Lightweight Cheap Wheels that look Decent?

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 19:18

Do they exist?

Im feeling the need for some lightweight wheels on my 106, I really like the wheels I have at the moment but they weigh a ton! hurting acceleration and probably wearing the drive train...

The current wheels in place so you see my taste:

Im looking at Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2s which come in at around 7.4kg in 16"

Anybody fancy doing a photoshop?

Also any suggestions would be appreciated, I would like to stay with 16" as I think it fills the arches nicely?

Thanks
James

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 19:19

This pic maybe easier to shop:

Cheers

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 19:22

Tim said:
Looks great as it is.

Thanks mate but the looks arent the problem, I need lighter wheels

I wish so much that these wheels were ultralight magnesium alloy jobbies but I actually think they are cast iron :mad:

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 19:23

Well I weighed them and they come in at over 18kg each with tyres...hefty

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 19:29

Gaygle said:
The question is....how much do the tyres weigh?

Well thats an unknown but I did weigh the wheels on a set of bathroom scales (lol) before I had them powdercoated and they were about 10kg but with bathroom scales who knows?

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 19:32

Tim said:
What about some 15's and lowering it?

I have already lowered it once, like the height, 16s fill the arches well imo 15s are a tad small I think

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 19:37

saitrix said:
If it was me I would go for some 15's running 195/50r15 tyres. Dirt cheap tyres and will be a hell of a lot lighter. My 15" OZ's weigh ~6kg each.

What size tyres you running right now? Also what pcd is your car? And what offset?

Which OZs did you go for saitrix? I was thinking ultraleggys but im not sure on the looks... although at a quoted 4.99kg at 15" that would mean some added nippyness

I see your point about cheap tyres too, im torn though, I fancied 306 GTi wheels in white but they also weigh quite a bit...

Have also been tempted by the citroen C5 "steelies" that are actually magnesium alloy, but I just think they look crap and I think they are 185 or something, my current wheels are 205 and the grip is terrific!

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 19:38

Cr0fty said:
That is a lovely looking motor, verreh naice!

If no one has by midnight-ish, I shall shop them on. ( not home until then ) I am
pretty sure they will look good though..

Thanks cr0fty

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 19:42

For those that liked it, have some more pics

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 19:43

saitrix said:
If I was you, maybe some Oz Ultraleggera's, they are nice. Plus the 15x7" only weighs 4.99kg! Match that with some good tyres, maybe Hankook RS2's and you will be on a winner.

ooh didn't know they came in 7J, that's pretty awesome!

Of course the main issue is price... OZ aren't cheap

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 19:45

saitrix said:
Well I have some classic ones, I have the Oz Chrono Evo's. They are replica's of the alloys that Oz originally made for the Mclaren F1.

Remember if you get smaller tyres then don't expect to have less grip. This will be from the pressure the tyre has against the ground becomes greater, thus giving extra grip per unit area. I bet the car came with 195's aswell?

Usual thing you keep reading is in acceleration terms, every 1kg you lose on unsprung weight is equal to 8kg of sprung weight.

hmm thats a good point, my brother has 195s on his 106 and apparently it grips like a fiend, although prada spec2s...

the car standard comes with 185s! which at the time were called "chunky"

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 19:56

saitrix said:
Why don't you try his wheels on yours?

I thought about it but weighed them first and they came in at just over 17kg!

Also about that unsprung weight thing, I had heard that but I wasn't sure about the truth of it, any supporting info?

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 20:08

BigglesPiP said:
Reducing unsprung weight makes enough difference that FIAT milled out a ~150g chunk of metal in the suspension on each side of every one of over 7 million 176 Puntos, and similar on every other cheap car they have ever made.

But, I think the difference you will notice for road use, vs the cost of the wheels is too much. Keep the money, and buy a better car sooner.

I mean in terms of accelleration, and I'm assuming it actually takes into account the "rotational" weight? not just the unsprung weight as the brake caliper etc has no effect on acceleration surely?

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 20:14

CS||nuTs said:
My OZ's, light but a bugger to keep clean and follow tram lines like, well a tram

What car do you have, its alright swap them for my heavy tramline flatteners

bet they arent as hard to clean as my current wheels, never had anything like it, I get suicidal lol!

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 20:35

ChroniC said:
Best i could do, the shadows are all wrong but i think you get the idea. I have to say, im not a fan compared to the ones you have already.
Makes it look like a fiesta

Thanks for the effort mate,

The current wheels are called "ACE 112" got them from wheelbase about a year ago and had them powder coated white.

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 20:37

BigglesPiP said:
Well, a point on the outside of the wheel has at any instant, a velocity relative that of an equivalent static wheel, identical to the forward velocity of the car.

So removing 1kg from the outer surface of the tire is like removing 2kg from the car. But removing 1kg from the exact center of the wheel (impossible as it would be a point mass) is the same as removing 1kg from the car. Removing mass from other points on the wheel follows a liner scale, *I think*.

So wight removed from the wheel is as good as 1.5 times (ball park) that weight removed from the car, as far as acceleration is concerned when you have enough grip to use all the power.

But the grip on uneven surfaces is improved.

Thats very interesting thanks biggles, so a 16 inch wheels if weighs the same as a 15 inch wheel will slow the car down more?

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 20:43

BigglesPiP said:
No, because the outer edge of the wheel will still only go as fast around as the car does forwards. It will however reduce frtcion in the wheel bearing.

But it will make it easier for the engine to propel that wheel around? conserving torque?

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 20:43

BigglesPiP said:
No, because the outer edge of the wheel will still only go as fast around as the car does forwards. It will however reduce frtcion in the wheel bearing.

Unless you mean a larger wheel with the same final diameter tyre, where the wheel has more mass per volume than the tyre, then yes, it will slow acceleration, a bit.

Yeah thats what I mean, I would want to keep the speedo accurate

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 20:49

BigglesPiP said:
Rubber is heavy too in the real world, I think the benefits of low profile outweigh the benefit to acceleration, if there even is one.

So we have put aside the idea that unsprung (or wheel weight) affects acceleration at a ratio of 8:1 when compared to sprung weight?

Although I must say the difference when I fitted my old 14inch wheels was quite notable in acceleration especially

Fantom · 21 Jul 2009 at 20:51

Janesy B said:
http://www.performancealloys.com/de...sizes='15x6'&price='144'&permission=770643901

I reckon those would look good.

mmm compos! although a little expensive...anybody care to shop?