Lighter wheels and performance

[SilverBolt]

Performance loss do to tire change can also be attributed to rolling resistance. If you lose 10 lbs/wheel and add back 6-8 lbs/tire you are basically back to stock performance if the tire tread is the same width and level of aggressiveness. When most upgrade tires they go to a wider and more aggressive tread. Those two characteristics can eat up on road performance and economy. As others have stated 10lbs/wheel on a 6000 lb truck isn't going to help/hurt much.

 

[Raptor911]

You are talking about static weight so yes -50 pounds will not matter.

BUT at the wheels and tires you are talking about rotational weight and it matters.

Everyone agrees that when you run 37s, there is def an acceleration and braking penalty because you have increased rotational mass.

I think removing 10 pounds per corner matters. Just because you can't feel it does not mean it is not helping.

Let's run the quick total weight math, for ease, we'll just say that you save 10 pounds a wheel (vs. stock) and replace all 4 + spare reusing stock tires. So, 50 pounds total weight savings. If you have a 2020 SCREW, that's 50 / 5697 which equates to .00877 (.8%) in total weight compared to stock.

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[nikhsub1]

Yeah it's not about saving total weight. Rotational and unsprung weight savings is exponentially more important than sprung weight.

 

[Pacific Wheel]

Lighter unsprung weight will always help. When it's rotational, it helps even more. When it is the outermost part of the rotation it helps the most. That means tire weight is a bit more important than wheel weight.

That right there sums it up. On smaller sidewall tires the wheel wheel plays a bigger role in performance. On my old STI, RPF1's with 265/35 series made a noticeable difference. But since the tread is so far away from the wheel when you have 35's on 17's that the only real way to see a difference in performance is to get a light weight tire. And not many are lighter than the BFG's. I've had 6-7 sets of wheels on my truck ranging from 22lbs up to 33lbs and haven't seen a difference from one to another. But going from a 65lb BFG to an 80lb Toyo MT MPG's went down and the truck was a little more sluggish off the line.

 

[Phil O]

That right there sums it up. On smaller sidewall tires the wheel wheel plays a bigger role in performance. On my old STI, RPF1's with 265/35 series made a noticeable difference. But since the tread is so far away from the wheel when you have 35's on 17's that the only real way to see a difference in performance is to get a light weight tire. And not many are lighter than the BFG's. I've had 6-7 sets of wheels on my truck ranging from 22lbs up to 33lbs and haven't seen a difference from one to another. But going from a 65lb BFG to an 80lb Toyo MT MPG's went down and the truck was a little more sluggish off the line.

Interesting and the information and input from everyone is much appreciated.

I was thinking if I switched out tires and wheels and total unsprung weight was roughly 5-6 lbs lighter each wheel that I wouldn’t notice a drastic decrease in MPG’s and/or performance.

have any of you put lighter wheels on your raptor and SLIGHTLY heavier 35” tires and noticed a huge change in your MPG’s? Slightly I mean by going up in tire weight from 3-8 lbs or so.

 

[K223]

Phil,

There are many factors to be taken into account when looking to see if you will pick up mpg’s or faster acceleration. Since 50lbs and 40lbs of rotational weight aren’t super huge on a beast like this, of course even a small gain which you may get just maybe hard to realize.

Also another thing to take into account is adding the Eibach springs to your truck and lifting the front end. You lost the more aerodynamic factory rake and now most likely getting more air under the truck. While this is not a lot, it’s just another factor you have to figure in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Phil O]

Phil,

There are many factors to be taken into account when looking to see if you will pick up mpg’s or faster acceleration. Since 50lbs and 40lbs of rotational weight aren’t super huge on a beast like this, of course even a small gain which you may get just maybe hard to realize.

Also another thing to take into account is adding the Eibach springs to your truck and lifting the front end. You lost the more aerodynamic factory rake and now most likely getting more air under the truck. While this is not a lot, it’s just another factor you have to figure in the grand scheme of things.

Yeah, I haven’t noticed any change actually since putting the Eibach’s on last week. Or I just don’t notice it. The same from when I put on the lighter wheels. No real notice in mpg’s but I did initially feel the tires didn’t feel so planted (sluggish) when taking off. I think I’m used to it now. I was just hoping that if I put the same size tires on but slightly more aggressive style and slightly heavier (3-6lbs) that it wouldn’t decrease my mpg too badly.

 

[D3 SS 3D]

Went from stock height / wheels to 2.25” collars and 20s with 35s and can’t really tell a substantial difference with mpg or power, road noise, yes, but then again, maybe it’s just me. Want to go fast, get a GT500 and put a Kenne Bell blower on it.

 

[Phil O]

Went from stock height / wheels to 2.25” collars and 20s with 35s and can’t really tell a substantial difference with mpg or power, road noise, yes, but then again, maybe it’s just me. Want to go fast, get a GT500 and put a Kenne Bell blower on it.

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Yeah, I’m not really worried about speed here. More so, efficiency with MPG’s as I drive roughly 65-80 Miles each day. I was hoping that the lighter wheels stacked with slightly heavier tires wouldn’t make much of a difference in my MPG’s.

 

[Phil O]

Went from stock height / wheels to 2.25” collars and 20s with 35s and can’t really tell a substantial difference with mpg or power, road noise, yes, but then again, maybe it’s just me. Want to go fast, get a GT500 and put a Kenne Bell blower on it.

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What tires are those? Looks good!