If you have ever wondered how much a particular factory wheel weighs, you either try to hunt down that information through the forums hoping someone has accurately weighed it and published it somewhere, at some time, but you can also find a lot of that info here, all in a single place.
Link: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ss...houston&_oac=1&_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l161211
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ss...houston&_oac=1&_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l161211
You may observe that in general, factory wheels are pretty heavy (about 20 to 30% heavier than many aftermarket options.)
Generally speaking, if the spokes are thick--it's going to be heavier.
So, why are they so heavy? I think it has to do with cost of manufacturing, ultimately. It cost a lot of money to make lighter weight wheels and OEMs won't take a chance in reducing wheel weight (it's about safety) by using less cast metal--and yes I'm sure they are almost allll produced using casting. Only specialized performance cars will use forging or flow forming.
How much does wheel weight matter? I'm not 100% sure about that but I can say that when I went with my first aftermarket set of wheels and tires, I actually increased the weight from factory and I felt it immediately.
WHeels and tires are really the only way you can control the rotational unsprung weight--you can't really opt for lighter rotors (typically 15 to 20 pounds for most cars) and you can't opt for lighter calipers (typically 12 pounds) nor knuckles (another 15 to 20 pounds.)
Link: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ss...houston&_oac=1&_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l161211
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ss...houston&_oac=1&_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l161211
You may observe that in general, factory wheels are pretty heavy (about 20 to 30% heavier than many aftermarket options.)
Generally speaking, if the spokes are thick--it's going to be heavier.
So, why are they so heavy? I think it has to do with cost of manufacturing, ultimately. It cost a lot of money to make lighter weight wheels and OEMs won't take a chance in reducing wheel weight (it's about safety) by using less cast metal--and yes I'm sure they are almost allll produced using casting. Only specialized performance cars will use forging or flow forming.
How much does wheel weight matter? I'm not 100% sure about that but I can say that when I went with my first aftermarket set of wheels and tires, I actually increased the weight from factory and I felt it immediately.
WHeels and tires are really the only way you can control the rotational unsprung weight--you can't really opt for lighter rotors (typically 15 to 20 pounds for most cars) and you can't opt for lighter calipers (typically 12 pounds) nor knuckles (another 15 to 20 pounds.)
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