Lighter wheels = any E.T reduction?

[ss3011]

Originally Posted by nhramnl

I tend to agree with Jim. Remember that most of the super-trick, gun-drilled, unobtanium stuff was designed for Pro Stock (and maybe Comp), where getting the entire car to a crazy light weight was the challenge. I honestly think that today, it's mostly for the coolness factor.

Interesting idea , but I don't agree with Jim . I believe the lightweight stuff does work for all weights of cars , but the faster the acceleration rate, the more important lower inertia parts are . Higher horsepower cars accelerate quicker , so for them its more important . Also the farther that lightweight part is from the engine the less effect it has on hp it takes to spin it up . Another point is a tire is only spun up from zero to maybe 1600 rpm in say 9 secs , a driveshaft from zero to 8000 rpm , and an engine spins up several times , depending on how many gears you have in the trans . So if I were to prioritize what things to concentrate on reducing mass just for pure acceleration it would be the engine , then the tires , followed by the wheels , and finally the driveshaft . There are other reasons for lightening up stuff like overall weight , ease of doing , or expense . If we all had unlimited funds , we would do all the above .