by am1w »
RED TORNADO 7R, 5 DR, DSG, DCC, DNS, DYNAUDIO, KI, WP, HBA, LN, SP

Offline Ess_Three

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Re: Wheel & Tyre weights!
« Reply #7 on: 20 June 2011, 02:45 »
Ajmoir makes a very good point about strength.
Today, my nearside front 18" Monza Shadow hit a massive pot hole, nay a crater, on the A40. There was no way to avoid it. However, I managed to avoid the massive lump of tarmac that lay alongside it. Must admit I was canning the car a bit.
I felt sick to the stomach when this happened and prayed to all the relevant gods for my beloved Monzza and not so loved Bridgestone not to be wrecked. My prayers were answered this time. Never needed a drink afterwards so badly!
Tough wheel that Monza Shadow, but possibly not very light. Fine by me! :smug:

Alloy used, construction and design all come into play for strength...
It's fairly well known that a cross-spoke design is about as strong as any, whilst straight spokes tend to be a bit lighter, whilst forged construction tends to be stronger than cast, and flow formed in between the two.
Unless you go to exotic construction and higher quality alloys, it's difficult to keep the price down, the weight down, yet keep the strength up.

I remember bending a front strut on a Mk3 Golf whilst the BBS RX wheel was out of round by less than 0.5mm...
Whilst on my ITR I gave a featherlight Enkai wheel a good smack and was left with this:




Reducing my Golf count by the week....
..but gaining motorcycles.

Offline am1w

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Re: Wheel & Tyre weights!
« Reply #8 on: 20 June 2011, 07:56 »
That looks brutal, Glen.
Do you think these would be strong enough for my winter wheels 'cos I really like them especially for their bling?  :wink:
http://www.performancealloys.com/wheel-details.aspx?ID=630
RED TORNADO 7R, 5 DR, DSG, DCC, DNS, DYNAUDIO, KI, WP, HBA, LN, SP

Offline Hurdy

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Re: Wheel & Tyre weights!
« Reply #9 on: 20 June 2011, 16:27 »
Strength is key, that is why I'd only buy from a maker that has a good reputation

The Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2 is a strong wheel and was used in BTCC
The BBS wheels have always been strong
The OZ alloys also are very strong and the Alleggerita's are flowformed for extra strength.

Chinese plasticine alloys are brilliant at wasting your money. I tend to try and stick to the old saying - buy once, buy right :smiley: but even that doesn't always work as the Eibach dampers on the MKV were  :sick: :sick: :sick:
Seat Leon Cupra Black 290 DSG