I'd expect to be correct the Lexus OEM 18 inch wheels are quite heavy compared to aftermarket wheels.
What the big advantage, if any, of using much lighter wheels when driving at different speeds?

 

Lowering the unsprung weight on any car will improve car's handling and feel. Lower weigh wheels and tires put significantly less strain on the suspension system allowing the suspension to respond more precisely to steering inputs and to simultaneously handle irregular road surfaces, bumps, etc. more easily at speed.

 

Couldn't have put it better myself. Also, your car may be able to accelerate more vigorously off the line due to the reduced weight of the wheel.

 

OK, not at all sure what a Lexus OEM 18 inch wheel weighs ..... but I'd guess they weigh about 20 pounds, plus the weight of the tire.

How much of a wheel weight reduction is needed in order to achieve these benefits ?
How weight wheel should I be looking for ?

Thanks

 

I would guess that the Lexus 18" wheel weighs closer to 30 lbs. 28 lbs. sticks in my memory, but I don't know if that's right. Forged aftermarket wheels weighing less than 20 lbs are available in that size.

 

My factory 18's are sitting loose in my garage. If I remeber,I'll chuck one on the bathroom scales tomorrow and will post the results.

the 18x9" luftbahns that replaced them were lighter...

Justin...

 

Thanks, I'd appreciate knowing what they weigh.

Do you agree with Jabberwock about how lighter wheels drive > anything more to add about driving on lighter wheels ?

 

The factory 18's weigh 17.9kg unmounted. JW is spot-on with his above post.


Justin...

 

what do the factory tires weigh,, hmmmm...¿¿¿

does a low pro 20" tire weigh more than a stock thick 17" tire??

 

17.9 kg is close to 40 pounds ...... wow !


EDIT: are you sure 17.9 kilos. That is very very heavy for a wheel ! no ??

 

Tyre weight varies quite drastically between models due to differences in construction and size. Speed and load ratings,performance or comfort bias,and exact actual dimensions make a difference.

You generally go wider in addition to going lower in profile when you upgrade so the amount of physical tyre on the wheel remains fairly similar,it just moves to the tread area and out of the sidewalls.

You'd need to weigh what you have now,unmounted and then check aftermarket listings to get any concrete numbers.

The tyres I have on my car are not factory fitment,and may be heavier or lighter than yours,and unless you plan to fit the same exact model,the data isn't much use to you.
For the record,I currently run Dunlop Direzza DZ101's in 245/45/R18.
They were on the stockies when I bought the car,and were transferred to my Luftbahns a couple of months ago as they still have a lot of tread life left in them and I didn't have the cash available to buy something bigger at the time. When these wear out I'll either go up to 19's,or will get some better tyres for the 18's,most likely Bridgestone RE001 Adrenalins. I've had two sets of those on turbo nissans in the past and they performed very well in both wet and dry conditions. the DZ101's are pathetic in the wet.


Justin...

 

Sorry,I've just gone and re-checked that,and they're actually 11.9kg,not 17.9. I got waylaid in between weighing them and posting the results and mixed up the numbers with some of the measurements my builder was talking to me about...

11.9 is still heavy.


Justin...

 

sill wondering