I am curious if anybody knows what kind of MPG difference I am going to see when I go to a steel wheel from factory wheel. I am finally getting my truck how I want it after 4 years and talking the wife into since the 14 year old will be getting it soon. Black Wheels , mudgrips, roof rack, and sound system. I may not give it up. Anybody know if there will be difference in MPG's, I know the difference going to mudgrips. Dont know about the rims though. Thanks

 

my mpg dropped from anywhere from 2-3 mpg when I got my steelies and 31" tires

 

yep there is an equation that I read somewhere. They said for every pound of weight below the body (IE wheels, tires, etc) is like hauling an extra 50 or 100 pounds in the vehicle. Something like that. Steelie are good for the looks, they take abuse off road better, and they don't lose thier finish as quick as alloys do sometimes.

But they are heavier than snot. I took my factory 15x6 steely and picked up my 16x8 camaro rim. The camaro rim was like a feather compared to the steely.

 

Well, when you increase tire/wheel weight, you increase the rolling resistance, which will require more power to do the same thing.... We learned about it in physics, something about there is an optimum size, as too big = too more power loss, and too small = not efficient

 

Yeah, rolling resistance and wind resistence. I can't find the article i was reading but I was thinking more along the lines of Unsprung mass or unsprung weight however you look at it. Good point though wlorton.