alloys can they harm performance?

congo_90

I'm looking at getting alloys for my car. currently i have 13" wheels. was thinking of beefing up to 16" alloys. Will this change how the car handles etc? i was told larger alloys can have an effect on handling.

They can, and effect fuel usage too. I recently went from a normal 13" to a 15" alloy, does a bit less on fuel and a bit slower at picking up but the car handles far better.

congo_90

Well i would sacrifice a few MPG if it means better handling.
thanks for advice

S.I.R

alloys are dezzigned to let air get to the brakes , if you need alloys get actual 3 peice lightweights, because htere bigger you need more power to turn them...


basic physics

congo_90

S.I.R wrote: »

if you need alloys get actual 3 peice lightweights,

basic physics

Less physics more to do with gear ratios and torque available.

What are most alloys made out of compared to 3 piece? is there any compromise in strength?

Conor E

3 Piece wheels are big bucks. Rota do a nice range of lightwieght wheels and with a 40 pro tyre on it they are grand and strong.

Chaz

Larger wheels = better performance = common misconception.

Something to keep in mind - larger wheels normally weigh more than that standard ones. This weight often upsets the car's geometry and unless the change is minor, can be fairly detrimental to the car's performance.

Then again, most dont drive anywhere near the car's limit - so might not be an issue.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Larger wheels can slow down the car marginally

congo_90

Chaz wrote: »

Larger wheels = better performance = common misconception.

Something to keep in mind - larger wheels normally weigh more than that standard ones. This weight often upsets the car's geometry and unless the change is minor, can be fairly detrimental to the car's performance.

Then again, most dont drive anywhere near the car's limit - so might not be an issue.

This car won't be driven on its limit. I'm just putting alloys on merely for looks but i wanted to see if they would affect ride comfort, handling, performance.

BrynW wrote: »

Larger wheels can slow down the car marginally

I kinda figured now yea. Because the car was designed for specific size wheels. The only place i would need performance is take off at junctions though this comes more down to smart driving i guess

Chaz

'Take off at junctions' is hardly an issue - so no worries then.

Just amused by the general thought (not you specifically, just in general) that the 'bigger' the wheel, the better the car will handle.

hi_im_fil

When i got my alloys i noticed the front end was a bit more grippy, but i put this down to the alloys being wider and thus having more rubber on the road

congo_90

**EDIT**

Chaz wrote: »

'Take off at junctions' is hardly an issue - so no worries then.

Just amused by the general thought (not you specifically, just in general) that the 'bigger' the wheel, the better the car will handle.

I'm pretty much puttting it down to width and tyre grip itself.

@hi_im_fil i just noticed your post now. sorry i pretty much just said what you did.

stecleary

one thing for sure is your speedo will give a tru reading! your speedo wil read about 7/8 mph faster than actual speed at the moment and because the wheels wil be bigger it wil you wil get a tru read

Kimbot

Main problems going from 13's to the likes of 16/17's would be the handling will be worse.
Higher fuel consumption but not hugely though, also if you car is lets say a Micra and you put 16's on, you would have to go for low profile tyres to stop rubbing etc then you will feel more bumps etc on the road.

I know certain car just feel better with bigger wheels than what they shipped with.
Out of interest what car are you putting them on??

congo_90

@stecleary how can you be certain of this? why would my speedo be currently not calibrated? this worries me now so instead of doing 30mph at the moment i would actually be doing 23?

colm_mcm

16" alloys are too big to be practical on an Accent. the arches are tiny and you need very low profile tyres on it. stick with 15" max.

getting 3 piece alloys on a 00 1.3 Accent has to be one of the most ridiculous suggestions ever.

congo_90

jonny24ie wrote: »

I know certain car just feel better with bigger wheels than what they shipped with.
Out of interest what car are you putting them on??

They're going on a Hyundai Accent. The max size i want is 16". Still have to find a decent pair. not getting much from boards

Chaz

congo_90 wrote: »

@stecleary how can you be certain of this? why would my speedo be currently not calibrated? this worries me now so instead of doing 30mph at the moment i would actually be doing 23?

Your speedo (as with almost all others) is calibrated on the basis of the circumference of your wheel. Once this changes, the speedo can and will most likely read a bit different. Not a big issue IMHO.

congo_90

colm_mcm wrote: »

16" alloys are too big to be practical on an Accent. the arches are tiny and you need very low profile tyres on it. stick with 15" max.

getting 3 piece alloys on a 00 1.3 Accent has to be one of the most ridiculous suggestions ever.

Well i did say 15/16" so i guess i'll settle for 15's if they'll look good. I don't want outrageously huge wheels which means when i've a full load they're touching my arches!! thats for certain. 15" sounds like a good compromise.

stecleary

thats right, i can remember how to explain this but if read it in redline before! give me a few min il dig out the mag

congo_90

**EDIT**

Chaz wrote: »

Your speedo (as with almost all others) is calibrated on the basis of the circumference of your wheel. Once this changes, the speedo can and will most likely read a bit different. Not a big issue IMHO.

so in theory if i strapped on bigger wheels it will appear to be going slower than it is? at the moment the standard 13" wheels are on it.

Just out of curiosity... anyone know anyone selling 2nd hand alloys?

stecleary

it will appear to be going slower but wat your reading wil be closer to the real spee your traveling!
here read this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speedometer

daauneal

speedos are about 10% off in either direction, so at 30 , you could really be going upto 33 or 27. usually there are 10% off by saying your going faster , so more than likely your going 27/28

congo_90

stecleary wrote: »

it will appear to be going slower but wat your reading wil be closer to the real spee your traveling!
here read this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speedometer

A little off topic but what is the allowance in this country for speed limits?

antodeco

Congo, what is the current size of wheel and tyre?

If you want better handling, be careful of overall width. You may also feel effects of more bodyroll. Lower profiles will HAVE to go on it in comparison to what would be on it now. Put up the overall size I will have a gander of what to go for. (if unsure, read on side of tyre wall, xxx/xx/r13)

congo_90

Car isn't here at the moment. Its getting some repairs done. I suspect thoughg first digits are 165 or 175??? Not sure. I'll post up this evening the exact sizes

antodeco

OK grand. 165/175 is a skinny enough wheel. You dont want to go much wider than that (if at all). But its going to be the overall profile size. Is it the standard wheels still on it? What year is it?

congo_90

Its a 2000 model. Hyundai aceent gsi. I tried finding a service manual online but hadn't much joy there. I'd like to step it up to 195 which is still small but just right. and should fit

so now we're talking 15" alloys @195. i don't want a smaller width than that

antodeco

Being honest, it will really depend on the profile of the tyre before you can definitley say what width you can go. 195 may be possible. 15's will be fine. You may looking at 185/45/15, but you will notice a much harsher ride in the car. Any other mods to suspension/breaks?

congo_90

nope not a single mod. seems pretty small no? be a fair rough one. i just literally want a nice looking set of alloys something that looks like



I never knew there was this much involved in it. i just thought radius+width and profile would do. lol i'm not the best when it comes to wheels.

antodeco

They're the only things keeping you on the road, so needs to make sure theyre right! :pac:

PaulKK

Congo, you'll have no bother putting those katanas on your accent. I had them in 195/55 R15 on my 92 60bhp golf and there were no issues. I will say they improved the handling considerably on that car.

Personally I would say 15s are big enough on an accent as the arch isn't huge.


I now have 205/45 R17 on my car, and while a little rough on speed bumps etc, I find the grip to be good. I am awaiting the delivery of T1-Rs and expect it to be even better then. Also, in relation to the speedo comments, from using the sat nav in the car I can confirm that my speedo is still giving a speed reading of roughly 10% more than my actual speed.

congo_90

paul kk. you wouldn't have those katanas still lying around would ya?.... just curious. They're the set i want because they just look 'right' if ya get me.
I'm not worried about marginal handlin differences just as long as she won't be slipping around the bends at even low low speeds!

colm_mcm

you need 195/50 R15 on the Accent, 195/55 will be too big. you should have no problem with scrubbing the arches either.

PaulKK

Sorry colm that was a typo, they were 195/50.

Sorry congo I sold them off when I was selling my golf, they were actually snapped up, they seem quite a popular wheel!

Where are you based? There is a good motor shop in Carlow at the fairgreen that do them for about €480 new with tyres, they often seem to do the 5 wheels for 4 offer for that.

woop

colm_mcm wrote: »

getting 3 piece alloys on a 00 1.3 Accent has to be one of the most ridiculous suggestions ever.

madness!

Andrewf20

Guys, dont forget the point that as the wheel diameter gets bigger you can reduce the tyre sidewall height so that the total diameter should be pretty much the same.

Bigger wheels are traditionally heavier, slower to get up to speed, and with reduced flex in the tyre sidewall due to a lower profile tyre, the handling will be likely be more snappy on the limit. Unsprung weight increases placing additional load on the suspension and slowing the suspensions ability to react as fast. Tyres are traditionally more expensive on bigger wheels also. Ive taken the 16inchers off my bus and put 15 inchers on it. I find them much nicer to drive with.