Re: The VW Jetta GLX Mailing List Digest V3 #31

[ryanweatherby@juno.com]

In reply to Michael Keith:

"This doesn't apply to cars that come with steel wheels as original
equipment 
because a larger diameter aluminum wheel is usually lighter or weighs
just as 
much as a smaller diameter steel wheel."

This is true to an extent. . .a light weight aluminum alloy wheel will
usually weigh less than an
OEM steel wheel and less reciprocating mass will give us the net affect
of faster 0-60 and top 
speed. . .reducing reciprocating mass is far more important than static
mass (like going to a 
lighter weight hood, ripping out your back seat, etc.) because any
lightened load on the crank gives
us the net affect of more HP. . .  Michael's theory that the average 16"
or 17" aluminum or alloy wheel
weighs less than the average steel wheel w/ hub cap is also probably true
. . .however. . .a larger wheel 
(regardless of overall tire diameter) will numerically lower your final
drive ratio. . .yielding, you guessed it. . .
lower 0-60mph times. . .but in theory a higher top end. . .

Note - the 17" wheels on the 3rd gen. Mazda RX-7 weighed a mere 7lbs
each!!!

-Ryan Weatherby
Chicago, IL (in financial pursuit of a GLX VR6)

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