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Parasitic loss from heavy wheels

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Old 03-13-2011, 04:08 AM
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Default Parasitic loss from heavy wheels

Does anyone have some hard evidence for heavy wheels sucking up power at the wheels? Possibly some time slips or dyno numbers? I've been wondering if I might see a noticeable increase by dropping to 18" wheels.
Old 03-13-2011, 04:33 AM
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bump for the same question. i ran my truck with the 22s on the track and wondered how much i could gain with some small stockers
Old 03-13-2011, 04:49 AM
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Jake, send me those SS wheels. And then I'll tell ya.

Figure out what 18"s u wanna run. Get weights of wheels & tires. If all are same size, mult. by 4. Weight your current setup x 4. Figure the difference.

Usual rule is 100# = .1

But for roatating mass, I think it may be figured on a different "butt scale" of sorts.

While I might not have hard data on wheels since these 16"s are all I have at this time, I have seen that 100# removed does indeed = .1 improvement, at least in my findings & track outings. Using my truck, not goin on opinion here.
If I decide to get some 18"s or 20"s to stuff big brakes in (ironic if u think about that - shorten stoppin by bigger rim / tire setup).

I'm trying to do it all: handling, 1/4 mi, & braking. And find that right balance of weight vs braking efficiency. Why does that matter to you? Cause it's roating mass.
It's a tradeoff. The cost of 20"s tires aren't that bad anymore, & I have to figure that vs. 18"s tires cost, weight advantage or disadvantage. And then both to my current 16"s. I wanna stuff in huge brakes in the 14-16" size so unfortunately it'll be brakes, wheels & tires. And since I live where they salt roads heavily in winter, I want a 2nd set of winter rims / tires. As u can see, this is an expensive propostion, so it may not make the cut this yr. If not, next yr.


I plan to weigh everything. I'm just real particular like that. It'll get disrupted when the Maggie adds weight over the nose this yr. I'll just deal w/. that tho.

Last edited by fastnblu; 03-13-2011 at 05:13 AM. Reason: Added info.
Old 03-13-2011, 10:20 AM
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I don't have any track data or dyno numbers, but several years back, a buddy of mine had some steel 15" wheels same height tires and I had aluminum 15's. One evening we traded to check out what our trucks would look like with different wheels and then we ran them on the hwy. From a dig before the swap I could beat him about 2-3 cars to about 100. After it was a neck and neck race...
Old 03-13-2011, 10:52 AM
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On my old setup I dropped .24 in the 1/8" by going to a set of forged 18" with 275/55/18 over my cast 22" with 305/45/22...IIRC I ran consistent 7.9's with the 22's and dropped to a 7.66 with the 18's..which was my pb by the way....
Old 03-13-2011, 11:01 AM
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Ribeiro, are u referring to truck in sig? Cause if so, I don't remember that many mods bein done on your truck. Looks like somebody had been busy.
Or did you used to have a different ride?
Old 03-13-2011, 11:37 AM
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Foggy gained 100rwhp by dropping his 35s and going to stock setup.
Old 03-13-2011, 11:48 AM
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When I had 28" wheels (105 Lbs with tires) I did 9.49 at 1/8, now with escalade 17" I did 9.34.
Old 03-13-2011, 11:49 AM
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Originally Posted by 1slow01Z71
Foggy gained 100rwhp by dropping his 35s and going to stock setup.

Did he make a thread outta this?
IIRC I may have read it. There was before and after Dyno numbers with the wheel swap. It was crazy!
Old 03-13-2011, 02:30 PM
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i went from 22's (not heavy ones either forged 1 piece) to a set of tiny *** 18's with 275/40/18 tires( camaro size) and dropped from a 13.2 to a 12.7-12.6 . back when i was stock engien , vortech blower and bolt ons.


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