I installed my set of winter 17" bsa rims and 17" snows and found my mileage increase,as well the cars response was increased.
I weighed my stock rx8gt 18" rim and tire package and was floored by the find....59lbs per corner.
Thats over 200lbs of rolling weight!
My 17"package weighed 32'lbs !!
I know a set of light weight 18 or 19's will be in the cars future.

-With our 2pc rotor set.. i will be saving 9lbs/corner, with the rim change another 27lbs/corner...
Our single sided exhaust, is saving over 65 lbs on the rear of the car.
As they say weight equals free whp:-)

 

YOu probably saved some weight, but if the diameter on the 17's aren't exactly the same (including tire) as the 18's then you speedo is probably off therefore your mileage is wrong (more optimistic.)

 

That depends on what profile his 17's were - could be the same overall diameter.

Bigger wheels = heavier wheels in general. The 8's 18"s were supposed to be fairly light.

 

Sounds more like an advertisement than a posting.....just my 2 cents.

 

I'm calling BS on those weights! We've discussed this quite a bit already - but most of us are finding the stock 18" wheel/tire to be around 44 to 46 lbs; your 59 lbs is WAAAY too high.

I went with a 17lb 17" wheel, and my winter wheel/tire combo weigh around 38 lbs; 6 lbs lighter per corner. Since any 17" winter tire is going to weigh around 20 lbs, you must have a 12 lb 17" wheel to get 32 lbs total? Sorry, that's BS too.

The benefits of lighter unsprung weight are undeniable, but to "exaggerate" to that extent is ridiculous.

Regards,
Gordon

 

Go Gordon.