Like many drivers, do you wonder how much aluminium rims - so often used on cars - weigh? Are you curious about the difference between the weight of steel and light metal rims? Or are you interested in the correlation between rim weight and driving performance? In this article you will find the answers to all these questions.
How much an alloy rim weighs depends on its parameters.How much does an alloy rim weigh?
Alloy rims are a common choice for those wishing to improve the appearance of their car. They are a popular choice with drivers who prefer to drive faster, as well as those who prioritise economic operation and less strain on the suspension and braking system.
What determines the weight of an alloy wheel? Its weight is determined by several factors. The weight of a rim is mainly influenced by its:
- diameter
- width,
- the pattern of the rim, defining the external appearance of the rim,
- the material of which it is made.
Significantly, some alloy wheel manufacturers use technologies to further reduce weight while maintaining high durability. These include hot stamping or CNC machining. As such a process is usually more complicated - the price of lightweight alloy rims will also be higher.
Weight of the 16-inch alloy wheel
How much does a 16-inch alloy wheel weigh? The average weight of an alloy rim in the most popular size of 16 inches is usually between 6 and 9 kilograms. We will take the rims of the manufacturer Anzio, which come from the Polish factory in Stalowa Wola, as an example. The weight of the Spark model with dimensions 6.5x16 5x112 ET46 PS is approximately 8.66 kilograms.
What about other sizes?
A look at the weight of a 14-inch alloy rim, which is often used in small city cars, reveals a clear correlation between diameter and weight. The weight of such a rim fluctuates around 6.5 kg - quite a lot less than that of an example 16-inch model.
The same applies to larger sizes. The weight of an
18-inch alloy rim usually already exceeds 10 kg, while 19- or 20-inch models can reach up to 20 kg.
How much does a steel rim weigh?
A steel rim may or may not be heavier than its alloy counterpart. In some cases, it may even be lighter than an alloy wheel of identical dimensions. Why does this happen?
More material is used in the production of economy alloy rims. This is done to improve the strength of the rims - but increases their weight. During the production of more expensive alloy rims, on the other hand, the flowforming method (high-temperature rotary stretching) is used. This makes their structure more compact, while at the same time making them lighter and more durable.
But let's return to the matter of weight itself. How much does a 13-inch steel rim weigh? The average weight of one of the smallest passenger car rims is just under 6 kg. Larger, 17-inch models - used on SUVs, for example - stand out with an average weight of around 11 kg.
It is also interesting to know how much a 22.5" steel rim, which is mostly used for trucks, weighs. This is already a significant weight, ranging from 30 to even 50 kg.
Weight of a 16" steel rim
A rim in today's most common 16-inch size made of steel usually weighs approximately 8-9 kg. We will take the KFZ 7765 model from Alcar as an example. Such a rim in the dimensions 6.5x16 5x114.3 ET 48.5 weights 9.2 kg.
How does the weight of an alloy or steel rim affect driving performance?
The weight of the rim has a great influence on the car's handling properties. A lightweight alloy or steel rim can improve a car's handling. It contributes to reducing the unsprung weight of the car, optimising its response to acceleration and cornering, and reducing fuel consumption.
It also reduces the wheel's moment of inertia, reducing reaction time to changes in direction or speed. This translates into better performance when cornering, braking, and accelerating. By reducing the load on the suspension, lighter rims also increase driving comfort, favouring more efficient damping of vibrations and handling of bumps in the road.
It should be borne in mind, however, that small differences in rim weight do not have a particularly strong effect on driving performance. It is only when each rim is several kilograms heavier than other rims of the same size available for sale that it is worth considering purchasing a lighter set of rims.