Do lighter wheels make a difference?
#1
Do lighter wheels make a difference?
Hello all, I have an 2013 r56 cooper base. I will be replacing the tires soon but I was wondering if it is worth getting a lighter set of wheels before I mount my new tires on the stock mini 17x7 conical wheels which I believe are 21-22 lbs each. If I were to get another 17x7 that is 14-18 lbs does a couple of pounds make a difference in performance? If anyone has wheels to recommend please do share!
#5
#7
Zach -
Funny, yes, yes, yes...NO ONE mentions the details (or WHY !)..!
As has been mentioned, yes, in all cases, but on one has told you WHY..! That is IF...you are interested.
Accelerating in a straight line, (initial acceleration) - The heavier the wheel/tire combination is that you have, the more horse power is "wasted" in getting the wheel/tire into motion from a standstill. With lighter wheels/tires (combination) that horse power can be used to get the "car" (as a whole) moving.
Also, this same horse power is wasted in NOT being there to get the tires/wheels "rotating" as could be done with...lighter parts.
Accelerating (stopping) to zero (yes, accelerating to a stop IS the correct word..!) - Basically...see the above notes. The tires have to work at stopping BOTH...the weight of the entire car, AND the rotating mass of the tires/wheels. That's "two" jobs the tires have (initiated by the brakes). So again, the lighter wheel/tire combination, the more "work" can be transferred to bring the whole car to a stop, or slowed.
In up and down motion, (bumps/dips in the road) - Similar to the above answers, the heavier the wheel/tire combination is, the harder the shock absorber and spring have to work to keep the tire(s) planted on the ground. As you might expect, a tire that's off the ground, or bouncing...isn't in control of...anything, or able to do anything good..!.
In turns - While turning the wheels/tires (front) takes effort from all parts in the steering, from your hands, all the way to the lug studs/bolts and tires. While this is VERY minimal loss, see the above note. Heavier parts, make everything else work harder than should be required.
Mike
NOTE - Heavy brake rotors and calipers, are ALSO 'unsprung' weight. Heavier parts, again, make the springs and shocks work harder in keeping the tires firmly planted on the ground...where they need to be. This is a critical give and take that has to be weighed when buying suspension parts.
Funny, yes, yes, yes...NO ONE mentions the details (or WHY !)..!
As has been mentioned, yes, in all cases, but on one has told you WHY..! That is IF...you are interested.
Accelerating in a straight line, (initial acceleration) - The heavier the wheel/tire combination is that you have, the more horse power is "wasted" in getting the wheel/tire into motion from a standstill. With lighter wheels/tires (combination) that horse power can be used to get the "car" (as a whole) moving.
Also, this same horse power is wasted in NOT being there to get the tires/wheels "rotating" as could be done with...lighter parts.
Accelerating (stopping) to zero (yes, accelerating to a stop IS the correct word..!) - Basically...see the above notes. The tires have to work at stopping BOTH...the weight of the entire car, AND the rotating mass of the tires/wheels. That's "two" jobs the tires have (initiated by the brakes). So again, the lighter wheel/tire combination, the more "work" can be transferred to bring the whole car to a stop, or slowed.
In up and down motion, (bumps/dips in the road) - Similar to the above answers, the heavier the wheel/tire combination is, the harder the shock absorber and spring have to work to keep the tire(s) planted on the ground. As you might expect, a tire that's off the ground, or bouncing...isn't in control of...anything, or able to do anything good..!.
In turns - While turning the wheels/tires (front) takes effort from all parts in the steering, from your hands, all the way to the lug studs/bolts and tires. While this is VERY minimal loss, see the above note. Heavier parts, make everything else work harder than should be required.
Mike
NOTE - Heavy brake rotors and calipers, are ALSO 'unsprung' weight. Heavier parts, again, make the springs and shocks work harder in keeping the tires firmly planted on the ground...where they need to be. This is a critical give and take that has to be weighed when buying suspension parts.
Last edited by OCR; 06-24-2018 at 07:29 PM.
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zachh356 (06-24-2018)
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#8
Zach -
Funny, yes, yes, yes...NO ONE mentions the details (or WHY !)..!
As has been mentioned, yes, in all cases, but on one has told you WHY..! That is IF...you are interested.
Accelerating in a straight line, (initial acceleration) - The heavier the wheel/tire combination is that you have, the more horse power is "wasted" in getting the wheel/tire into motion from a standstill. With lighter wheels/tires (combination) that horse power can be used to get the "car" (as a whole) moving.
Also, this same horse power is wasted in NOT being there to get the tires/wheels "rotating" as could be done with...lighter parts.
Accelerating (stopping) to zero (yes, accelerating to a stop IS the correct word..!) - Basically...see the above notes. The tires have to work at stopping BOTH...the weight of the entire car, AND the rotating mass of the tires/wheels. That's "two" jobs the tires have (initiated by the brakes). So again, the lighter wheel/tire combination, the more "work" can be transferred to bring the whole car to a stop, or slowed.
In up and down motion, (bumps/dips in the road) - Similar to the above answers, the heavier the wheel/tire combination is, the harder the shock absorber and spring have to work to keep the tire(s) planted on the ground. As you might expect, a tire that's off the ground, or bouncing...isn't in control of...anything, or able to do anything good..!.
In turns - While turning the wheels/tires (front) takes effort from all parts in the steering, from your hands, all the way to the lug studs/bolts and tires. While this is VERY minimal loss, see the above note. Heavier parts, make everything else work harder than should be required.
Mike
NOTE - Heavy brake rotors and calipers, are ALSO 'unsprung' weight. Heavier parts, again, make the springs and shocks work harder in keeping the tires firmly planted on the ground...where they need to be. This is a critical give and take that has to be weighed when buying suspension parts.
Funny, yes, yes, yes...NO ONE mentions the details (or WHY !)..!
As has been mentioned, yes, in all cases, but on one has told you WHY..! That is IF...you are interested.
Accelerating in a straight line, (initial acceleration) - The heavier the wheel/tire combination is that you have, the more horse power is "wasted" in getting the wheel/tire into motion from a standstill. With lighter wheels/tires (combination) that horse power can be used to get the "car" (as a whole) moving.
Also, this same horse power is wasted in NOT being there to get the tires/wheels "rotating" as could be done with...lighter parts.
Accelerating (stopping) to zero (yes, accelerating to a stop IS the correct word..!) - Basically...see the above notes. The tires have to work at stopping BOTH...the weight of the entire car, AND the rotating mass of the tires/wheels. That's "two" jobs the tires have (initiated by the brakes). So again, the lighter wheel/tire combination, the more "work" can be transferred to bring the whole car to a stop, or slowed.
In up and down motion, (bumps/dips in the road) - Similar to the above answers, the heavier the wheel/tire combination is, the harder the shock absorber and spring have to work to keep the tire(s) planted on the ground. As you might expect, a tire that's off the ground, or bouncing...isn't in control of...anything, or able to do anything good..!.
In turns - While turning the wheels/tires (front) takes effort from all parts in the steering, from your hands, all the way to the lug studs/bolts and tires. While this is VERY minimal loss, see the above note. Heavier parts, make everything else work harder than should be required.
Mike
NOTE - Heavy brake rotors and calipers, are ALSO 'unsprung' weight. Heavier parts, again, make the springs and shocks work harder in keeping the tires firmly planted on the ground...where they need to be. This is a critical give and take that has to be weighed when buying suspension parts.
#9
straight acceleration and stopping if you do the physics.
any reduction in weight of moving suspension parts helps with roadhandling
as the springs and shocks have a better time keeping the tire planted to the road.
#11
+1
100%, going from 17" to 15" on the track was huge.
100%, going from 17" to 15" on the track was huge.
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Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
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