Steel wheels and unsprung weight

Libbyterian · **Joined:** Mon Jun 19, 2006 1:42 pm **Posts:** 7

Hi all,

First post, by the way...

I dig the purposeful look of black wheels, and I've been eyeing Cragar Soft 8s. From the info I've found online, each 16x7 Soft 8 weighs about ten pounds more than the stock alloys I have now.

I know increasing unsprung weight is a fantastic way to decrease your braking, acceleration and who knows what other performance variables.

How worried should I be about adding 40 pounds of unsprung weight? Anyone switch to comparable steel wheels and notice substantial performance dropoffs of any sort?

I probably shouldn't be too worried, what with people routinely throwing 20"+ wheels on their cars, but I'd still like to hear what people here think.

Thanks!

KJ04 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:42 pm

40lbs., get real! you're not going to even notice it.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:55 pm

Add a set of goodyear MT/R's and that alone adds more than 40 lbs.Steel rims are better anyway,bend a steel rim and bend it back with a 3 lb hammer,aluminum rims will break apart and then are useless.Why spend all that money on nice aluminum rims and then go trash them?

Lesrace82 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 08, 2005 3:10 pm **Posts:** 37

Hes not talking about buying aluminum wheels, hes talking about the soft 8's vs. his stock alloys.

nyrican52884 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 03, 2006 9:10 pm

KJ04 wrote:

40lbs., get real! you're not going to even notice it.

For every pound of unsprung weight equals 12 pounds of regular weight. Thats 480 pounds. Just think of having three people sit in you car every time you go somewhere.

JFortier777 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:39 am

nyrican52884 wrote:

KJ04 wrote:

40lbs., get real! you're not going to even notice it.

For every pound of unsprung weight equals 12 pounds of regular weight. Thats 480 pounds. Just think of having three people sit in you car every time you go somewhere.

I know how my KJ behaves with 5 people in it on the stock rims and I can assure you it does not act that way after I bought my cragars and drive alone.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Aug 04, 2006 3:58 pm

Ive not driven my jeep that much with the cragars on it, but its not all that bad. It downshifts on the hills where It didnt with the regular rims and tires. Also, with my 255/70 generals and the soft 8's, they are 25lbs more per rim+tire. So thats 100lbs more total, not 40lbs. My tires are only 30" also.

I cannot believe yours are not worse miah.

kolesy · **Posted:** Sat Aug 05, 2006 4:14 am

I have those rims with 245/75 mtr's and have noticed little difference then stock. I dont drive my liberty like a race car though. To me the only difference i noticed was the handling improved. When i first put my lift one it felt REALLY top heavy with the stock rims. Then I added the cragars and it handled better than pre lift! You willnot be unsatisfied!

Plus chicks dig black rims!

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Aug 05, 2006 11:15 am

kolesy wrote:

I have those rims with 245/75 mtr's and have noticed little difference then stock. I dont drive my liberty like a race car though. To me the only difference i noticed was the handling improved. When i first put my lift one it felt REALLY top heavy with the stock rims. Then I added the cragars and it handled better than pre lift! You willnot be unsatisfied!

Plus chicks dig black rims!

You also have the 16x7 rims, they weigh alitte less then the 16x8's.

Steel wheels and unsprung weight

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