How to lose a customer

I am investigating buying different wheels (15s rather than 14s)for the
MX5, so as to give a more comprehensive choice of tyres.

Wheel weight is fairly important on these cars it seems. The OC forum
has some useful information on popular fitments but naturally has not
got a list of all the various options and weights.

So I thought I would use the 'ask a question' facility on the web site
of an alloy wheel vendor to enquire about the weight of one I liked the
look of.

Reply: "Sorry, we do not weigh them".

At least there was a sorry.

A visit to the manufacturer's web site was no more use. I shall now try
emailing the manufacturer direct, but that's one supplier and possibly
one maker already crossed off the list.


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| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
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Heh. "So, these are fashion rather than performance wheels?"

 

It has surprised me how difficult it is proving to easily find the data.
The bonus has been stumbling across a fascinating UKRM type discussion
of wheel weights with calcs and evryfing.


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+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

I can't imagine you're not considering Minilites, if only for the looks.

 

To be fair, depending on the company they probably don't have them in
stock themselves to weigh them anyway. Given that you've tried to get
the information from higher up the chain and have failed, they may
well have tried the same. But then again, it's probably staffed by
a couple of knobs with a propensity for stick-on fake carbon fibre
dash boards.

 

It is surprising, though, given how important unsprung weight is.

 

Many alloys weigh more than the bare naked steels they replace. The days
of lightweight alloys automatically being lighter than steels are long
gone and you have to look carefully for them if unsprung weight is your
criteria.

 

It is a trade off between contact patch size (not forgetting side wall
stiffness and stickiness) and weight I suppose.

Just not much heavier than the wheels I have on now would be OK by me.


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+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Even size-for-size, alloys are often heavier than steels.

Mind you, it's usually for a good reason - the lighter ones are the ones
which bend at the thought of a pothole, whilst the big thick heavy ones
are tougher.

 

So continue platy's train of thought up there ^^^^.

"Vanity, vanity..."

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+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Alloys can look good, but I don't have an automatic fondness for them. If
they have to be made heavier than steels to be as tough, then I don't see
the point. Is there any reason other than unsprung weight to use alloys?
Classically, sports roadsters had steels or spokes, and quite frankly look
better IMNSHO. This, for instance, simply looks ghe:

http://images.kitcarmag.com/eventcoverage/0609_kc_16_z+Lotus_11+driver_front_side_view.jpg

 

+driver_front_side_view.jpg

Oh, indeed. But compare to a real 11 on "proper" wobbly-web alloys.
http://www.lotusracer.com/files/images/home01.jpg
http://www.lotusracer.com/files/images/home04.jpg

 

I thought the wheels on the Lambo on Top Gear were lush.

 

"Meaningless, meaningless says the Preacher"
"All is meaningless and a striving after the wind."

Beans especially so.

Phil.

 

Ventilation. Brakes can keep cooler longer.

Yep. Mined ewe, the weight of wires on a splined cenre hub has to be
experienced to be believed.