Years of bicycle racing and searching for the lightest/strongest equipment gained me a reputation for being a bit of a "weight weenie". I always look for no-compromise weight savings - that is no compromises in strength and durability with lightweight equipment. My bikes have lots of titanium and carbon fiber as well as more traditional lightweight aluminum alloy bits and pieces. Light, strong wheels in my opinion are the best possible upgrade on a bicycle.

With that background, I have two questions. (1) Would the difference in a 19 lb. wheel (which I have on the car now) and a 14 lb. wheel be significant as it relates to acceleration (0-60, 1/4 mile, etc.)? (2) If you stripped a painted aluminum wheel, such as the Kosei K1-TS and powder-coated the wheel (in order to obtain a desired color, unique look), would powder coating add any significant weight? Would painting the wheel be better? Am I crazy?

 

Yes, you're crazy but you already knew that didn't you? Light weight wheels do make a difference in acceleration. Being the cylcist that you are (I am also), it's pretty obvious when you use light weight bike components that you feel it when you ride. The same is true for a car. Weight definately makes a difference, especially when you are going through initial acceleration.

As far as stripping the paint on wheels and powder coating, there shouldn't be too much difference. A 19 lb. wheel is fairly heavy and you should notice a significant difference if you switched to something as light as 14 lb. The difference between paint and powder coating won't be all that much, not enough to be concerned with.

 

1) Yes, theoretically the 14 lb wheel would be better, but it would also depend on tire choice as well. How much better? IMO, not enough to lose sleep over. Perhaps the MINI performance experts around here have done measurements but how much could it be? A tenth? A stock MCS weighs between 2500-2700# depending on the all the doodads you ticked off when you ordered it. Given 168HP the 200# difference makes a definite difference (16:1 versus 15:1) Obsessive? Find a way to lose a few hundred pounds. Rip out the rear seats. Pull all the sound deadening. Pull the carpet. Take out all the airbags. Lexan everything. Rip out the rest of the interior plastics. Pull the visors, throw the radio on the junk pile. Take the speakers and ebay 'em. Throw the stock seats out and put a set of Suzuka CF GTs. Go through the wiring harness and remove every wire and fuse thats not absolutely necessary. Redo the entire suspension with custom carbon fiber suspension pieces. Then spend the 15K on a carbon fiber body, leave it clear. Then start drilling holes everywhere.

2) Are your crazy? Only if you do what I suggest above. I can't recall exactly how much HP a human produces but its probably on the order of .3 HP peak. There every ounce matters. Here, yeah they all add up, but worrying about powder coat versus paint is really pretty nuts, even by my standards, and I'm certifiable. Have fun .

 

I'm sure there are plenty of old threads on this, but try this one...

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=50947

...lots of "heated" discussion on tire/wheel weights, "sprung" vs. "unsprung" weights, acceleration changes, etc.