Fuel Economy Tip - Addendum to “Don’t Get ‘Sweet’ Rims”
June 15th, 2006 | by Brian Carr |Today’s tip is an update to my previous post about how it was a bad idea to put customized rims on your vehicle.
If you feel the need to replace your vehicle’s rims, make sure you’re getting rims that weigh less than the ones currently on your vehicle.
I’ll be the first to admit when I make a mistake, and in my previous post, I was very unclear in what I meant by not putting “sweet rims” on your vehicle.
What I meant was to not go out and buy rims that are wider than the rims currently on your car and/or had all those extra bells and whistles that make them weigh more than your current rims.
As many of you graciously pointed out, I was wrong in condemning all rims because there are rims out there that will help you INCREASE your gas mileage. This is mostly because they are made out of material that makes them lighter than what is currently on your vehicle.
So, thank you to those of you who pointed out the error of my ways. Hopefully this addendum has helped to clear up any confusion.
4 Responses to “Fuel Economy Tip - Addendum to “Don’t Get ‘Sweet’ Rims””
By paranoid freak on Aug 24, 2006 | Reply
Changing the unspring weight of your car up OR down is DANGEROUS!
The car is designed to have the factory wheels and tires of similar size and weight to the originals. Changing them will affect how the car’s suspension handles bumps, and emergency handling. Just like your brakes can’t handle the additional gyro forces created by putting ‘really sweet’ rims on. Try phisics sometime
By a4onrims? on Jan 14, 2007 | Reply
so, rims…lighter weight than waht is currently on, and wider diameter will increase fuel economy but make the car more dangerous to drive…correct?
By Some Facts on May 8, 2007 | Reply
a4onrims?: Yes and no. Any rim that is lighter, hence reducing your vehicles unsprung weight, will increase fuel milage because it is easier for your engine to turn these wheels vice heavier ones. However, wider rims, and subsequently wider tires, will increase the amount of friction your tires produce due to the larger contact patch it has with the road. Although this effect has very little impact on fuel milage and shouldn’t be a concern unless fuel milage is your ONLY reason for getting the rims you get.
paranoid freak: This is only dangerous when a large change is made (braking and handling if you get heavier rims will get worse. with lighter rims, braking will be better if your tires are equal or better than your previous ones, however your ride will stiffen making your car “jittery” over irregular surfaces). Reducing the weight of each of your wheels by 1 to 2 pounds will give you a decent return in milage with out causing any significant change in your cars handling performance. However, you will accelerate quicker, which could cause you to over drive your vehicle if you’re not expecting this particular side effect of lighter rims.
By Ash on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
so! im trying to replace my stock 15’s to 20″ chrome rims,.. they are regular radials,… would it decrease my my mpg very much or just like 2…… and my handling and stuff and also brakes,…….please help me out here!…..