Lower Wheel Weight = FE Increase?

[1993CivicVX]

Originally Posted by VetteOwner

heavier the wheel, it will cosat better as it has "built up" torque. lighter wheels will allow it to accelerate easier thus using less gas but less coasting torque.

soo id say if you do alot of city driving then lighter wheels

alot of highway then maybe just leave it as is.

Wait a minute, let me get this straight. Aside from the effect an overall reduction in weight has by having lighter wheels, there is an effect on acceleration and coasting by having lighter wheels? Is that why my Honda coasts more poorly than my friend's Honda? (And all this time I was afraid it was from wheels not turning freely) I guess it makes sense, since the axles are turning the wheels. Interesting to know at any rate. So just to clarify, if you are doing a lot of city driving, your fuel savings with lighter wheels would be more noticeable because it will accelerate easier (using less energy) beyond the fact that accelerating is easier when the overall mass is lighter?

[spacepilot]

Originally Posted by 1993CivicVX

So just to clarify, if you are doing a lot of city driving, your fuel savings with lighter wheels would be more noticeable because it will accelerate easier (using less energy) beyond the fact that accelerating is easier when the overall mass is lighter?

Yes, please see my calculations above. If you reduce 10lbs of mass on the wheels, it's roughly equivalent to removing 15-20lbs from the non-rotating part of the vehicle while keeping the heavier wheels, as far as the kinetic energy goes. In another word, removing 1 lb from the wheels goes further than removing 1lb from elsewhere. But removing mass from the non-rotating part of the car first probably is more cost-effective than switching to light-weight wheels.

[1993CivicVX]

Originally Posted by spacepilot

Yes, please see my calculations above. If you reduce 10lbs of mass on the wheels, it's roughly equivalent to removing 15-20lbs from the non-rotating part of the vehicle while keeping the heavier wheels, as far as the kinetic energy goes. In another word, removing 1 lb from the wheels goes further than removing 1lb from elsewhere. But removing mass from the non-rotating part of the car first probably is more cost-effective than switching to light-weight wheels.

Thanks spacepilot. My brain does not convert symbols into meaning very well. As a result I fail at math.

[VetteOwner]

yes city driving you might see a small increae (i wouldnt expect a miracle but) highway you would hardly notice a thing...