IM sure if any improvements it won't be much. But I currently run 17" rims on my Boost hatch, will I gain any speed by stepping down to a 15" wheel?

Just wondering how wheel size effects the performance

 

Yeah 15" wheels make you go way faster compared to 17s

 

I hope you two are kidding.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Civic_95_Si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I hope you two are kidding. </TD></TR></TABLE>


I'm not kidding... it's common knowledge that 17's slow you down...

You didn't know that?
Maybe that's why you're running 9.8 in the 1/8th ??

 

overall diameter of the tire will cause yer top speed in each gear to change (its another gear ratio pretty much)

so the rim is not hte only variable. what you need to know is yer side wall aspect ratio. then run it thru a calc program with yer gear ratios.

dont really feel im saying that all right... V V

http://www.volkswagen.org/tiresize.htm

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by -V8KILLA- &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I'm not kidding... it's common knowledge that 17's slow you down...
You didn't know that?
Maybe that's why you're running 9.8 in the 1/8th ??</TD></TR></TABLE>

The size of the rim doesnt make a car faster or slower. Chance are its going to be close to the same tire height with in a few tenths of an inch of the stock tire. So please post somthing to show you're not an idiot and might know what you're talking about.

 

most 15" wheels are lighter than 17" wheels. lighter things are easier to turn, so a lighter overall wheel will make you faster. i always wondered though, wouldn't 15" tires with a bigger sidewall be heavier than 17", smaller-profile tires?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by idiot &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The size of the rim doesnt make a car faster or slower. Chance are its going to be close to the same tire height with in a few tenths of an inch of the stock tire. So please post somthing to show you're not an idiot and might know what you're talking about. </TD></TR></TABLE>

You're right on one part.... The "tire height" doesn't make any difference... The actual size doesn't make a difference...

it's the weight difference between 15's and 17's that makes such a drastic difference. Its all about rotational mass and unsprung weight. If you don't know that 17s are heavy as ****, then you must be new to this sport.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zomart &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">most 15" wheels are lighter than 17" wheels. lighter things are easier to turn, so a lighter overall wheel will make you faster</TD></TR></TABLE>

Finally someone who knows what they are talking about.

 

I think the tire weight could be an issue if you're really counting every pound. My 14" steelies w/ stock size all season yok's weighed less then my 12lb 15" rotas and Azenis. So it all comes into play. I dont think 5 lbs would really stop you from being that much faster. Aerodynamics would be kicking in before it would really matter.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by -V8KILLA- &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

The "tire height" doesn't make any difference... The actual size doesn't make a difference...

</TD></TR></TABLE>

You could have a 8lb 14" Volk and a 20" slick, but the MPH would be lower on the same car running a heavier wheel with 22-23" slick. Its really not about saving 20lbs off the rolling weight to go faster over all.

Just saying "a 17" wheel will make you slower over a 15" wheel" is a stupid statement.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Civic_95_Si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Just saying "a 17" wheel will make you slower over a 15" wheel" is a stupid statement. </TD></TR></TABLE>

it depends on what you are talking about..

a 17" rim will take longer to accelerate because its increase in circumference is directly related to its increase in diameter.

however, your top speed potential will increase.

mike

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Civic_95_Si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

You could have a 8lb 14" Volk and a 20" slick, but the MPH would be lower on the same car running a heavier wheel with 22-23" slick. Its really not about saving 20lbs off the rolling weight to go faster over all.

Just saying "a 17" wheel will make you slower over a 15" wheel" is a stupid statement. </TD></TR></TABLE>

So why was it that when I took my car to the track and ran a 12.01 at 110mph with a 13' wheel with a 22'slick and then ran a 11.6 at 117mph with a 13'wheel with a 24.5 ' slickl??

Not new to the game. Just that some of the info in this thread is totally wack.
Rotational weight, unsprung weight, and tire size all play a major role in a cars mph.

 

its not exactly how heavy necessarilly your wheel is, but where in relation to the center of the wheel the weight is located