Does anyone have some hard evidence for heavy wheels sucking up power at the wheels? Possibly some time slips or dyno numbers? I've been wondering if I might see a noticeable increase by dropping to 18" wheels.

 

bump for the same question. i ran my truck with the 22s on the track and wondered how much i could gain with some small stockers

 

Jake, send me those SS wheels. And then I'll tell ya.

Figure out what 18"s u wanna run. Get weights of wheels & tires. If all are same size, mult. by 4. Weight your current setup x 4. Figure the difference.

Usual rule is 100# = .1

But for roatating mass, I think it may be figured on a different "butt scale" of sorts.

While I might not have hard data on wheels since these 16"s are all I have at this time, I have seen that 100# removed does indeed = .1 improvement, at least in my findings & track outings. Using my truck, not goin on opinion here.
If I decide to get some 18"s or 20"s to stuff big brakes in (ironic if u think about that - shorten stoppin by bigger rim / tire setup).

I'm trying to do it all: handling, 1/4 mi, & braking. And find that right balance of weight vs braking efficiency. Why does that matter to you? Cause it's roating mass.
It's a tradeoff. The cost of 20"s tires aren't that bad anymore, & I have to figure that vs. 18"s tires cost, weight advantage or disadvantage. And then both to my current 16"s. I wanna stuff in huge brakes in the 14-16" size so unfortunately it'll be brakes, wheels & tires. And since I live where they salt roads heavily in winter, I want a 2nd set of winter rims / tires. As u can see, this is an expensive propostion, so it may not make the cut this yr. If not, next yr.


I plan to weigh everything. I'm just real particular like that. It'll get disrupted when the Maggie adds weight over the nose this yr. I'll just deal w/. that tho.

 

I don't have any track data or dyno numbers, but several years back, a buddy of mine had some steel 15" wheels same height tires and I had aluminum 15's. One evening we traded to check out what our trucks would look like with different wheels and then we ran them on the hwy. From a dig before the swap I could beat him about 2-3 cars to about 100. After it was a neck and neck race...

 

On my old setup I dropped .24 in the 1/8" by going to a set of forged 18" with 275/55/18 over my cast 22" with 305/45/22...IIRC I ran consistent 7.9's with the 22's and dropped to a 7.66 with the 18's..which was my pb by the way....

 

Ribeiro, are u referring to truck in sig? Cause if so, I don't remember that many mods bein done on your truck. Looks like somebody had been busy.
Or did you used to have a different ride?

 

Foggy gained 100rwhp by dropping his 35s and going to stock setup.

 

When I had 28" wheels (105 Lbs with tires) I did 9.49 at 1/8, now with escalade 17" I did 9.34.

 

Did he make a thread outta this?
IIRC I may have read it. There was before and after Dyno numbers with the wheel swap. It was crazy!

 

i went from 22's (not heavy ones either forged 1 piece) to a set of tiny *** 18's with 275/40/18 tires( camaro size) and dropped from a 13.2 to a 12.7-12.6 . back when i was stock engien , vortech blower and bolt ons.