Lightest Wheels for SRT8

[artichoke]

I don't want to mod the tire size on my CSRT8, just get rid of some unsprung weight. I have the RSA's so all four wheels are the same. I think the suspension is having a hard time with the heavy wheels, leading to a poor ride over imperfect road surfaces. I'm skeptical that shocks alone can fix this problem.

Who makes the lightest wheels that fit? I'd probably like to stay with 20 inches, though that's not cast in stone.

[stevesrt8]

Have you felt the wheels alone off the car? They are pretty light rims.

Remember the tires ride like crap in colder weather. Can you tell I'm not a G/Y fan?

I must be used to a crap ride because to me my car rides really softly!

[artichoke]

Well no I haven't seen nor hefted a naked rim. If they're relatively light then fine I can focus my attention elsewhere. I had read in a car review that the 8 has somewhat blocky handling because of the rims and I feel that is somewhat true. It doesn't have the turn-on-a-dime feeling of my old 911.

As I said (in another thread somewhere) that my standards have gone up since I got this beast!

My car rides softly enough, maybe too softly. Maybe I need more than 33 psi in my tires. But it feels a bit like the tires can bounce all the way up or down to the limit rather than being controlled by the shocks. I need stronger shocks to control them, but the shock and spring have a harder job if the wheel is heavy.

Have you compared the weight to the stock C rims?

[BBSRT8]

Stevesrt8 is right. The stock SRT wheels are pretty light. I have had them off on numerous occasions and they aren't that heavy.
You can allways upgrade the suspension like I did and really improve the handling with a new set of KWs and swaybars. The stock SRT setup was pretty damn good (considering your driving a two ton car) but the new setup is a huge improvement and makes it feel like your driving a much smaller car.

[artichoke]

Originally Posted by BBSRT8

Stevesrt8 is right. The stock SRT wheels are pretty light. I have had them off on numerous occasions and they aren't that heavy.
You can allways upgrade the suspension like I did and really improve the handling with a new set of KWs and swaybars. The stock SRT setup was pretty damn good (considering your driving a two ton car) but the new setup is a huge improvement and makes it feel like your driving a much smaller car.

That's what I wanted to know, thanks. I just sent you a PM before I saw that you posted on this thread, because you know the before/after on the SRT8 suspension mod. That's the sort of feel I want when driving, to get rid of the sloppiness.

[teahead]

The bouncy ride is due to the SRT8 shocks/springs.

Haven't fully exercised them yet, but the KWs (w/rebound set softer than KW's recommendations) rides better IMHO.

W/the Eibach bars and lower ride height, handling has improved, even w/the softer setting.

[artichoke]

Originally Posted by teahead

The bouncy ride is due to the SRT8 shocks/springs.

Haven't fully exercised them yet, but the KWs (w/rebound set softer than KW's recommendations) rides better IMHO.

W/the Eibach bars and lower ride height, handling has improved, even w/the softer setting.

I am really starting to wonder about our alleged sport suspension. The rear shocks are Nivomat self leveling units. That's OK but it's mainly for hauling heavy loads. Maybe they are there because of the Magnum SRT application; you might carry heavy things in a station wagon. For my use, the kids I haul occasionally don't justify this type of shock absorber.

Swaybars are discussed in a different thread in the suspension mods forum -- actually I should have put this thread in that forum too. But Teahead's Eibach sway bars are advertised for the Magnum SRT. Again, heavier back end so a thicker swaybar. Teahead, how do you like station wagon swaybars on your sedan -- having any fun with oversteer?

[teahead]

Originally Posted by artichoke

I am really starting to wonder about our alleged sport suspension. The rear shocks are Nivomat self leveling units. That's OK but it's mainly for hauling heavy loads. Maybe they are there because of the Magnum SRT application; you might carry heavy things in a station wagon. For my use, the kids I haul occasionally don't justify this type of shock absorber.

Swaybars are discussed in a different thread in the suspension mods forum -- actually I should have put this thread in that forum too. But Teahead's Eibach sway bars are advertised for the Magnum SRT. Again, heavier back end so a thicker swaybar. Teahead, how do you like station wagon swaybars on your sedan -- having any fun with oversteer?

LOL! The rear sway bar is only 3mm larger than the Hotchkis one. Also, these bars' part # is, according to Eibach's website, is for the 300c, Charger, AND MAgnum!

These LX cars are nose heavy to begin with;
Weight Dist., F/R
55/45

i.e. NATURAL UNDERSTEER! So a bigger rear bar will actually help. OVERSTEER?!?! Hell, it's a 300c SRT8! Not a Porsche 911!

Even with the rear end dropped 1" over the stock SRT8 (1.5" from a stock 300c), I had 3 adults in the back. Barely sagged 1/2" and NO RUBBING of the TIRES! I think 275-40s are seriously, the max you can have w/10" wide rims w/o rubbing (or w/o fender lip rolling). True, 295s work I've heard, but that's with a 25-series 22 tire!

[artichoke]

Originally Posted by teahead

LOL! The rear sway bar is only 3mm larger than the Hotchkis one. Also, these bars' part # is, according to Eibach's website, is for the 300c, Charger, AND MAgnum!

These LX cars are nose heavy to begin with;
Weight Dist., F/R
55/45

i.e. NATURAL UNDERSTEER! So a bigger rear bar will actually help. OVERSTEER?!?! Hell, it's a 300c SRT8! Not a Porsche 911!

Even with the rear end dropped 1" over the stock SRT8 (1.5" from a stock 300c), I had 3 adults in the back. Barely sagged 1/2" and NO RUBBING of the TIRES! I think 275-40s are seriously, the max you can have w/10" wide rims w/o rubbing (or w/o fender lip rolling). True, 295s work I've heard, but that's with a 25-series 22 tire!

It's my thread and I can hijack it if I want to! Besides I have to choose between the Eibach and Hotchkis swaybars and for some reason it seems you're the only one who is using the Eibach. Did you ever get to compare it to someone's Hotchkis setup?

BTW I had a '75 911 for a while. Fun car, except that I would get a ticket for anything. (And it felt like the front end was lifting off at 115mph. )

[OttawaSTi]

Anyone know what a stock SRT-8 wheel alone (no tire) weighs?