Welcome to the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club Thursday March 28, 2024
Home Forums Images WikiNASIOC Products Store Modifications Upgrade Garage
Click here to visit TireRack
Tire & Wheel Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack

Losing traction? Need new tires?
Click here to visit the NASIOC Upgrade Garage...
Go Back   NASIOC > NASIOC Technical > Tire & Wheel

Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!
Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.







* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads. 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-05-2008, 07:23 PM   #1
CR22
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 167470
Join Date: Dec 2007
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Northern Virginia
Vehicle:
2014 Ford

Question Wheels width vs. wheel weight on street car

I've been looking at some possible wheel options off tire rack and I'm not sure exactly what I need. Here is an example of two forged wheels that interest me.

Volk Racing RE30 18 x 8.5 @ 17.0 lbs.

vs.

SSR Competition 18 x 8 @ 14.5 lbs.

What would be the better all around daily driven wheel, and is the trade off in Volk weight worth the advantages in wheel width, or will it barely be noticeable in street use?

The Volks are heavier, but allow for more tire on the road.
The SSRs are much lighter but also lose some of the width.
I've also wondered how the ~2 lb. difference will affect acceleration/steering feel/braking.
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
CR22 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Old 12-05-2008, 10:12 PM   #2
vision.dynamix
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 139955
Join Date: Feb 2007
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: Boston
Vehicle:
2015 Subaru STI
17Forester / 18Crosstrek

Default

Honestly, if you drove the car with those 2 wheels back to back, same car, same everything, only difference being the wheels, you wouldnt be able to notice the difference.
vision.dynamix is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2008, 11:36 PM   #3
CR22
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 167470
Join Date: Dec 2007
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Northern Virginia
Vehicle:
2014 Ford

Default

hmm i guess that's why rotas are widely accepted even with the weight difference. I still would rather buy an original branded wheel style that is forged just for peace of mind.
CR22 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2008, 01:22 AM   #4
FunkRider
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 195055
Join Date: Nov 2008
Chapter/Region: E. Canada
Location: Southern Ontario
Vehicle:
2002 WRX
PSM

Default

Do whatever makes you happy. Buy the wheel you like. For that small weight difference you likely won't notice a difference between the two with the power your car has (assuming WRX or STi)

Now when I had a 122hp Mazda Protege and I dropped 3lbs per wheel and tire combo I felt a pretty good increase in acceleration.
FunkRider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2008, 04:17 AM   #5
Uncle Scotty
*** Banned ***
 
Member#: 16200
Join Date: Mar 2002
Vehicle:
OK buy Nates beans
westcoastroasting.com

Default

id save some $$$ and get rpf1's
Uncle Scotty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2008, 08:10 AM   #6
Daishi00
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 78952
Join Date: Jan 2005
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: BSG junkie
Vehicle:
2005 WRX
CGM

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CR22 View Post
I still would rather buy an original branded wheel style that is forged just for peace of mind.
Why? They're just as likely to get damaged over a cast wheel. Forging is for weight reduction to maintain equivalent strength.

I do like Scotty's idea though. If you want name brand grab yourself some RPF1's
Daishi00 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2008, 12:32 PM   #7
zeropsi
*** Banned ***
 
Member#: 175453
Join Date: Mar 2008
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: wilCO, IL
Vehicle:
AE86 GT-S coupe
i <3 alqonquin homosauce

Default

You won't feel the difference...honestly 8" width is more than enough for 99% of drivers. I was looking at the two same wheels. I'm going 18x8.5 Volks, but only for looks/stance. I love the SSR Comps and I think it's an awesome choice for a lightweight street/track wheel.
zeropsi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2008, 12:35 PM   #8
speedyHAM
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 48377
Join Date: Nov 2003
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: "They eat fish soaked in lye"
Vehicle:
1996 Gutted, built
XP class Impreza L

Default

For a DD, you won't notice the extra weight much at all. You will probably notice a change in tire weight even more than wheel weight.

For a DD, I would go with the heavier wheel. It will resist damage from potholes much better than the SSR's. SSR's are great track wheels, but bend more easily than a lot of other wheels out there.
speedyHAM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2008, 02:00 PM   #9
Uncle Scotty
*** Banned ***
 
Member#: 16200
Join Date: Mar 2002
Vehicle:
OK buy Nates beans
westcoastroasting.com

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CR22 View Post
hmm i guess that's why rotas are widely accepted even with the weight difference. I still would rather buy an original branded wheel style that is forged just for peace of mind.


you could have 2 identical cars----one with oontzie blingie wheels on it and one with Rotas

if nobody TOLD you which was which....you would NEVER know which was which

and there are lots of teams racing Rotas with no issuess

so what the **** is a 'original branded wheel style' anyway
Uncle Scotty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2008, 02:10 PM   #10
CR22
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 167470
Join Date: Dec 2007
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Northern Virginia
Vehicle:
2014 Ford

Default

There are more than a few wheel styles I like a lot more that are a few pounds heavier...I guess I'll take another look back at the ones I threw out of the equation just because of weight.

I had thought forged = light weight and stronger but I guess I'm just a newbie.

and to Uncle Scotty: I just have more of an initial trust for a brand name that has spent money on the original design, engineering and manufacturing hence the higher cost per wheel. I don't want to turn this into another rota vs. * thread



Thanks everyone
CR22 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2008, 02:32 PM   #11
freshADR
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 141565
Join Date: Feb 2007
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Location: Disneyland
Vehicle:
2008 DGM Outback XT
SoCal Flat Four #28

Default

the weight difference is not that noticeable from a butt dyno but the math is still there to show that lighter will benefit more in terms of acceleration. Braking and turning leans more into the factor of what tires and how wide.
freshADR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2008, 03:10 PM   #12
Uncle Scotty
*** Banned ***
 
Member#: 16200
Join Date: Mar 2002
Vehicle:
OK buy Nates beans
westcoastroasting.com

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CR22 View Post
There are more than a few wheel styles I like a lot more that are a few pounds heavier...I guess I'll take another look back at the ones I threw out of the equation just because of weight.

I had thought forged = light weight and stronger but I guess I'm just a newbie.

and to Uncle Scotty: I just have more of an initial trust for a brand name that has spent money on the original design, engineering and manufacturing hence the higher cost per wheel. I don't want to turn this into another rota vs. * thread



Thanks everyone

too bad your logic tree is dead as dog****
Uncle Scotty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2008, 04:40 PM   #13
HerculesPeanut
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 35421
Join Date: Apr 2003
Vehicle:
2003 WRX
W R Blue

Default

I got the old SSR comps and some lightweight tires. Shaved 6lbs/corner off the OEM 16s/RE92s (a lightweight combo in its own right). That's a difference you can feel. If you want to feel the difference, go 17" which will save you even more weight on the wheels and save you weight on the tires.
HerculesPeanut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2008, 12:16 AM   #14
1stockwrx
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 162365
Join Date: Oct 2007
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Virginia
Vehicle:
2005 Civic Si
2012 Civic Si

Default

few pounds?does it matter on a street car?
1stockwrx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2008, 01:30 AM   #15
CR22
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 167470
Join Date: Dec 2007
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Northern Virginia
Vehicle:
2014 Ford

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1stockwrx View Post
few pounds?does it matter on a street car?
yes, that is what we are going over.
CR22 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2008, 08:26 AM   #16
Daishi00
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 78952
Join Date: Jan 2005
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: BSG junkie
Vehicle:
2005 WRX
CGM

Default

No, on a street car it doesn't. You'll never hit a speed or being a situation that you'll actually need it. On the track it can be a different story dependent on how good you actually are.

If you want lightweight Rota's get DPT's...17x9 with an 18-19lb weight...LOTS of wheel there.

Forged does make a wheel stronger which is why they can get away with using less metal...hence the drop in weight.
Daishi00 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2008, 08:13 PM   #17
HerculesPeanut
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 35421
Join Date: Apr 2003
Vehicle:
2003 WRX
W R Blue

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Daishi00 View Post
No, on a street car it doesn't. You'll never hit a speed or being a situation that you'll actually need it. On the track it can be a different story dependent on how good you actually are.
I have to disagree with that. It's not about need on the street, who needs the cars we drive, it's about feelings and excitement. Weight reduction has the greatest impact on acceleration and removing it from rotational mass has the greatest impact. If you reduce the weight enough, you will feel it off the line.

I'm inclined to agree that 2lbs per corner will not make a big difference. I am pretty sure 6lbs per corner will. Perhaps that's the minimum. Perhaps not. I don't know. In all likelihood I will be buying different and heavier tires in a couple of months that will eat most of my weight savings (4 of 6). Perhaps I'll have a better idea then.

Oh, one more thing. Reducing the weight from the outside makes a bigger difference than removing it from the inside. So, lighter tires will have a greater impact on acceleration than lighter wheels. Conversely, going from a fairly lightweight 16" wheel and tire to a heavier 18" wheel is bad. Adding a much heavier 18" wheel is worse and the two combined will almost certainly impact even the most numb of bottoms not to mention drag strip times and braking measurements (though a higher quality tire could counter that).

My 2¢. No change required.
HerculesPeanut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2008, 09:57 AM   #18
gr8r rex
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 155652
Join Date: Aug 2007
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Cleveland, OH
Vehicle:
2002 PSM WRX
www.forced4s.com

Default

Why not go with 17x8.5 SSRs? about 14 pounds a piece and an extra half inch of width!
gr8r rex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2008, 10:51 AM   #19
Daishi00
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 78952
Join Date: Jan 2005
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: BSG junkie
Vehicle:
2005 WRX
CGM

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by HerculesPeanut View Post
I have to disagree with that. It's not about need on the street, who needs the cars we drive, it's about feelings and excitement. Weight reduction has the greatest impact on acceleration and removing it from rotational mass has the greatest impact. If you reduce the weight enough, you will feel it off the line.

I'm inclined to agree that 2lbs per corner will not make a big difference. I am pretty sure 6lbs per corner will. Perhaps that's the minimum. Perhaps not. I don't know. In all likelihood I will be buying different and heavier tires in a couple of months that will eat most of my weight savings (4 of 6). Perhaps I'll have a better idea then.

Oh, one more thing. Reducing the weight from the outside makes a bigger difference than removing it from the inside. So, lighter tires will have a greater impact on acceleration than lighter wheels. Conversely, going from a fairly lightweight 16" wheel and tire to a heavier 18" wheel is bad. Adding a much heavier 18" wheel is worse and the two combined will almost certainly impact even the most numb of bottoms not to mention drag strip times and braking measurements (though a higher quality tire could counter that).

My 2¢. No change required.
Dude, you could have a car with wheels weighing 6 lbs a corner difference and swap them back to back and I seriously doubt you'd ever be able to tell which set you had on. On a track it's going to equal out maybe a couple of tenths a lap, so you're not going to notice that difference in a street application.
Daishi00 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2008, 11:12 AM   #20
Uncle Scotty
*** Banned ***
 
Member#: 16200
Join Date: Mar 2002
Vehicle:
OK buy Nates beans
westcoastroasting.com

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Daishi00 View Post
Dude, you could have a car with wheels weighing 6 lbs a corner difference and swap them back to back and I seriously doubt you'd ever be able to tell which set you had on. On a track it's going to equal out maybe a couple of tenths a lap, so you're not going to notice that difference in a street application.
in a heartbeat

just as soon as the clutch pedal came up
Uncle Scotty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2008, 11:22 AM   #21
chanmanWRX
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 100221
Join Date: Nov 2005
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: nyc
Vehicle:
2007 WRX LTD
WRB

Default

funny how this almost turned into brand name vs rota..he never badmouthed rotas..he just said he feels better buying volks or ssrs..ignore uncle scotty he goes off topic often

anyways, which wheel looks better to you?
chanmanWRX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2008, 11:44 AM   #22
HerculesPeanut
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 35421
Join Date: Apr 2003
Vehicle:
2003 WRX
W R Blue

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Daishi00 View Post
Dude, you could have a car with wheels weighing 6 lbs a corner difference and swap them back to back and I seriously doubt you'd ever be able to tell which set you had on. On a track it's going to equal out maybe a couple of tenths a lap, so you're not going to notice that difference in a street application.
I can only tell you from personal experience. My Cobb Stage 1 was not noticable to the Butt dyno. My downpipe, not really noticable. My new wheels and tires, noticeable from a standing start. Your 2/10ths savings would all happen at that point and if all you are measuring is that point, it is noticeable.
HerculesPeanut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2008, 11:51 AM   #23
vision.dynamix
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 139955
Join Date: Feb 2007
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: Boston
Vehicle:
2015 Subaru STI
17Forester / 18Crosstrek

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by HerculesPeanut View Post
I can only tell you from personal experience. My Cobb Stage 1 was not noticable to the Butt dyno. My downpipe, not really noticable. My new wheels and tires, noticeable from a standing start. Your 2/10ths savings would all happen at that point and if all you are measuring is that point, it is noticeable.
You likely changed the rolling diameter.
vision.dynamix is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2008, 12:32 PM   #24
HerculesPeanut
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 35421
Join Date: Apr 2003
Vehicle:
2003 WRX
W R Blue

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by vision.dynamix View Post
You likely changed the rolling diameter.
I think that going from 36/lbs per corner to 30lbs per corner (17% weight reduction) will make a much greater difference that going from 833 to 848 revs per mile (1.8% size reduction).

Look, I'm not surprised at the skepticism here. I certainly raise my eyebrows every time I read how people can feel a difference due to a down pipe or reflash or lighter pulley or BBK. The best I can say is that I controlled my environment as much as possible and felt a difference at launch. Take what you will, leave the rest.
HerculesPeanut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2008, 12:37 PM   #25
Daishi00
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 78952
Join Date: Jan 2005
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: BSG junkie
Vehicle:
2005 WRX
CGM

Default

Not saying you didn't notice it, just that most won't and on a street car the difference in performance is negligible at best. On a track car it's a completely different animal.
Daishi00 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
08 Sti: Wheel width vs. Tire width VS. offset and more. HELP! Redneck Ricer Tire & Wheel 2 12-02-2008 09:20 AM
Poorboys Wheel Sealant VS Wheel Wax Buntas Car Care & Detailing 13 04-16-2008 07:57 AM
Tire width vs. Wheel width? yamahito Tire & Wheel 8 01-28-2007 05:21 PM
Wheel bearing vs wheel bearing assembly? Trin_Starr Legacy Forum 2 10-19-2006 08:42 AM
Wheel Width vs. Tire Size Question Mr. Sadface Tire & Wheel 2 06-25-2006 02:15 AM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:10 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Copyright ©1999 - 2019, North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club, Inc.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission
Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.