Will lighter rims generate more wheelspin?

[imac]

I just finished up the auto-x season and I'm starting to look around for a new set of rims and tires for next season. I was set on OZ Alleggeritas (more expensive but lighter than the RPF1s and they come in an 18x8 that lets me stay in D-stock)

But then I got thinking...

One of my biggest issues with this car is getting power to the ground coming out of turns. You have to be so careful getting back on the throttle heading into straights. Is dropping the unsprung weight that much going to make it even easier to slip the tires? If that's the case I'm not sure the handling benefits would really be worth it the tradeoff.

Any thoughts/advice would be helpful. Next season is a long time away, so there is plenty of time for debate.

 

[StealthWyvern]

lighter wheels generally free up HP that is used up by heavy wheels... so yeah but it really depends on how you drive.

 

[meicalnissyen]

I just finished up the auto-x season and I'm starting to look around for a new set of rims and tires for next season. I was set on OZ Alleggeritas (more expensive but lighter than the RPF1s and they come in an 18x8 that lets me stay in D-stock)

But then I got thinking...

One of my biggest issues with this car is getting power to the ground coming out of turns. You have to be so careful getting back on the throttle heading into straights. Is dropping the unsprung weight that much going to make it even easier to slip the tires? If that's the case I'm not sure the handling benefits would really be worth it the tradeoff.

Any thoughts/advice would be helpful. Next season is a long time away, so there is plenty of time for debate.

cover half the air flter with duct tape

 

[meicalnissyen]

seriously, though if you are with your peers in run times, then you may be near the limit
the wheels won't do much if anything, but a stiffer LSD will help. I assume you are slipping the unloaded wheel on exit?

you may need to get the wheel unwound more before you feed throttle, change your line to a later apex on that type of corner etc. ride with a fast FWD car, see what they do

with the corrola, (NO LSD) I suffered terribly from that. the only gimmick that helped slightly was delinking the front swaybar. and while it helped keep the unloaded wheel planted, it hurt on slaloms, so I would check the course map before popping the link out

 

[Wurf]

Extra width aside, I was under the impression the amount of weight loss between stock rims and even the lightest forged in this car makes little difference in track times? This has nothing to do with tire spin and of course does not address the advantage of a wider wheel and wider tire helping with your wheel spin problem. I would imagine lighter wheels would help suspension control and keep the tire and wheel planted to the track better which comes into play more over bumps and dips. All things being equal, I don't believe the reduced mass is going to make any difference in so far as wheel spin.

 

[charlessss]

little late on this, but i didnt experience any wheelspin when i had my CE28's on, and those things weigh 15.5 lbs. In fact everything performance wise noticeably improved from stock when they were on.

 

[cymx5]

I would imagine lighter wheels would help suspension control and keep the tire and wheel planted to the track better which comes into play more over bumps and dips. All things being equal, I don't believe the reduced mass is going to make any difference in so far as wheel spin.

Wurf's onto it. I've driven on 28lb/wheel wheels, which were on the car when I purchased it. They looked good, but goddamn they chirped over every bump, and squealed almost every time I hit the gas. I replaced them with Kosei KZ-V weighing 18.8lbs. They still spin, but you rid yourself of the choppy, un-damped spin and replace it with smooth, controlled spin. The stock wheels are 24lbs iirc, so I went from 4lbs heavier to 6lbs lighter. The suspension surely responds & controls the lighter weight better, but will probably not improve your times in autocross unless you're pretty damn good already.

 

[grant]

18x8 will kick you out of DS. You need to find another 18x7 wheel.

 

[H3br3w_Ham3r]

18x8 will kick you out of DS. You need to find another 18x7 wheel.

+1

I'm having problems finding a good selection of 18x7's for whatever reason

If you want to get a lighter wheel and prevent wheel spin get a good set of R-comps to help you lay down the power.

 

[cudaman]

Overpowering the front wheels and getting spin, especially in a hard turn, will occur more often with lighter wheels. Like the other guy said, more horsepower to the wheel which is in an angled position under heavy load. Sticky tires (R-compound) will keep you moving, not spinning.