Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (October 2002, week 1)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Sun, 6 Oct 2002 01:54:16 -0700
Reply-To:     James <tornadored@HOTPOP.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         James <tornadored@HOTPOP.COM>
Subject:      Bigger Wheels and Unsprung Weight
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

I've been considering doing the 15" wheel/tire upgrade and noticed that some of the replacement SA alloys weigh quite a bit more than the stock 14" alloy (18lbs) (according to GoWesty's specs).

The popular Sunburst SA wheel is listed at 19lbs - only 1lb more than stock. But the Carat2 wheel, for example, is 23lbs...quick math...that's 5lbs and 28% heavier than the stock. And the Rhein style wheel is 24lbs!

Which gets me thinking about the effect that weight has on performance. I would think the added unsprung weight (again, 28%) must have a very significant effect on handling and suspension response. And I've "heard" that 1lb unsprung = 10lbs sprung. So, 5lbs more per wheel = 20lbs more total unprung = 200lbs sprung. More rough calculation...that would yield about a 1 second slower 0-60 because of rotational weight.

I hope I'm missing something here. What are people's real world/seat-of-pants results after going big? It almost seems like the benefit of the larger/wider tire (in our favorite brand) would be outweighed by, well, weight.

Curious.

James 90 Carat


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.