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Topic: steel wheels or aluminum...any difference in the quarter mile..... (Read 1083 times)
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warthog
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I have a set of weld wheels on my 67 Dart GT right now. I am needing to get a set of 15x10 with 7.5 backspacing for my rear minitubbs. Anyways, I keep toying with the idea of putting on the poverty caps and steel wheels on my dart and thought about having a set of 15in custom offsetted with the 7.5 backspacing for the rear so I can run the poverty caps. I get bored with seeing the weld wheels on everything although I do like them on my car. I was wondering if any of you guys have tried both in the quarter and if aluminum wheels made a difference in et's over steel wheels?
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rjsjea
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Less weight = faster times....
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 Demon:,6.1HEMI, AlterK,Tri4link,custom cage,pro-touring-built for the curves |
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DJVCuda
Full Member
 Offline
Posts: 269
BigBlockDart.Com
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back to back on a small block a-body is about a 10th.
thats 15" ralleys to aluminum skinneys up front and the same size out back.
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Blue
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One of the magazines did this very test, they saved a bunch of rotational weight and expected to see the car run a lot quicker, it didn't  |
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"The man that say's nothing is impossible has never tried slamming a revolving door"
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Arillious
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One of the magazines did this very test, they saved a bunch of rotational weight and expected to see the car run quicker, it didn't yea i remember that wasn't that an article in an issue of hotrod magazine? if you go to their website you may be able to find the article. thats where i read it i think. |
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Gasoline runs through my veins at 400 miles per hour.
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Blue
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"The man that say's nothing is impossible has never tried slamming a revolving door"
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Womanator
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There's as certain mph that you can't have hub caps on your car because of them coming off during the run in the 1/4 mile.Might want check the rule book.
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PureGTS
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Remember you're dealing with "un sprung" weight. Having all four lite weight wheels only effects the over-all weight of the whole car. There would be minimal difference in performance, if any, I think. Having steel wheels in the front I believe would be counter productive as you want the suspension to rise in the front and lifting steel wheels is going to be harder, i.e. more weight. In the rear, who cares! You want weight in the rear or over the rear tires; you're not trying to lift those. Or your not supposed to be; if you are, you have other suspension issues (squatting) that needs addressing. I run Centerlines in the front, skinnies, and steel out back 15x10 cop car wheels with slicks. Mainly because I'm cheap and I had them on hand. Too much of this  can get you this  . See, it is also a self preservation thing too.  |
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Knowldge is power, power is speed, speed is good, low E.T. is better
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ksdartguy
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There's as certain mph that you can't have hub caps on your car because of them coming off during the run in the 1/4 mile.Might want check the rule book.
I ran 123mph last year with my dog dish's and didnt lose them. I did go weld"s this year. (traded some stuff I wasnt using for them) I went with the Jegs knock off on the front. Rick |
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69 Swinger,3.54 Dana, 400/499, Stealth heads, Crower 262/266d, .686/.696L roller,11 to 1, 950 Bigs, E85 carb.
Best so far, 10.82 @ 124mph through the mufflers.
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mshred
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There's as certain mph that you can't have hub caps on your car because of them coming off during the run in the 1/4 mile.Might want check the rule book.
I ran 123mph last year with my dog dish's and didnt lose them. I did go weld"s this year. (traded some stuff I wasnt using for them) I went with the Jegs knock off on the front. Rick Did the aluminum wheels knock anything off your time? did you notice a difference at all? |
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A13Dart
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Some say that rear steel wheels help reduce wheel spin in poor traction conditions. It's a theory. |
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mshred
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sounds like it makes sense....but what im really concerned with is performance difference between the two
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375InStroke
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Remember you're dealing with "un sprung" weight. Having all four lite weight wheels only effects the over-all weight of the whole car. There would be minimal difference in performance, if any, I think. Having steel wheels in the front I believe would be counter productive as you want the suspension to rise in the front and lifting steel wheels is going to be harder, i.e. more weight.
Why minimal difference in performance? For handling, the less unstrung weight, the better. For acceleration, the engine has to accelerate the vehicle forward, but it also has to accelerate the wheels rotationally. The weight of the front wheels has no affect on weight transfer. The front of the car rises, but the wheels stay on the ground. |
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375InStroke
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In the ricer and truck world, when people put bigger wheels, like 20" and 22" rims, the car usually accelerates slower and stops slower due to the weight all out in the rim.
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Brad4406
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In the ricer and truck world, when people put bigger wheels, like 20" and 22" rims, the car usually accelerates slower and stops slower due to the weight all out in the rim.
Not to be rude or disagree with you, but if they didn't change their gear ratios and are now running a larger over all tire diameter, their slower accelleration is not due to weight or more mass, it is due to the larger over all tire diameter changing their gear ratio. For example, with 27" tires on my truck w/ a 4.10 ratio it will accellerate faster than w/ 35" tires and the same ratio. |
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mshred
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so pretty much the wheels won affect time? in the carcraft test they took a second off the car from switching from steelies to aluminum...? what do you guys think
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67Satty
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It's only worth about a tenth of a second from the heaviest 15X7 steel wheel to the lightest 15X4 aluminum wheel according to the Car Craft test. So it's just personal preference whether or not you need every last tenth of a second versus the handling versus whatever look you prefer. I think the aluminum skinnies look pretty cool but I've experienced them plowing in turns on the street where I wasn't even going very fast. Car Craft Test Configurations Test 1 (2) 15x7 rally with BFG P215/60R15 = 95.56 lbs. (2) 15x8 rally with M/T 26x10.5-15 = 93.70 lbs. Total weight = 189.26 lbs e.t. and mph = 12.137@111.99Test 2 (2) 15x4 rally with M/T 26x7.5-15 = 70.86 lbs. (2) 15x8 rally with M/T 26x10.5-15 = 93.70 lbs. Total weight = 164.56 lbs. e.t. and mph = 12.107@112.52Test 3 (2) 15x7 Center Line with BFG P215/60R15 = 70.46 lbs. (2) 15x8 Center Line with M/T 26x10.5-15 = 64.10 lbs. (4) Center Line center caps = 0.96 lb. Total weight = 135.52 lbs. e.t. and mph = 12.103@112.10Test 4 (2) 15x4 Center Line with M/T 26x4.5-15 = 42.12 lbs. (2) 15x8 Center Line with M/T 26x10.5-15 = 64.1 lbs. (4) Center Line center caps = 0.96 lb. Total weight = 107.18 lbs. e.t. and mph = 12.026@113.11 |
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In the garage: '67 Plymouth Satellite - once my 318-powered daily driver, now my project car with lots of "patina"
On the stand: "Old School" '71 440 build: "6 Pack" pistons at zero deck, Engle .534, 238@.050" Hyd, stock 452s, Performer RPM, 850 DP, Hooker headers. Still need: ignition, gears
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chryco
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Good enough for these guys , good enough for me !
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A13Dart
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Whatever gets the job done.
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moparteacher
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In the Car Craft article they just reduced weight via wheels and tires. I'd like to see if rotational mass of the wheel makes a noticeable difference in et with the vehicles total weight being the same.
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Moparteacher
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chryco
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Take a steel 15x12" wheel and lift it over your head 10 times , next do the same with a 15x12" alloy wheel . Take a deep breath and think . Notice any difference ?
Basic Physics : lighter is better for acceleration .
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck ............it`s a duck
Go Alloy wheels .
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mshred
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Take a steel 15x12" wheel and lift it over your head 10 times , next do the same with a 15x12" alloy wheel . Take a deep breath and think . Notice any difference ?
Basic Physics : lighter is better for acceleration .
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck ............it`s a duck
Go Alloy wheels .
i think your right about that  alloys it will be for me |
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coors00
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Just a thought; instead of lifting them, roll them on the floor.
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chryco
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Just a thought; instead of lifting them, roll them on the floor.
Yes , and measure the amount of force required to push the alloy wheel as opposed to the steel wheel . |
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coors00
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Which seems to equal i/10 et.
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coors00
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Hey Chryco, no disrespect, it just seems to be worth 1/10. If I can use the wheel money for other improvements, I think I can get more for my money. Just a thought.
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chryco
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Hey Chryco, no disrespect, it just seems to be worth 1/10. If I can use the wheel money for other improvements, I think I can get more for my money. Just a thought.
None taken Bro ! Just remember, all those tenths add up . |
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coors00
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Hey Chryco, no disrespect, it just seems to be worth 1/10. If I can use the wheel money for other improvements, I think I can get more for my money. Just a thought.
None taken Bro ! Just remember, all those tenths add up .  Us newbies still think about 1 seconds, or 1/2 seconds. We aint up to your area yet. I always that that alloy rims made more difference. Now I can get cheap steelies made, to use, while sorting an untested car out. |
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chryco
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Hey Chryco, no disrespect, it just seems to be worth 1/10. If I can use the wheel money for other improvements, I think I can get more for my money. Just a thought.
None taken Bro ! Just remember, all those tenths add up . Us newbies still think about 1 seconds, or 1/2 seconds. We aint up to your area yet. I always that that alloy rims made more difference. Now I can get cheap steelies made, to use, while sorting an untested car out. Go for it ! I did that 30 years ago , now I have alloy wheels. |
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