Honda Car Forum

On Tue, 27 Dec 2005 10:19:10 -0600, "Rob" <rdbdriver@blomand.net>
wrote:
>> Where did you get those figures?
>
> I went to Tire Rack and for example took the 15" Borbet rims(several
>choices) at 18.5 pounds then picked there recommended size tire 195/60/R15"
>tires in lets say in a BridgeStone Potenza (Because I have a brother that
>works for BridgeStone and can get a very big discount) at around 21 to 22
>pounds which comes to around 40 plus pounds.

Sounds ballpark right.

And your current steel wheels and tires you weighed directly, I
presume?

Are the current tires 6.5/195 width? All I can think of, though it
shouldn't mean more than a pound or two.

Let's see ... ASA AR-1 15x6.5" "lightweight" at 15.9 pounds, Michellin
MXV4 at 195/60/R15 are 21 pounds. Hmm, BBS RG-F 15x7 are 10.2 pounds
for only $340! Others at 13 to 14 pounds around $120. SS-R
competition at 9.3, $289. Borbets seem some of the heavier rims.

FWIW

J.

Rob wrote:
> Hey.... I got a 2002 Civic LX 5sp with stock 14" steel wheels and
> hubcaps. Right now I do a lot of commuting and get about 39 to 42 miles per
> gallon. However don't like the looks of the cheap looking hubcaps on my
> Civic and was thinking of going to the nicer looking 15" or 16" Honda wheels
> or nice after market wheels.
>
> But, I really don't want to lose my good gas mileage that I'm getting
> with my Civic.
>
> I did some checking and my stock steel wheels, plus tires and hubcap
> weight around 31 pounds. going to a new larger wheel and tire will add
> around 10 to 15 pounds per wheel and tire.
> I do a lot of atv riding and no first hand at the power you will lose
> by getting a heavier bigger wheel and tire, so was wondering about the mpg
> that all Honda owners here have experienced when they install new sets of
> rims. Thanks for any advice, Rob.

Anything that makes the car heavier will reduce fuel economy. 40-60
pounds extra probably won't make a significant difference though. Cars
are a lot heavier than ATVs to begin with, so the PERCENTAGE weight gain
will be a lot less. Cars also have a lot more power, so the effect of
the added weight won't be as noticeable.

You might want to look for lighter rims, if you're that concerned about
it. Also, try to get a lower-profile tire that will give the same
overall outside circumference, or expect your speedometer and odometer
to read wrong (smaller circumference will make the speedo read higher
and the odo tick over faster). Any decent tire shop should be able to
match up the new tires properly.

Remember too that wider tires will increase your rolling resistance and
that will negatively affect fuel economy, though it will improve handling.


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I found the weight of my stock 02 civic 14" wheels by weighing myself then
removing the steel wheel and hubcap and holding both standing on the scale.
It was a very good new scale so am pretty sure of the results and did it
three times to be sure of the weight. I was very surprised at how light the
set up was myself. I thing this is one of Hondas Civci's secrets for there
good gas mileage.

"JXStern" <JXSternChangeX2R@gte.net> wrote in message
news:ic64r1huf1gkr32mt0p20p2sutpqij3cca@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 27 Dec 2005 10:19:10 -0600, "Rob" <rdbdriver@blomand.net>
> wrote:
>>> Where did you get those figures?
>>
>> I went to Tire Rack and for example took the 15" Borbet rims(several
>>choices) at 18.5 pounds then picked there recommended size tire
>>195/60/R15"
>>tires in lets say in a BridgeStone Potenza (Because I have a brother that
>>works for BridgeStone and can get a very big discount) at around 21 to 22
>>pounds which comes to around 40 plus pounds.
>
> Sounds ballpark right.
>
> And your current steel wheels and tires you weighed directly, I
> presume?
>
> Are the current tires 6.5/195 width? All I can think of, though it
> shouldn't mean more than a pound or two.
>
> Let's see ... ASA AR-1 15x6.5" "lightweight" at 15.9 pounds, Michellin
> MXV4 at 195/60/R15 are 21 pounds. Hmm, BBS RG-F 15x7 are 10.2 pounds
> for only $340! Others at 13 to 14 pounds around $120. SS-R
> competition at 9.3, $289. Borbets seem some of the heavier rims.
>
> FWIW
>
> J.
>

My stock tires are 185/70/ 14" on my 02 Civc.


"JXStern" <JXSternChangeX2R@gte.net> wrote in message
news:ic64r1huf1gkr32mt0p20p2sutpqij3cca@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 27 Dec 2005 10:19:10 -0600, "Rob" <rdbdriver@blomand.net>
> wrote:
>>> Where did you get those figures?
>>
>> I went to Tire Rack and for example took the 15" Borbet rims(several
>>choices) at 18.5 pounds then picked there recommended size tire
>>195/60/R15"
>>tires in lets say in a BridgeStone Potenza (Because I have a brother that
>>works for BridgeStone and can get a very big discount) at around 21 to 22
>>pounds which comes to around 40 plus pounds.
>
> Sounds ballpark right.
>
> And your current steel wheels and tires you weighed directly, I
> presume?
>
> Are the current tires 6.5/195 width? All I can think of, though it
> shouldn't mean more than a pound or two.
>
> Let's see ... ASA AR-1 15x6.5" "lightweight" at 15.9 pounds, Michellin
> MXV4 at 195/60/R15 are 21 pounds. Hmm, BBS RG-F 15x7 are 10.2 pounds
> for only $340! Others at 13 to 14 pounds around $120. SS-R
> competition at 9.3, $289. Borbets seem some of the heavier rims.
>
> FWIW
>
> J.
>

> Let's see ... ASA AR-1 15x6.5" "lightweight" at 15.9 pounds, Michellin
> MXV4 at 195/60/R15 are 21 pounds. Hmm, BBS RG-F 15x7 are 10.2 pounds
> for only $340! Others at 13 to 14 pounds around $120. SS-R
> competition at 9.3, $289. Borbets seem some of the heavier rims.
>
The BBS RG-F are 10.2 pounds but that's $340 per wheel, don't have that kind
money for a whole set. True some wheels weigh less than Borbets but if you
look at the whole lot of wheels that fit the Civic the Borbets are on the
lighter side plus there prices are some of the best for a high quality
German made rim. But it's going to be tough to match my stock Civic hubcap
set up for weight. Later, thanks for the looking.

"Rob" <rdbdriver@blomand.net> wrote in message
news:dorphv$3a7$1@news3.infoave.net...
>
> "JXStern" <JXSternChangeX2R@gte.net> wrote in message
> news:mcg1r1tbfqmgdb1g4p6euo217r6fig3fb0@4ax.com...
>
>
>> Where did you get those figures?
>
> lets say in a BridgeStone Potenza (Because I have a brother that works
> for BridgeStone and can get a very big discount) at around 21 to 22 pounds
> which comes to around 40 plus pounds.

I have to say I had potenzas (RE92's) on my 01 maxima, and man they were
Horrable!, they wore out in about 23,000 miles, were really bad in the snow,
and less than average in the rain. only thing they had going were they were
pretty decent on dry pavement. but for teh price they ask, and for how long
they lasted, I'd NEVER get them or recommend them again. (now your discount
might change that for you) but personally, when I replaced them with
Yokohama Avid V4's it was MUCH better all around (rain, dry and snow) and
more than half the price than the bridgestones.

On Thu, 29 Dec 2005 05:15:29 GMT, Matt Ion <soundy@moltenimage.com>
wrote:

>
>Anything that makes the car heavier will reduce fuel economy. 40-60
>pounds extra probably won't make a significant difference though. Cars
>are a lot heavier than ATVs to begin with, so the PERCENTAGE weight gain
>will be a lot less. Cars also have a lot more power, so the effect of
>the added weight won't be as noticeable.
>
>You might want to look for lighter rims, if you're that concerned about
>it. Also, try to get a lower-profile tire that will give the same
>overall outside circumference, or expect your speedometer and odometer
>to read wrong (smaller circumference will make the speedo read higher
>and the odo tick over faster). Any decent tire shop should be able to
>match up the new tires properly.
>
>Remember too that wider tires will increase your rolling resistance and
>that will negatively affect fuel economy, though it will improve handling.
>

Increasing weight on wheels have a higher effect on increasing weight
than, say, inside the car. The wheels and suspension pieces are
unsprung weight. This is much more significant than sprung weight.
Consider this: Wear a backpack with 20 pounds in it and run. You
won't feel a big difference. But if you put 10-pound weights on each
foot and ran, you will be much slower.

In addition to reducing gas mileage, it makes the handling worse
(other than the added mechanical grip with wider tires), makes the
ride harsher, increases braking distance, and slows down acceleration.

Lighter or equivalent wheels are indeed possible even though the rim
size increases...if you're budget allows it. Keep in mind some tires
are heavier than others too. That weight is actually more critical
than the wheel weight.

On Thu, 29 Dec 2005 09:13:21 -0600, "Rob" <rdbdriver@blomand.net>
wrote:

>I found the weight of my stock 02 civic 14" wheels by weighing myself then
>removing the steel wheel and hubcap and holding both standing on the scale.
>It was a very good new scale so am pretty sure of the results and did it
>three times to be sure of the weight. I was very surprised at how light the
>set up was myself. I thing this is one of Hondas Civci's secrets for there
>good gas mileage.
>
Another secret for their good gas mileage is their tall gear ratio.
My's sister Civic EX, which has a 5-spd manual, was the only I car I
drove that lost speed while going up one of the steep hills in my
city. When I floored the gas pedal, it still lost speed. A down
shift was necessary.

I'm not knocking the car. I'm just augmenting upon your comment on
how they achieve their good gas mileage.