This is exactly why I ordered CE28N's. Even though they are 17's, they are about 4lbs per wheel lighter. I would guess that the lighter weight should make up for the increased rotational mass.

 

which is probably why the 16" Spoon SW-388s are probably the best aftermarket wheel for the S, in terms of performance.

are there performance tires that are lighter than S-02s that offer the same levels of grip (if not better?)

how much do OEM S-02s weigh anyway?

 

So since there are so many concerned with wheel weight... How many of you have gone to a 15" setup? Head over to the wheel forum this topic has already been done.

 

Not really CE28Ns in 16" weigh less then the SW388s and have better offsets.

 

i would go with 17"s if i was going to buy new wheels since the falken azeni's have a pretty abysmal 16" selection. they were last years best autox street tire, and i predict they will be the same next year.

 

My 17x8 Racing Hart CP-035's with 245/40 Fuzion ZRi's combo are ~6lbs lighter then the stock 16x7.5 with S02's. I did feel a difference the first day, it felt like the car struggled less from a stop on a hill. However the second day it just felt grippy like the car was glued to the ground but I think its because the Fuzions feel like they grip a lot.

 

really?

hrmmm. those CE28Ns never really did it for me... and I don't think I've seem them on Berlina. they're less expensive than the spoon ones too, I believe.

do you have CE28Ns? (I'm looking at your avatar) any better pics if so?

 

I remember those rims. I had the right of first refusal on those. We were both trying to get these rims. The guy told me that somebody else bought these from ebay and he had to sell them.

 

Nope. Even if the tires are the same weight, their mass is further out from the center, accentuating the fylywheel effect. to lessen the flywheel effect, you MUST move the mass inwards or choose lighter wheels/tires, which quickly becomes a battle of diminishing returns given affordable technology...

 

in an autox environment the ability to run better tires is more important than a slight loss in acceleration and braking. lighter than stock 17" wheels with azeni's would be more advantageous than stock wheels with S-02's on an autox course. that is of course just my opinion. even when you go with a more aggressive tire often times you end up with more rotating mass. it just depends on what's more important, lateral grip, acceleration/braking, or bling. on an autox course that it typically very tight, lateral grip is the most important.