[wardog]

I remember someone said they didn't notice any decline in acceleration after installing 22" wheels.

Anyone on 22's with a different opinion?

Anyone out there have any numbers? G-tech before and after numbers would be great.

The magazines seem to be getting 0-60's of 5.3-5.8

 

[magnesium]

FWIW, there is no way anyone who has mounted 22" wheels on their 300C isn't taking a noticeable, if not significant, performance hit...unless of course they happened to invest in light-weight, 3-piece forged wheels at $1500 a pop.

I ran across a program some time ago that did a fair job estimating effective HP loss/gain relative to changes in unspring weight. It was very enlightening. I will try to dig it up again. It more or less convinced me that unless I'm prepared to spend big $$$ on forged modular wheels, the payoff in style has to be worth the penalty in performance.

IMHO, if you're at all concerned about your 300C's performance, look for a nice 20" single-piece, forged wheel. They'll actually weigh less than the stock setup, give you a more sporting look and unlike the high-end, forged modular approach, won't cost you 25% of your car's purchase price

Of course, if you're more of a cruiser and less of an adrenaline junky, there are plenty of nice (albeit HEAVY) cast aluminum 22s out there to roll.

 

[gshug]

FWIW, there is no way anyone who has mounted 22" wheels on their 300C isn't taking a noticeable, if not significant, performance hit...unless of course they happened to invest in light-weight, 3-piece forged wheels at $1500 a pop.

I ran across a program some time ago that did a fair job estimating effective HP loss/gain relative to changes in unspring weight. It was very enlightening. I will try to dig it up again. It more or less convinced me that unless I'm prepared to spend big $$$ on forged modular wheels, the payoff in style has to be worth the penalty in performance.

IMHO, if you're at all concerned about your 300C's performance, look for a nice 20" single-piece, forged wheel. They'll actually weigh less than the stock setup, give you a more sporting look and unlike the high-end, forged modular approach, won't cost you 25% of your car's purchase price

Of course, if you're more of a cruiser and less of an adrenaline junky, there are plenty of nice (albeit HEAVY) cast aluminum 22s out there to roll.

I have a noticed a big drop and i also noticed my handling on the car is very poor.going at around 60-70 mph ona turn and you hit a small bump the car fishtails. its scary

 

[E55 KEV]

I remember someone said they didn't notice any decline in acceleration after installing 22" wheels.

I doubt anyone can tell the difference without a timed measurement of the cars performance with only a "butt in the seat" measurement when changing to heavy 22" rims.

 

[Tibbs]

E55KEV is right. I am certain that I did lose acceleration when I added the rims, it makes perfect sense that I would. But I can't tell that I did, this car is a bat out of hell, and when you get it on it, the pleasant rush of adrenaline and unadulterated speed is right there waiting to please. I have noticed that with the ESP off I cannot spin the tires as freely as I could with the stocks. I'm not sure of that's a weight issue or a grip issue.

 

[DrDeville]

FWIW, there is no way anyone who has mounted 22" wheels on their 300C isn't taking a noticeable, if not significant, performance hit...unless of course they happened to invest in light-weight, 3-piece forged wheels at $1500 a pop.

I ran across a program some time ago that did a fair job estimating effective HP loss/gain relative to changes in unspring weight. It was very enlightening. I will try to dig it up again. It more or less convinced me that unless I'm prepared to spend big $$$ on forged modular wheels, the payoff in style has to be worth the penalty in performance.

IMHO, if you're at all concerned about your 300C's performance, look for a nice 20" single-piece, forged wheel. They'll actually weigh less than the stock setup, give you a more sporting look and unlike the high-end, forged modular approach, won't cost you 25% of your car's purchase price

Of course, if you're more of a cruiser and less of an adrenaline junky, there are plenty of nice (albeit HEAVY) cast aluminum 22s out there to roll.

Thanks for the informative post Magnesium. I have read the same
thing in Road & Track, and applaud you for helping folks make an
informed decision.

If you can dig up that program, please let us know. Physics
shows wheel weight as particularly bad for acceleration,
which is why expensive alloy and modular wheels came out in the
first place. Not only do wheels have to be accelerated
forward like the rest of the car, they also have to be "spun up"
as they rotate. This is called rotational inertia, and consumes
a lot of energy, slowing acceleration.

Edit:
For example, think of the spins ice skaters do. The slow
turn with arms extended demonstrates the revs with a large rim,
the fast spin with arms at chest shows the higher revs that a
smaller rim achieves with the same amount of energy.

Best,

George Ferguson

 

[DrDeville]

I have noticed that with the ESP off I cannot spin the tires as freely as I could with the stocks. I'm not sure of that's a weight issue or a grip issue.

It's a rim weight and diameter issue, specifically increased rotational inertia. Se my previous post.

Best,

George Ferguson

 

[magnesium]

I have to disagree, E55KEV.

I used to own a BMW M Coupe, and put a set of 18", 1-piece cast wheels on it and IMMEDIATELY could tell. It felt like I was pulling a trailer. I dumped them and bought a pair of saaaweeeeeet Kinesis 18", 3pc forged wheels and the difference was night and day.

Granted, some people may be more sensitive to these sort of things than others. However, any time you increase your unspring weight by as much as 50% (yes, some of these 22s w. tires are pushing 75lbs a corner!), you're going to notice - and not just in the accel/decel department.

But let's not belabor the point here. This is an image vehicle, not a thoroughbred.

That said, go for the look you want and be proud of what you drive, just be aware that stylin' comes at a price: Performance, handling, ride quality and yes, $$$. As usual though, the more $$$ you spend (usually), the less of the others you have to give up.

 

[E55 KEV]

Mag, you must have a really sensitve azz - being able to tell the difference in performance with a just a "Butt in the seat" test. He-He!

You must be one of those guys that can tell the difference between a car going 0-60 in 5.0 seconds and 4.8 seconds.

 

[gshug]

can someone comment on the handling of the car with 22 inch rims. I swear that i feel the car losing control on every turn tht has a bump in it

 

[E55 KEV]

Very low profile tires are not good on bumps. They are designed for perfectely flat and pristine surfaces. Bad roads and bumps can cause the car with low profile tires to 'trammel' or let the road control the direction of the car a little. The tires sort of get caught in between the bumps and ridges instead of floating over then with hi-profile tires. You get this affect when you give up so much sidewall with no tire flex.

 

[DrDeville]

can someone comment on the handling of the car with 22 inch rims. I swear that i feel the car losing control on every turn tht has a bump in it

That makes sense.

The suspension springs (moderated by the shocks) push the wheels down
to keep them in contact with the road, and are tuned for a particular (stock)
weight. Heavier wheels overpower the springs,
and lose contact with the road sooner during dips and after bumps.

Firmer springs might help heavier wheels keep contact, as might
shocks that are less stiff in rebound (when the wheels move down).

HTH.

Best,

George Ferguson

 

[magnesium]

Mag, you must have a really sensitve azz - being able to tell the difference in performance with a just a "Butt in the seat" test. He-He!

You must be one of those guys that can tell the difference between a car going 0-60 in 5.0 seconds and 4.8 seconds.

Er, uh, I guess I'm to be counted among the uberaware ilk who hears all the noises, feels all the bumps, etc. I don't know, maybe I'm the problem.

Maybe I should change my forum ID to "ButtDyno." Um, on second thought...

 

[joey]

can someone comment on the handling of the car with 22 inch rims. I swear that i feel the car losing control on every turn tht has a bump in it

Are your front and rear wheel sizes identical?
If not, maybe the ESP is getting confused.

 

[wardog]

That's why I was asking if anyone had any numbers. I can live with an increase in acceleration time, up to a point.

If stock C's are around 5.6 seconds 0-60, I wouldn't want to give up too much of that. I could live with 6.3 or 6.5, but I think that would be pushing it. It's not like I'm planning on drag racing it or anything. I'd buy a Vette or something for that.

Any other manufacturers with forged wheels for the 300?

 

[DrDeville]

That's why I was asking if anyone had any numbers. I can live with an increase in acceleration time, up to a point.

Look at it this way--
the slower you are, the more time folks will have
to look at your cool wheels.

Best,

George "Long Gone Daddy" Ferguson

 

[E55 KEV]

Any other manufacturers with forged wheels for the 300?

Forged wheels can be custom built for 'any' car. However, they are pricey! Here are a few I can think of:

www.avuswheels.com

www.bcforged.com

www.boydcoddington.com

www.bozeforged.com

www.centerlinewheels.com

www.gfgwheels.com

www.hrewheels.com

www.iforged.com

www.makaveliwheels.com

www.ncforged.com

www.r1racingwheels.com

www.rojawheels.com

www.weldevo.com

www.zeforged.com

 

[wardog]

E55 KEV,

Thanks for the links, I'll Check em out. But, oops, I meant to say reasonably priced (~$500) forged wheels for the 300 C in 20" or 22"

Forged wheels can be custom built for 'any' car. However, they are pricey! Here are a few I can think of:

www.avuswheels.com

www.bcforged.com

www.boydcoddington.com

www.bozeforged.com

www.centerlinewheels.com

www.gfgwheels.com

www.hrewheels.com

www.iforged.com

www.makaveliwheels.com

www.ncforged.com

www.r1racingwheels.com

www.rojawheels.com

www.weldevo.com

www.zeforged.com

 

[300C ON 24'S]

The ride changed FOR SURE! Same with me, turns and bumps. I also get a slight steering wheel shake after 120 MPH. Does anyone else get a steering wheel shake? I watched the guy balance them too 0.0 on every rim? Thats what your gonna get when you driving on rubber bands (35's).

 

[DrDeville]

I also get a slight steering wheel shake after 120 MPH. Does anyone else get a steering wheel shake?

Sorry, I couldn't tell you--after 120mph, all I can feel is testicle shake.

Best,

George Ferguson