Honda Car Forum

Tegger wrote:
> "E. Meyer" <epmeyer50@msn.com> wrote in
> news:C5BC40E4.23C8%epmeyer50@msn.com:
>
>> On 2/14/09 7:37 AM, in article
>> 09idp49c7g4qr7hvrm8k651c42njijulic@4ax.com, "newbie" <newbie> wrote:
>>
>>> I'm considering buying a new 2009 accord coupe with the standard
>>> alloy wheels. Never having owned alloy wheels what are alloy wheels?
>>> Is it recommended to get wheel locks for these? Do these wheels
>>> usually get stolen without the wheel locks? I live near Houston,
>>> Texas.
>> They are made of a metal alloy rather than steel. Advantages include
>> less unsprung weight which translates into slightly better mileage.
>
>
>
> Lower unspring weight is supposed to mean better ride and handling, not
> mileage.
>
> Theoretically, a lighter wheel assembly means the suspension can more
> quickly and effectively control road wheel movements with less transfer
> of motion to the body.
>
> However, I'm not sure the actual weight differential between steel and
> aluminum is enough to make a real difference, so I think the purpose of
> aluminum wheels is primarily cosmetic enhancement. Certainly the
> suspension is the same whether the wheels are steel or aluminum. The
> wheel/tire assembly weighs approximately 30-35 lbs.


Then you typically throw on the much wider tires and the combined weight
exceeds the weight of steelies and OEM tires.

Looks cooler and may perform better, though...

jim beam <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in
news:mSHll.225991$yk4.68781@fe05.news.easynews.com :

> On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:23:48 +0000, Tegger wrote:
>

>>
>> Lower unspring weight is supposed to mean better ride and handling,
>> not mileage.
>
> in theory, lower weight takes less energy to spin up, thus lower
> weight wheels can be used for better economy. the vx and hx civics
> use the lightest weight alloy wheels of any stock civic wheels. real
> hard to detect in fuel consumption tho.



I'd think the added cost of aluminum wheels would far outweigh any savings
in gas. But then again, if the car came with aluminum wheels as standard,
you'd have no added costs...



> makes more difference to
> performance when you're trying to shave pounds for the 1/4 mile.



Now that I find more realistic. Racers do have to be fanatical when looking
for that extra thousandth of a second.

I even had one guy (a track racer) tell me he was convinced he gained a few
milliseconds just from waxing his race car. His reasoning was that a waxed
car presents a slicker surface to the air, thus reducing drag. No idea if
he was right or not, but that's what he told me.



>>
>> In practice, locks do help slow thieves down a bit.
>
> not around these parts. wide availability of battery powered impact
> drivers have seen to that.



The relentless advance of technology renders my info out of date!



--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

"jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in message
news:mSHll.225991$yk4.68781@fe05.news.easynews.com ...
> On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:23:48 +0000, Tegger wrote:
>
>> "E. Meyer" <epmeyer50@msn.com> wrote in
>> news:C5BC40E4.23C8%epmeyer50@msn.com:
>>

>>> Do they need wheel locks? The professional thieves have the
>>> wherewithal to readily defeat the locks. They might slow down the
>>> teenage amateurs for a little while. I remember from when I lived in
>>> Houston that anything not nailed down and guarded with a shotgun was
>>> fair game, so wheel locks might help, but its more likely they would
>>> just take the whole car.
>>
>>
>>
>> In practice, locks do help slow thieves down a bit.
>
> not around these parts. wide availability of battery powered impact
> drivers have seen to that.
>
>

Locks add only at most a second or two to each wheel stolen, compared to the
time it takes to get the wheel off the ground and supported by something to
leave the car sitting on. If there are two thieves working on it, one on the
lug nuts while the other is lifting the corner, it doesn't slow things down
at all.

Mike