Aftermarket vs OEM wheels - weights

[fredberg]

i've always wondered. do aftermarket wheels weigh LESS than OEM steel wheels of the same size? i figure the aftermarkets use a lighter alloy, thus being a little lighter all around. jus curious...

[lammydi]

Here is an answer in general.
- Brandname/Expensive wheels weight less than OEM wheels.
- OEM wheels weight less than most cheap aftermarket wheels (especially made in China/Korea)

[Venom_5]

most aftermarket wheels are heavier than OEM steel rims or alloys ... unfortunately, because the market is flooded with bulky replicas and bargain wheels

the difference is this:
say that the aftermarket wheel is +3" larger in diameter and +2" larger in width ... that means you can run a stiffer sidewall (40-series instead of 70-series) and a wider tire, meaning better handling and extra grip if you choose your products right

plus you have the added benefit of aesthetics...

like lammdi said, if you are able to dish out some extra money - aftermarket wheels can be had for lighter than stock ... as little as 8 lbs per wheel sometimes (as opposed to the OEM 18+ lbs per wheel)

[PhatRoyale]

Originally Posted by fredberg

i've always wondered. do aftermarket wheels weigh LESS than OEM steel wheels of the same size? i figure the aftermarkets use a lighter alloy, thus being a little lighter all around. jus curious...

Yes, in most cases, assuming you stick with a reputable brand.

I'd recommend anything from Rays, Work, SSR, Advan, BBS, Enkei, WedsSport.

[fredberg]

I just swapped the OEM 15 steelies with 15's from MB Wheels ("Seven X"), using the same tires. I found that the tire + aftermarket wheel is 4-5 lbs lighter than the OEM combination.

What does this mean in terms of acceleration, braking, or at the least, workload of the engine?