Unsprung weight info

[Henry G.]

Yes I know this is the LFX bolt ons, etc, as I own one. But it applies to us LFX/V-6 owners even more than the V-8s with all their power.....I posted this in the wheel and tire section where it seems all the posts have to do with getting 22" 12 inch wide $4k wheel and tire packages to fit, too much!
Unsprung weight (wheels, tires) have a 6x+ effect on acceleration as sprung weight. That is, 50 lbs of additional unsprung weight has the same effect as adding 300 lbs of weight to the total weight of the car when it comes to acceleration. Thats like adding 2 medium sized peeps!! Not to mention the effect on braking and handling. I researched this when thinking about upgrading to 20" wheels and tires. It changed my mind. Now I've decided to just powder coat my 23 lb 1LT wheels and upgrade my tires, instead of going to 30+ lb 20" factory SS wheels and tires, which are 49 lbs heavier total weight more than the 1LT alloy 18" wheels and tires. Think about that before you upgrade to huge wheels on your LFX. There are many peeps here who have posted that going to 18" wheels and tires made their car quicker and handle better, which is my goal to keep, along with looks and grip too.

[Apex Motorsports]

Reducing unsprung weight can improve performance dramatically. There are several places where there are opportunities to save unsprung weight on these cars but it usually isn't cheap.

[jameslk55]

Originally Posted by Henry G.

Now I've decided to just powder coat my 23 lb 1LT wheels and upgrade my tires, instead of going to 30+ lb 20" factory SS wheels and tires, which are 49 lbs heavier total weight more than the 1LT alloy 18" wheels and tires. Think about that before you upgrade to huge wheels on your LFX. There are many peeps here who have posted that going to 18" wheels and tires made their car quicker and handle better, which is my goal to keep, along with looks and grip too.

You could get some Enkei or OZ Racing 18" wheels that are about 18lbs. You could also consider the weight of different tires as well.

[JohnnyBfromPeoria]

I dropped nearly ten pounds per corner by switching out my Heritage wheels and going with the ones in my signature picture. They were under $200 each, delivered to my door, and I paid another $100 to get the stock tires switched over with the TPMS sensors installed and programmed. And I get free re-balancing and rotations for as long as I have these tires.

It made a difference. Feels like the car is more nimble. And it definitely looks different.

John B.

[kjkjr27]

Or you can look into lightweight wheels/tires....My set up of 20x10 Nurburgrings and General G-max helped me drop a total of 43lbs for only 2k...You can get smaller wheels which would be a little less and would be even lighter.

[Yohan]

Very few wheels are lighter than the stock 18" alloys on 1LT when it comes to 19" or 20" size wheels, that are affordable.

There are however plenty of nice looking 18" wheels which are affordable and even lighter than the 1LT alloys, but my issue is getting tires that will actually have AA grip and lower profile/better look than then huge 245/55/18 sidewall.

[Yohan]

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...ll&sort=Weight

The price on these above are a bit "high", but at under 19lbs per wheel---WOW. Look better than our 1LT alloys, and all we need is a tire with lower sidewall, like a 45 or something, so it looks better, and then perhaps drop springs, icing on cake. Performance will improve---4 lbs x per wheel savings=16 total*6= 96lbs unsprung weight savings, w/o counting tire weight savings!!!

[JohnnyBfromPeoria]

My ASA wheels from Tire Rack were something like $179 each, under $800 shipped. I dropped almost 10 lbs/wheel. I wouldn't go out of my way to save 4 or 5 more if it meant spending exponentially more. It was a consideration, as far as ruling out some other choices I liked the looks of, yet were too heavy. I struck a balance I was comfortable with and it turned out really well for me.

John B.

[Yohan]

Originally Posted by JohnnyBfromPeoria

My ASA wheels from Tire Rack were something like $179 each, under $800 shipped. I dropped almost 10 lbs/wheel. I wouldn't go out of my way to save 4 or 5 more if it meant spending exponentially more. It was a consideration, as far as ruling out some other choices I liked the looks of, yet were too heavy. I struck a balance I was comfortable with and it turned out really well for me.

John B.

Those ASA wheels are def on my list of options. Great price, look good.

[Blues45th]

My lfx is 2lt came 20 stock

[Henry G.]

Blues: 20" or 20 pounds?
Guys thanks for the links, the LFX 1LT wheels are pretty light at 23 lbs. BUT: 18-19 lbs is pretty appealing!! Still thinking about putting 255/50-18's on my stockers after powder coating them black is pretty good. Just need to see how much that will be...BUT (again) maybe selling them for $400 would offset a big part of new rims, 255 or 265 tires would fit better on 8-8.5" rims better. And yes bigger tires is more weight too....decisions decisons!!
Anyone who has lightweight wheels pls post their specs.

[Blues45th]

Many the size are 20s so not sure the weight if anyone knows let me know. I have the 45th v6 which came with stock 20 inch aluminum wheels . Love to know the specs on weight for them.

[Macrackie]

I am running a 23 or 24 lb per wheel 18x8 elbrius with a 245/50/18. Last summer I ran a bridgestone el40 I think. I was pretty bappy with the tire but killed them ;-) lol. This summer I am mounting up a set of 245/50/18 hankook ventus v4es to beat up on. The lighter rim / tire and lower profile was amazing in handling. I have been lucky to try many sizes and this 245/50/18 has been the best fit for me. Plus it is a strage size with many options which means you can come acrost an unwant hard to sell set of take off at the salvage yard for next to nothing.

[nadornati]

So how noticeable is the feel of a lighter wheel? Are before and after numbers to prove? Just curious