How much performance do heavy wheels give up?

[davey_83]

Found this very interesting 🤔 

 

 

 

[G1en]

Yeah, it basically confirms what my thoughts were. The wheel weight makes a small difference but nowhere near the 4 times or 5 times unsprung weight multiplier banded about. 
he doesn't and no one seems to factor in that a lightweight wheel is 9kg say against a 12kg cast wheel but you also have 9kg of brake disc and 10kg of tyre plus rest of calipers and hubs so as a % overall weight reduction its negligible.

basically lighter is better but not worth getting hung up about a few pounds/kilos as any non professional driver will not notice or care, buy the wheels you like.

[davey_83]

Oh nice one fella. Towards the end he referenced moving to an 18' from a 19' for example would yield more performance than same size lighter wheels. Very interesting I thought.

[Ekona]

Anyone who has ever driven a 350 with the touring wheels and then swapped to Rays will tell you it’s a night and day difference. Even a few kilos shaved there makes the whole car feel so much more nimble. It’s why I stayed with 18” on the 645 rather than move to 19”s. Once you’ve tried it you realise what a revelation lighter wheels can be: far more noticeable than an extra 20bhp here or there.