hybrid wheel weight?

[09hybrid]

hello,~ i picked up my hybrid last week and damn.. the wheel is hella ugly that i want to get a rid of it asap..

anyhow my question is.. what's the weight on the stock wheel? also the weight with the tires.

i am thinking putting 17" or 18" enkei rpf1 which it weights 15lb and 17lb.. however the weight on the tire would be a little lighter cuz it's less fattin than 195/65... i think..

[Blk_07_SI_Sedan]

You will still loose power and mpg if you get a larger wheel (even if it is lighter). The sheer size of the wheel also needs to be put into consideration. Think of gears on a bicycle. The larger gears require more effort then the smaller ones

[Chase]

Originally Posted by Blk_07_SI_Sedan

You will still loose power and mpg if you get a larger wheel (even if it is lighter). The sheer size of the wheel also needs to be put into consideration. Think of gears on a bicycle. The larger gears require more effort then the smaller ones

Now that depends on a lot more than that alone, The larger wheel also effectively makes your gearing taller, so cruising at the same speed (65mph or x speed, whatever) would net you a lower engine RPM theoretically burning less fuel on a level surface.

[Solo2EG]

Originally Posted by Chase

Now that depends on a lot more than that alone, The larger wheel also effectively makes your gearing taller, so cruising at the same speed (65mph or x speed, whatever) would net you a lower engine RPM theoretically burning less fuel on a level surface.

Not if you keep the same OD (which is what you should do) For example Civics come with 15's (Hybrid & DX-G) 16's (LX & EX) & 17's (Si) but they all have the same outside diameter so that the speedo remains the same. (in fact the 16's are a hair taller than the 17's)

[Chase]

Originally Posted by Solo2EG

Not if you keep the same OD (which is what you should do) For example Civics come with 15's (Hybrid & DX-G) 16's (LX & EX) & 17's (Si) but they all have the same outside diameter so that the speedo remains the same. (in fact the 16's are a hair taller than the 17's)

I believe going from a 17" wheel on the Si to my 18" wheel with 225/40's changed my Speedo to read .5mph fast which is acceptable. It seems on modern cars they should allow you to "set" your wheel and tire size so that your ECU can compensate and calibrate your ECU's. Oh well..

[Solo2EG]

Originally Posted by Chase

I believe going from a 17" wheel on the Si to my 18" wheel with 225/40's changed my Speedo to read .5mph fast which is acceptable. It seems on modern cars they should allow you to "set" your wheel and tire size so that your ECU can compensate and calibrate your ECU's. Oh well..

Actually your speedo is now off by 1.8% (when speedo reads 60 you're actually doing 61.1). There is a great calculator to use here:
Wheel / tire size calculator / comparer - WHEELSMASTER

[09hybrid]

so going back to the subject.. what's the weight on stock wheel?

[Solo2EG]

Originally Posted by 09hybrid

so going back to the subject.. what's the weight on stock wheel?

Sorry about that, I'm not sure but I'll try to look it up, I know it's very light I have a set in my Garage (my brother's summer tires).

Don't forget the light weight isn't the only reason Honda put these on the hybrid, the flat face is also very good to reduce wind resistance so if you were to put on a wheel like the RPF-1 you will lose some of that benefit (but I will admit, you will be getting a much better looking wheel...)

[Chase]

Originally Posted by Solo2EG

Actually your speedo is now off by 1.8% (when speedo reads 60 you're actually doing 61.1). There is a great calculator to use here:
Wheel / tire size calculator / comparer - WHEELSMASTER

I have verified my incorrect speedo by GPS and local Military police. it is consistently .5mph fast.

[pks17]

You wont find any tires that are even close to the light weight that the hybrid wheels come with. Those tires are 18lbs.
Getting any other tire will up the weight big time.
most 17 inch tires are 25lbs in our sizes.
and in 15 inch, ur looking at around 22lbs

[HCHybrid]

... minor update... found a couple of 17" 5-zigens that are 15.5 lbs!
FN01R-C Hot Version: 17" x 7" 5/114.3 ET42 Lbs: 15.5

That's a total wheel/rim weight saving of 10lbs. They are soooo gonna replace my pancakes. The pancakes will downgrade to winter tires

Mind you that the new 17" tires (not wheels or rims) will differ in weight compared to the 15" (195/65/R15) too,
but at least you oughta get close to the 'standard' weight.

Here's the difference in circumference (delta) of 17" compared to those 15" standard pancake with two types of tires:

215/45/R17 = -1,45% delta compared to standard (70mph = 68,99mph)
Difference in circumference = 1964,44 (standard = 1993.34)

215/50/R17 = 1,94 % delta compared to standard (70mph = 71.36 mph)
Difference in circumference = 2031,98 (standard = 1993.34)

The choice between 45 or 50 is a matter of more comfort/more total weight (wheel + tire)
versus looks/less weight.

Just my 2 cents...

[stevenvillatoro]

Originally Posted by Solo2EG

Don't forget the light weight isn't the only reason Honda put these on the hybrid, the flat face is also very good to reduce wind resistance

I used to believe the popular theory about wind drag being one reason for the wheel design, but now I think the pie plate wheels are just a marketing gimmick to hybridize the look of the standard Civic. The reason for my doubt? If you go the UK Honda website, you'll see their standard and upgraded Civic Hybrids... NEITHER car uses the pie plate wheels. They use ordinary-looking spoke wheels for the base model (15") and the upgraded model (16"). Not a pie plate wheel anywhere. It'd be interesting to find the weight of the UK versions' wheels.

[stevenvillatoro]

Originally Posted by HCHybrid

The choice between 45 or 50 is a matter of more comfort/more total weight (wheel + tire) versus looks/less weight.

I'd stay away from 17" on the Civic Hybrid. If you've never experienced the great loss of comfort by going to such a low-profile tire, you're in for a big surprise. There simply isn't enough rubber sidewall height to cushion the ride for most people's tastes. It would be even more pronounced in the Civic Hybrid if you are used to higher tire pressure inflation to enhance fuel economy. Another drawback is that every rattle and interior noise is magnified when using low-profile tires. Finally, low-profile tires are also more susceptible to damage by potholes and road defects, and much easier to scratch when parking. A 16" rim/tire combo would be the largest I would ever consider, based on personal experience only.

[GoHuskies]

Originally Posted by stevenvillatoro

I used to believe the popular theory about wind drag being one reason for the wheel design, but now I think the pie plate wheels are just a marketing gimmick to hybridize the look of the standard Civic. The reason for my doubt? If you go the UK Honda website, you'll see their standard and upgraded Civic Hybrids... NEITHER car uses the pie plate wheels. They use ordinary-looking spoke wheels for the base model (15") and the upgraded model (16"). Not a pie plate wheel anywhere. It'd be interesting to find the weight of the UK versions' wheels.

Um... It might vary but all of the European/Asian members I've seen had the same pie plate wheels stock. They use the same pie style wheels on the base Fit & Civic in Canada too to help increase MPG slightly.

[stevenvillatoro]

Here's the link to the UK Honda Civic Hybrid site.

[HCHybrid]

Originally Posted by stevenvillatoro

I'd stay away from 17" on the Civic Hybrid. If you've never experienced the great loss of comfort by going to such a low-profile tire, you're in for a big surprise. There simply isn't enough rubber sidewall height to cushion the ride for most people's tastes. It would be even more pronounced in the Civic Hybrid if you are used to higher tire pressure inflation to enhance fuel economy. Another drawback is that every rattle and interior noise is magnified when using low-profile tires. Finally, low-profile tires are also more susceptible to damage by potholes and road defects, and much easier to scratch when parking. A 16" rim/tire combo would be the largest I would ever consider, based on personal experience only.

IMHO I dare to differ an extreme high loss in comfort with a 215/50/R17 setup. Next to that I don't consider a height of 50 'low-profile'. Plenty of
cushion left on that height.
I've spoken to a few Hybrid drivers with this setup and they don't have any complains about them what so ever. But don't get me wrong...
it never hurts to drop a 'heads-up' over here... better warned ahead then sorry afterwards. I've also test driven this 17" inch setup myself and I can't find any problem you mentioned above at all.

I do agree that people need to make a well made choice on this subject.

One thing's for sure though... 17" looks WAY better than the 2008 15" pancakes.

[GoHuskies]

To Steven:

Are you sure that the UK model pictured isn't wearing the optional 16" alloy wheel? It's listed as an option for the civic trims.

[stevenvillatoro]

Originally Posted by GoHuskies

To Steven:

Are you sure that the UK model pictured isn't wearing the optional 16" alloy wheel? It's listed as an option for the civic trims.

As sure as I can be. If you check out the site, you'll see pics of both the 15" and 16" rims. There is not a pie plate rim on the entire site. Look at the nice chrome door handles while you're there... they have body-colored inserts. Or, how about that rear center armrest!

[GoHuskies]

All I can add is I looked for around and at least according to hypermilers over at cleanmpg.com and places the test cycle used over that side isn't as demanding as our own EPA testing. Which is why even when you convert over to US mpg Euro models of the same car have higher ratings than the US trims.

I know in the UK they've begun using tolls and taxes to punish people for what comes out the tail pipe. Perhaps the average UK hybrid buyer is more concerned about emissions so a more attractive car is given?

[aarong_hch]

Stock Hybrid wheels: 17lbs Stock tires: 18lbs

I just bought new Yokohama tires(4) that weight 19lbs ea and i lost 2-3mpg.
I'm going to buy Rota Slipstreams($500 or less) in the 15in that weight 11.9 to 13lbs to bring back the higher mpg i lost.

Originally Posted by 09hybrid

hello,~ i picked up my hybrid last week and damn.. the wheel is hella ugly that i want to get a rid of it asap..

anyhow my question is.. what's the weight on the stock wheel? also the weight with the tires.

i am thinking putting 17" or 18" enkei rpf1 which it weights 15lb and 17lb.. however the weight on the tire would be a little lighter cuz it's less fattin than 195/65... i think..