I was thinking about painting my stock wheels black like some other members of this board but I wanted to get feedback from fellow owners of preludes

Should I?

A)paint my stock wheels black
B)leave them alone
C)buy some black wheels

 

I wouldn't fool with painting them, having them powdercoated is a different story. I'd get them powdercoated and if you don't like them buy new wheels.

 

painting your rims = rice

buying new rims to help you reduce rotational weight and thus improving your acceleration and overall performance while at the same time being aesthetically pleasing =

A set of Rotas are cheap and while not as light as some top-name brands, they are still lighter than stock.


[Modified by mrlegoman, 6:54 AM 3/25/2002]

 

I just never really like black rims.

 

I have talked to a few ppl about the weight difference. from stock to aftermarket wheels such as rota or volk......you got a 17ib. stock wheel vs. a 11ib. aftermarket one.....and all the feedback I have got has basically concluded that putting lighter wheels on my car will not make that big of a difference.....and im not about to spend $500+ on wheels that dont make that big of a difference

 

I read in SCC (I think) that a good rule of thumb when talking about wheel weight is that 1lb of wheel wheight = 50 lbs of vehicle weight. I don't know that I buy that number completly or not but less inertia in the wheels should have considerable impact on acceleration. Comments?!?

 

ok so if that is right then going with a wheel that wieghs 6ibs less then my stock ones will equal 300ibs which should in return help my 1/4 mile times by 3/10 of a second

 

19 pound wheel on 5 gen. and it does make a difference.

 

That number seems to be the rule of thumb. But I do not know where it came from. But you are 100% correct in the fact that less inertia will improve your acceleration.
Log4n, for those who have given you feedback that they have not noticed a difference in performance are mistaken. Chances are they are just not 'in-tune' with their car to notice that difference.

 

this is true - but where the weight on the rim is greatly affects how much it changes your acceleration.

I went from 18 lb stock 15's to 21 lb 17s - my 1/4 mile time went from 14.7 to 15.1

 

ok.........thanks, everyone for the feedback......now I'am currently looking for a set of lightweight wheels.....most likely bronze racing hart cp-10's.......I will post some pics when i get them

 

Mountian bikers, The kings of weight savings, are really into decreasing rotational weight in the rims, spokes, and tires.
I don't know if 1lbrotaitonal=50lbs standard, but I would not be all that surprised. Does anyone know the physics behind why rotating weight is so detrimental to acceleration? is it just because the inertia takes a lot longer to build up?
Steve

 

It's been a long time since I took a physics class. There is one guy in here that can do it. I'll have to take a refresher course.

But here is an example.

Take a empty bucket and tie a string to it. Then spin it around.

Now fill the bucket with water and try to spin it around.

You have to exert a tremendous amount more effort to spin the bucket full of water.

Thus the theory of rotational weight.

And the same applies to your car wheels while accelerating.

 

they only make the cp-10's for our bolt pattern in 18's only and they are 18lbs....i have em, but don't plan on driving it daily.

 

the deal with the weight, like the bucket example is that it takes a lot of force and energy to get that weight moving from a dead stand still, to rotational velocity. the more weight something weighs, the more time and energy it takes to get to the same rotational speed. thats why lighter is better.

 

Though you're mostly talking about acceleration, keep in mind a lighter wheel is better for handling. Lighter wheel=less unsprung weight.