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Frizbal Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2016 Posts: 129
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Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 8:37 am Post subject: Heavy/light wheel weight change experience |
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I’m trying to decide on wheels right now, but wanted to check on peoples experience with going to/from heavy/light wheels.
I’m between either Cragar SS, or Torq Thrust II. I like the look of the Cragar better, but the TT seem to be MUCH lighter.
I’m running a mostly stock 1500sp on a 69 IRS, so I don’t have too strong of a motor. Has anyone made a switch in wheels and felt any noticeable difference? I’ll be running 14x7 185/70 front with 15x10 275/60 rear (my current size). See any issues with a 30lb+ wheel in the rear? |
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BIGMIKEY Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2007 Posts: 1102 Location: North East Pennsylvania
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Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 5:51 pm Post subject: Re: Heavy/light wheel weight change experience |
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A lighter wheel and tire will help with acceleration and braking. Racers know this. Whether you will feel it in a street car is the question. If you go from a very heavy wheel/tire setup to a very light one the difference will be noticeable to a stopwatch. Maybe not so much to the seat of the pants. One thing that I did notice when I went from wide mags on adapters with huge tires on a beetle to 165-15 radials on 5.5x15 Riviera wheels on my street car was how much better the ride was especially on rough roads.
Personally, I would choose the lighter wheel.
Mike T _________________ BIGMIKEY
Deserter Series 1 project.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787047&highlight=
1973 Beetle Driver, Marina Blue. |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12632 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 6:35 pm Post subject: Re: Heavy/light wheel weight change experience |
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Heavy wheels and tire definitely give a harsher ride all else being equal. |
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Frizbal Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2016 Posts: 129
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Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 6:37 pm Post subject: Re: Heavy/light wheel weight change experience |
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That surprises me that the ride is harsher. I would have thought more rubber on the road would soften the ride. But then again you have a larger contact patch to hit more area. |
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woodoctr Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2013 Posts: 254 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 9:34 pm Post subject: Re: Heavy/light wheel weight change experience |
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On my kit car builds I like to run wheels in the 14 to 19 pound range. The cars always ride better, less bump steer, accelerate better, and just generally feel more "tossable." I've borrowed some buddies heaver wheels over the years and man, no way. Felt like I was dragging lead boots around. Unsprung weight is a huge deal in lightweight cars. Keep your wheels as light as possible. |
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vwracerdave Samba Member
Joined: November 11, 2004 Posts: 15280 Location: Deep in the 405
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Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 9:48 pm Post subject: Re: Heavy/light wheel weight change experience |
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Tire pressure is what effects ride smoothness. Wheel weight has nothing to do with it. A tire with a taller sidewall will have a smoother and genteler ride as the sidewalls act like shock absorbers.
Digging back thru my racing logbook from 20 years ago my race Bug with a 2007cc engine ran .3 second quicker in the 1/4 mile when I switched from heavy cast aluminum wheels to lighter Centerlines. _________________ 2017 Street Comp Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble, OK
2010 Sportsman ET Champion - Mid-America Dragway - Arkansas City, KS
1997 Sportsman ET Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble ,OK
Featured in Dec. 2001 HOT VW's Magazine page 63
Watch my racing video's http://www.youtube.com/user/okvwracer/videos |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12632 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 6:17 am Post subject: Re: Heavy/light wheel weight change experience |
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As woodoctr says it is about unsprung weight and the energy transfer that occurs whenever that wheel and tire accelerated up and down over the bumps. The heavier the wheel the more force is transferred to the car.
Yes tire pressure and sidewall height play a part too. |
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clonebug Samba Member
Joined: January 29, 2005 Posts: 4026 Location: NW Washington
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Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 8:01 pm Post subject: Re: Heavy/light wheel weight change experience |
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Weld Draglites are pretty light compared to most other wheels.
It's a matter of taste whether you would like them.
_________________
vwracerdave wrote: |
Take a good long look in the mirror and report back on what you see. |
Paul.H wrote: |
That one line on that chart is probably better info than you can get from this place in a month |
My Megasquirt Fuel Injection Turbo Buggy Build
Water/Alcohol Injection
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Upgraded to MS3Pro-Evo
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http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=127936 |
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Frizbal Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2016 Posts: 129
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 10:20 am Post subject: Re: Heavy/light wheel weight change experience |
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Well, I said the hell with weight. Went with Cragars. These bastards are HEAVY!!
Will be mounting them up soon when I get a break from the sub-freezing weather.
Now I just need to justify a larger motor |
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slalombuggy Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2010 Posts: 9131 Location: Canada
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 11:20 am Post subject: Re: Heavy/light wheel weight change experience |
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I went from really heavy wheels and R-compound tires (40lbs each corner) to a light weight wheel and slicks (15lbs each corner) and noticed a huge difference in the way the car transitioned in corners. Never did a thing for ride quality though. that has more to do with sidewall height and springs that weight of rad wheels. If anything lighter wheels and tires will give you a rougher ride due to the fact that they react to the road faster and harsher and to smaller imperfections than a big heavy wheel and tire.
As far as a road car goes, you might see some improvement in braking and acceleration with a lighter wheel but not enough to make you go WOW!
brad |
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57BLITZ Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2012 Posts: 2385 Location: DEEK - U.S.A.
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 11:31 am Post subject: Re: Heavy/light wheel weight change experience |
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slalombuggy wrote: |
. . . lighter wheels and tires will . . . react to the road faster . . .
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That sure sounds like a good thing to me!
I am leaning towards using something other than the American "Daisy" wheels I have been saving for my buggy project. Those 15X10 with huge B.F.G.s are a back-breaker! _________________ Jesucristo es mi Señor y Salvador! |
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slalombuggy Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2010 Posts: 9131 Location: Canada
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 11:47 am Post subject: Re: Heavy/light wheel weight change experience |
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57BLITZ wrote: |
slalombuggy wrote: |
. . . lighter wheels and tires will . . . react to the road faster . . .
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That sure sounds like a good thing to me!
I am leaning towards using something other than the American "Daisy" wheels I have been saving for my buggy project. Those 15X10 with huge B.F.G.s are a back-breaker! |
A.R. Daisy's? Owww, been thinking abut looking for some for a project. All 3 of my buggies have Centerlines.
brad |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12632 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 5:44 pm Post subject: Re: Heavy/light wheel weight change experience |
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Breaking and acceleration are more effected by tire/wheel height than weight. Tall rubber = poorer acceleration and braking and yes weight will effect it to but unlikely enough to feel. |
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Frizbal Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2016 Posts: 129
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 7:24 pm Post subject: Re: Heavy/light wheel weight change experience |
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Wheels in and tires mounted. The Cragars are heavier, but only slightly more than the steel wheels they are replacing. So I won’t have the benefit of lighter weight, but at least I’m not going heavier.
Here is the mock up.
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andygere Samba Member
Joined: January 31, 2014 Posts: 600 Location: Central Coast, CA
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 11:36 pm Post subject: Re: Heavy/light wheel weight change experience |
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The Cragars look great, excellent choice. |
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Frizbal Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2016 Posts: 129
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Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 6:26 am Post subject: Re: Heavy/light wheel weight change experience |
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andygere wrote: |
The Cragars look great, excellent choice. |
Thanks, I agree. A little nervous about the ride though. Rears are same size, but they stopped making 195 r14 tires so had to go with a 215 which is over 8". |
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