17" VS 16" Weight and MPG

[yarrr]

Originally Posted by bzinn 1

probably the lightest 17 is Enkie RPF1.

cheapest + lightest maybe

volk, ssr, buddy club, racing hart, gram lights and others are lighter, and forged.

Another thing to consider is that even if you get close to or lighter than original weight, with 17s, the majority of the weight is farther out by 2 inches, which is increased rotational inertia. Same weight 15 and 17 wheel and tire combo, the 15 will get better MPG. Throw in the 205 tire, and your MPG are gone.

I also suggest against going cheap with rubber band tires. Nobody seems to have problems on 15s and 16s with cheap cast light wheels. 17s don't really like potholes...

[TOUGEghost]

Originally Posted by yarrr

cheapest + lightest maybe

volk, ssr, buddy club, racing hart, gram lights and others are lighter, and forged.

Gram lights don't really belong in there; they're cast and heavy. Even for the others, it's still pretty hard to beat the RPF1's light weight.

Back on topic with some first hand experience, I get about 33 mpg on my 17" RPF1's (14.9 lbs, 205/40 tires). To get to work, I do a lot of driving on a steep, twisty mountain road; the kind of driving that has me changing tires every 3,000 miles or so. In addition to that, I use A/C pretty much everywhere I go and make a lot of short trips. 33 mpg in those conditions is pretty good to me.

I do have some 16" wheels on the way, we'll see what difference that makes.