Which is more important? Lighter wheel, or wider contact patch?

**yody** · 09-25-2005

I have 19x8.5" one piece forged wheels on the front of my car with pilot sports 255/35/19's. The tires really arent' all that wide, about the same as a 245/40/17. I was kinda dissapointed when they were mounted on teh wheel, however they fit the wheel perfectly.

The wheel is pretty damn light, especially for its size, my rear wheels are 19x10 with a 295/35/19 and those are pretty heavy(a lot due to the tire which is pretty big and tall)

So my question is if I went to a 9 or 9.5" wheel up front with a wider tire assuming everything else stays the same, would it presumably handle/brake worse or better?

Probably not a cut and paste answer. My front wheels are pretty damn light, especially for a 19" wheel, but wider meats on teh front would be oooh so much better looking.

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**chicane67** · 09-25-2005

A wider tire and wheel (ideally any larger area, longer or wider in aspect) = more surface to load and gains an increase in traction, weather it be acceleration, deceleration or lateral loading.

A lighter wheel and tire package = requires less energy to move, weather it be acceleration, deceleration or in an axial movement.

Weight vs. size will always be your trade off....... its almost one or the other. You can however have both, but here comes the next part of the equation...... the cost.

If it were me, Id go the route of larger contact patch. The contact patch gains you both an increase in handling and braking capability. I guess I just look at it, simply stated..... you gotta have rotor to stop. The tire stops the chassis, not the brakes. Fit the wheel and tire package around the brake you use because in terms of rotor weight. Density, mass and surface area are your friends when dealing with heat and the management of just that.

Now, in terms of sprung and unsprung weight..... lighter in most cases is better for handling. But in the case of your chassis and its total weight involved, an increase in traction would be the winner IMHO.

**chicane67** · 09-25-2005

Why does a wheel and tire question get put into the suspension fourm ??

That is the question.

**TonyL** · 09-25-2005

To get the right eyes on it.

(told ya so Yody... LOL)

**CarlC** · 09-25-2005

I agree with Tom. More tire.

**David Pozzi** · 09-25-2005

I vote for wider tire, the front is heavier than the rear and more tire would help braking and turn-in.
I'll move this to the wheel and tire section and leave a redirect to it here.

**yody** · 09-25-2005

yeah, makes sense because of having the BBC and a heavy second gen. Well its not any decision I need to make now, just for future reference. What got me thinking was the weight difference between the front and rear wheels.

**sinned** · 09-25-2005

How about both? Is there any reason 19" are required (brake clearance), I didn't think so? Why not go back to 17" with a 265 or 275? That way you still get the contact patch without the extra 2" of inertia weight to deal with. Running a pair of 17" Kinesis or maybe some Jongbloed (I highly recommend if your wallet can handle the initial expense/continued upkeep) will result in less unsprung weight, less inertia weight and the same contact patch with enough room for your C5 brakes.

**yody** · 09-25-2005

yes the reason the 19's are required is because i neede the brake clearance and need a wheel that fills up the wheelwell, but for the most part because they look sooo cool(doesn't that just make you twitch?) Also I am not going to buy a whole new set of rims. I happen to have 2 extra 19 CCW wheels and figured i could do something with them....eventually. I think my front wheels are only 22ilbs, probably lighter than your 17" centerlines

**sinned** · 09-26-2005

Originally Posted by yody

yes the reason the 19's are required is because i neede the brake clearance and need a wheel that fills up the wheelwell

You are running C5 fronts, they clear 17's with no problems

but for the most part because they look sooo cool(doesn't that just make you twitch?)

I think my front wheels are only 22ilbs, probably lighter than your 17" centerlines

Actually my 17X9.5 Centerlines are only ~18lbs.

**CAMAROBOY69** · 09-26-2005

Another vote for wider tire.

**chicane67** · 09-25-2005

19"s..... gimme a break. You did it for the blingyness of the 19" factor..... you dont have to lie to kick it. Brake clearence and filling the wheel well.....

what'eva. E-Bay will help you out on this one.........

I fit 13" rotors into 16" wheels, ten years ago and 14" rotors into 17" wheels......... so what is this about you having to run 19's again..... ???

**chicane67** · 09-26-2005

Look..... its Yody on the right !!!!!!!!!! The Prince of Bling !!!!!!!!!!

**yody** · 09-26-2005

thats pretty funny, somebody should post the picture of Dennis with his shirt off and dirt all over his face, from spinning out into the dirt at buttonwillow, looked like a white pig rolling through the dirt!!! and lets not talk about tom.......looks like sasquatch on meth!!!!!!!!!! LOL. I already said the biggest reason for the 19's is the way they look. My previous 17" centerlines wouldn't fit over the brakes, so I bought new wheels, I personally like my 19's and could care less what people with bondo el caminos that can't stay on the track and over the hill bench racers with a camaro that was running like 10 years ago think. hahhaah finally I can supresse the boring Yody! bout the only 2 people on this site that won't get all bent out of shape!!

**Travis B** · 09-26-2005

I personally like the 19's......we have 17's on our trailer! lol

**sinned** · 09-26-2005

Originally Posted by yody

thats pretty funny, somebody should post the picture of Dennis with his shirt off and dirt all over his face, from spinning out into the dirt at buttonwillow, looked like a white pig rolling through the dirt!!! and lets not talk about tom.......looks like sasquatch on meth!!!!!!!!!! LOL. I already said the biggest reason for the 19's is the way they look. My previous 17" centerlines wouldn't fit over the brakes, so I bought new wheels, I personally like my 19's and could care less what people with bondo el caminos that can't stay on the track and over the hill bench racers with a camaro that was running like 10 years ago think. hahhaah finally I can supresse the boring Yody! bout the only 2 people on this site that won't get all bent out of shape!!

I am sooo reporting this post to the powers that be!!!! Put you back in the corner for a time-out.

NOT, hahahaha
I pretty much disregard smack talk form posers that don't even have a car worthy of the track yet.

**yody** · 09-26-2005

uh oh another wheel size debate!!

**chicane67** · 09-26-2005

Wow....... it'll be ten years ago this next month......

But at least I have a real job, a new house that is being built..... and two degrees already. And to think, I didnt go into debt doing any of it, not to mention that everything on the chassis is paid for. Now hows your financing again there spoon fed boy ??

**yody** · 09-26-2005

wow, you've accomplished a lot! well I havne't worked for a year, oh by the way I don't owe anything on my car either! payed for it all myself with cash, the only way

**rocketrod** · 09-26-2005

I vote for wider tires

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Thread: Which is more important? Lighter wheel, or wider contact patch?

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Which is more important? Lighter wheel, or wider contact patch?