A&Q about 350Z
Q:
What are the best light weight wheels, and how much do light wheels vary from stock? Enough to make a difference (outside of the cool factor in having new wheels)?
Do you think wheels or tries would be a better performance mod?
A:
I was amazed that the TRACK wheels are appox. 70% lighter that the stock OEM. A huge difference!!!
My SB ZR still feels like HEAVEN....what a wild ride!
A:
Hm, are the 35th Anniversary Edition wheels heavy?
Iceman showed us the worst numbers I've seen for a 350Z, as reported by Car and Driver:
0-60 in 5.8 seconds
1/4 mile in 14.3
weight: 3360 lb
Motor Trend's times for a 2004 Track are half a second faster:
0-60 in 5.3 seconds
1/4 mile in 13.77
weight: 3225 lb
I wonder if that 100+ lbs difference is in the wheels? It seems to make a big difference.
"Smokey, this is not Nam, this is bowling. There are rules."
-Walter Sobchak
Post Edited (Jun 2, 3:41pm)
A:
Nevermind, the site where I got the Track's weight says the 35th Anniv. Edition only weighs 3247 lbs.
Maybe the guys at Car and Driver can't shift? Hehe, just joking.
Maybe the engine in the one Motor Trend used was broken-in and Car and Driver's engine wasn't?
Oh well.
"Smokey, this is not Nam, this is bowling. There are rules."
-Walter Sobchak
A:
well there certainly isnt 100 less lbs of physical weight from wheels. Im not sure about the 35th's but the tracks are around 18-19lbs(im sure the 35ths arent any lighter) while the stock 17's are around 26lbs. The track wheels are pretty light, the lightest wheels you can get are probably around 15-16lbs. I cant really comment on the speed effects of rotational mass cause i dont know enough about it but if you lost like 8lbs at each wheel, thats a pretty good weight loss. If your looking to hit the track and put up 1/4 times lighter wheels will help of course but some good track tires will be cheaper and probably more beneficial.
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03 CS Touring
VIN #189
A:
sluggoZ wrote:
"I was amazed that the TRACK wheels are appox. 70% lighter that the stock OEM. A huge difference!!! "
Actually, they weigh 70% as much as the stock wheels (or they're 30% lighter).
26# - 70% = 7.8# << 70% lighter
26# * 70% = 18.1# << 70% as much
Stock = 26, front track = 18.1, rear track = 18.6
2004.5 Daytona Blue Performance
A:
Davesz#3....I did say "appox." but I was off some! At least I experience the difference in the weight...it sure felt like a 70% difference. A couple of month's ago a friend of mine had a "mod party" at his house. Several Z guys were there to help out and a lot of changes were made on my friend's Z car. One of them were the wheels & tires...he went from OEM 17'' to the 18" Track wheels. All of us were talkin' about the HUGE weight difference in the two wheels. It sure seem like 70% at the time to me... all I know that there is a HUGE & NOTICEABLE difference in the weight of the two wheels when you pick them up side by side!!! 8lbs. is a HUGE difference.
My SB ZR still feels like HEAVEN....what a wild ride!
A:
Actually, the 26# weight refers to the 18" perf/touring wheel, the 17" stock wheel is only about 23# IIRC so the difference is even less noticable.
That's why guys looking for a little help on the track or strip go for the 17" wheels rather than 18 or 19". Not only are they lighter, the mass is closer to the axis of rotation so there's less inertia to overcome.
2004.5 Daytona Blue Performance
Post Edited (Jun 2, 7:42pm)
A:
the 26lbs was in reference to the 17in wheels but ive also saw the 18's weigh about the same. i guess the 17's could weigh 23 but ive seen 25-26lbs pretty consistently.
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03 CS Touring
VIN #189
A:
Well if one could save 10lbs per wheel, 40lbs total, of which this is rotational mass, I guess it would be an improvement. But it seems to me the money would be better spent on new tires, that said, any suggestions? Michelin Pilots?
A:
i could definately go for some apricots... i have the urge to eat something nutritional... that's weird...
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Chrome Silver '03 Touring -MT-
C.F. Nismo Wing
Shorty Antenna (Stolen!!! Thanks alot!)
Kicker Solo Baric L7 1200w
I don't think, I know...
Well, I don't think you know either
A:
Sounds like I should just lose some weight myself and get less expensive wheels. ;)