DragStuff

Hey guys!! I have my slicks (M/T 28x10.5) mounted on a set of 8" chevy ralleys, and they are fairly heavy. I have always been told that unsprung weight is a big thing. So I was wondering how much can be gained by just switching to a light weight aluminum wheel???? Has anyone ever whent from a steel wheel to a aluminum wheel with NO other changes??? If so how much if any did the car pick up??? I am always looking for the price per gain, and don't want to spend 300 bucks for a half a tenth gain. (or maybe I would)

I dont think you would gain 1/2 a 10th with just the wheel change maybe 1 or 2 100ths but it all adds up.A lot of people would kill for 1/2 a 10th for only $300.

I dont think its a matter of sprung weight, but rotating weight.

Light wheels will help, just not much.

I don't have the data anymore, but as I recall, my car picked up virtually nothing when going from 15x7" and 15x4" rallies to 15x3.5" and 15x8" Weld Pro Stars. I was disappointed, I know that much.

I have always heard that lighter wheels SHOULD be faster, and in theory it makes sence. I have had lots of guys telling me "loose those heavy steel wheels, you'll pick up" . But I have had my doubts. I was taking with a friend a while back about these kind of small changes and we were wondering if little things (like light wheels, K&N air filters, ect) make a bigger difference in faster cars or slower cars? By the way, me and a freind of mine decided to switch air filter elements, we both had the common 14 in filter, except I had the 5 dollar Farm and Fleet element and he had the 45 dollar K&N. Neither one of us picked up or lost any time!

Yes it will help, but will you be able to measure it? Maybe not.

The way I look at things like this is sometimes it's a very small improvement that, along with others eventually yields gains. 10 lb lighter wheels for example might not be measurable, but combine that with a lighter torque converter, lighter spool, driveshaft, car weight, etc... Eventually these things start to have an impact but typically they won't be dramatic.

There is absolutely no doubt that a lighter car accelerates faster on the track. That is a proven fact.

I've seen measurable gains with 50 lbs in the 60' dropping .02 seconds from sprung weight. If that had been 50 lbs in rotating mass, it might have been more.

It all adds up. A little here and a little there will turn into a measurable improvement. Gotta start somewhere.