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sig425
09-07-2005, 05:03 AM
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/plus1_grm.jsp

Here is an excellent article on wheel tire plus sizing vs increased performance. Ill search the Grass roots archives to see if I can get the original article.

Motor trend did a similar test in 1995 with a 540i recanted here:
http://www.daliracing.com/v666-5/info/article_read.cfm?articleID=400

There was a discussion in another section about oil increasing HP where I stated that wheel weight is probably the largest killer of HP (power to the wheels is a better choice of words than hp) and performance. A few more lbs of air in the tires will probably give you a larger increase in performance than a lighter oil weight---was basically my statement. I found the article I based my statement on and thought I would pass it on here where it is more appropriate.

sig425
09-07-2005, 05:10 AM
http://www.grmotorsports.com/news/012005/when-shopping-for-wheels-is-bigger-really-better.php

closer but not the article I wanted

sig425
09-07-2005, 05:15 AM
The actual complete test was done in 99 and is no longer online. They are sending me a hard copy that I can send to someone if you are interested.

unHookt
09-09-2005, 04:28 AM
ok so bigger/wider tires grip better, allowing you to pull better times on the track. kind of a no brainer. but for those of us who stop at red lights and stop signs, am I still going to be able to lose that city bus in the lane immediately to the right when I take off? ok, so I'm exaggerating, but my understanding is that acceleration will suffer significantly as you move up in size/weight of the wheel.

i do a lot more standing starts than I do laps at the track, so I'm sticking with the OEM 16s for now I guess.

guess the tire rack PR department was on the ball though...

202rules
09-09-2005, 06:13 AM
Originally posted by unHookt
ok so bigger/wider tires grip better, allowing you to pull better times on the track. kind of a no brainer. but for those of us who stop at red lights and stop signs, am I still going to be able to lose that city bus in the lane immediately to the right when I take off? ok, so I'm exaggerating, but my understanding is that acceleration will suffer significantly as you move up in size/weight of the wheel.

i do a lot more standing starts than I do laps at the track, so I'm sticking with the OEM 16s for now I guess.

guess the tire rack PR department was on the ball though...

You can look for light wheels. It kinda sucks that none of the sites where you can buy wheels (at least the ones I know of) don't list the weight of the wheel. And I honestly don't know how much the OEM wheel weighs either.

sig425
09-09-2005, 02:42 PM
http://www.wheelweights.net/
BAM!
:D

Renn 208
09-09-2005, 03:13 PM
Originally posted by sig425
http://www.wheelweights.net/
BAM!
:D

That site's come up before, and I think there's a reasonable question as to the accuracy of their data...from what I remember, it's a bit hit or miss.