2014 Grassroots Wheel comparo is lighter better?

[twistedwankel]

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/artic ... ly-better/

Interesting comparo from 4 years ago. I didn't see this on a search of this forum section?

I've never replaced wheels for weight but ONLY to gain width to fit wider tires. The wider wheels ended up being less weight than factory ones. Probably not as strong?

The one thing I love about light wheels is the ease of lifting them on and off the car + putting them up on the storage rack or stacking. A 40lb wheel/tire is a real back shoulder killer to shove up there 4x.

[Loren]

Your suspension finds the heavier wheel harder to lift and control the motion of, as well.

And the there's rotational inertia. More relevant on a momentum car.

As for strength, "good" lightweight wheels are actually stronger because they are forged rather than cast. Cheap OE wheels are heavier and strong enough because they are designed to work with the cheaper casting process.

There are also a lot of rolling processes that add strength without as much cost as a full forging process.

[Tim_M]

I've preferred factory wheels and resist going to an aftermarket unit (only for width as well) on my projects. Fortunately, my cars had decent wheels from the factory (Corvette - Amolds/17 pounds/$250 ea, STI - BBS/15 pounds/$700 ea!).

I've also read competitive wheels may have service life/disposable - less weight could equal weaker/less ductility?

Do agree lifting those things is a challenge - despise all the later model cars with the gigantic 19/20 inch wheels!

Certainly agree lightweight wheels are ideal...some nice designs too.

[Loren]

Yeah, you got cheater wheels from the factory, Tim!