everyone knows light wheels can increase acceleration. but i didn't realize how much until recently. i have a friend with a rsx-s. he has aem v2 and cat back. he also had 18" icw wheels that looked awesome but were very heavy. well we raced because i heard we are faster until about 80 or 90 then the acura would fly bye. well we raced from a stop 2 times and from a 40 roll 2 times and i destroyed him till well over 100 mph, he couldn't close on me at all. well then he traded his icw wheels for a set of stock acura wheels. we raced again and he destroyed me from all speeds. now he has some new tires. and he got a deal but the size is just 1 larger like 50s instead of 45s. we raced again and i walked him to well passed 100 again. so food for thought if you see that car that you wish you could beat but you know you can't, check the rims cause if they went cheap you may have a chance even though you shouldn't.

 

yea, lot's of people overlook wheels. I believe you.

 

yeah, a big reason why i have held out on getting rims for a while need to find the right ones

 

100%, weight is the enemy. why so many people go around putting giant wheels on their cars i will never understand.

if you are building a show car, then yes, big wheels are an attention getter, but for the everyday grind and your routine race life, big wheels are a handicap.

 

so.... i've heard conflicting things about this topic...

if you've got larger wheels, lighter than stock, but the same overall diamter, which is better?

 

if you had lighter wheels and tires, it would be fine, and if they are wider tires, you could get better traction.

but heavy wheels are not a smart performance investment. the increased weight means more rotational mass and more unsprung weight which will contribute slower acceleration, longer braking distances, and less responsive handling etc.

also, bigger wheels with tires that remain the same over all diameter probably won't hurt you in performance, you will have less rubber to absorb and cushion and protect your wheels and your car will ride like crap over imperfect roads.

 

Light wheels will accelerate quicker. Simple as that.

the further out from the axle the weight is, the more significant.

ex. light lugnuts won't do squat, but light tires & whels light at the rim would make more of a difference.

I come from a bike (the pedal kind) background. Light wheels make a huge difference.
Just pray you don't smack a pothole...

 

wow i'm loving the misinformation in this thread many are close but nobody hass hit the biggest reason yet

1) light wheels have less unsprung mass for better handling

and very modest gains in putting power to the ground, the smaller stock wheels have less diameter and have shortening the effective gearing though, that's what you and your friend have noticed

as for tires, weight theortically is something to consider, but you shouldn't sacraficce grip or rubber compound selection for the weight of the tire, thus weight doesn't become something to consider in a tire

 

Maybe not for tires, but Lighter rims WILL increase your acceleration as well as have the ability to increase your MPG in stop and go driving.

 

+1 I don't wanna get some light ssa 15"-16" and then decide later that I wanna do disc brakes all around and have to switch to 17"s

 

15"s will clear a 13.1" wilwood kit which is more brake then the xb/xa will ever need

 

thank you Capt! Looks like I can start looking for rims!