TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Dec 24, 2004 6:03 am

it has come to light that big wheels on a type one. I have come across
20s & 22's how bad is this for the suspenstion & brakes?

Bling Bling, good or not???

Fri Dec 24, 2004 7:00 am

bling 4 sure.

the "looks" trend is certainly towards the larger the better. Whether you like it or not is a personal choice. If they're properly fitted you won't find a harmful impact to the running gear aside from some increaased brake wear & decreased braking performance, & from a "go" performance standpoint, you may find you wish you hadn't blown the $$$$'s for them. Why? The large OD generally requires a re-gearing of the R&P to bring the engine RPM back into range But more importantly and often overlooked is the massive increase of unsprung weight the huge rims incur. Because of the increased diameter, you're increasing the rims mass at the worst possible area from a performace standpoint. Compared to a simular OD tire/rim combo, a 22"rim & tire will often weigh as much as 20-30lbs more per wheel, than a 15,16,17 or 18"rim/tire. That's 80-120lbs of increased rotating weight! Why - the sidewall is the lightest part of a tire. The beading area is the heaviest part of a rim. Big rims trade the lightest part of the tire/rim combonation for the heaviest possible combonation of sidewall vs rim. SO, now not only does the engine have to work harder to accellerate this increased mass of the rims & tires, but the brakes also have to work harder to stop them as well. In corner-turning circles it's generally accepted that an 18-19" rim is the trade off point between getting the max performance outta a short stiff sidewall tire & the weight penalty of a "big" rim. Beyond that point, at this time, you not only paid big bucks for the bling, but you also pay a penalty of decreased performance everytime you drive. I guess you could pay the really big $'s for the magnesium racing rims & cut your losses a bit & most people aren't really chasing that 1 second at the track or in the canyons either, so they feel the boulavard bling is worthwhile (or they're simply ignorant of the situation, which in my experiance is more common) ~ on the other hand I've got no idea what the excuss is to their girlfreind when she asks why my mustang with those "little" rims just drove circles around 'em & then ran away from them going through that canyon.

Fri Dec 24, 2004 7:34 am

I thought this was the Off Road forum.

:wink:

Fri Dec 24, 2004 8:08 am

if you're gonna put 20's or 22's on your off road vechicle you might as well put spinners on it too. :roll:

Fri Dec 24, 2004 8:27 am

Ya, the hub cap kind from Pep Boys.

Fri Dec 24, 2004 8:30 am

I saw a Sand Rail in the desert with spinners :shock: It looked pretty stupid

Fri Dec 24, 2004 3:39 pm

I saw an 18 wheeler with spinners on it. Just the truck, not the trailor.

Fri Dec 24, 2004 4:55 pm

what is this world coming to?