C63 AMG (W204) 2008 - 2015
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

real performance benefit of forged wheels?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 04-04-2016, 10:45 AM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Big_Chap's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Scotland
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
C63 AMG PPP
real performance benefit of forged wheels?

hello, as title really, does anyone have any proof or rough guide to the performance/speed benefits with upgrading to lighter forged alloys?

ie back to back 1/4 mile or any sort guide? must be a couple tenths to be gained?

thanks
Old 04-04-2016, 11:26 AM
  #2  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Kriston's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,259
Received 389 Likes on 189 Posts
C63 AMG
Its as simple as this. Less rotational mass = Less energy required to propel your car. Hence quicker acceleration and deceleration. a quality forged wheel can be several lbs lighter then your OE setup.
Old 04-04-2016, 11:29 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
need2speed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 389
Received 64 Likes on 43 Posts
2016 S212 E400 RENNTech 345 whp/360 wtq
Unsprung weight advantage of lighter wheels has virtually no effect on drag racing. The benefits are achieved in handling on road course situations. OTOH, "forged" is such a misused term, I wouldn't even assume they are lighter for a given size.
Old 04-05-2016, 11:32 AM
  #4  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Diabolis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 3,726
Received 795 Likes on 546 Posts
W204 C63 Coupe, W166 ML350 BlueTEC, 928GT, C5 Z06 & IS300 race cars, EQE 4Matic+ on order
Originally Posted by need2speed
Unsprung weight advantage of lighter wheels has virtually no effect on drag racing. The benefits are achieved in handling on road course situations. OTOH, "forged" is such a misused term, I wouldn't even assume they are lighter for a given size.
^ This. While there are huge advantages in terms of handling by reducing unsprung weight and in particular rotational inertia (think of a heavy spinning flywheel and how hard it is for it to change direction), the benefits are really only noticeable at a race track (circuit - not drag racing). The same goes for two-piece - or carbon ceramic - rotors.
Old 04-05-2016, 03:03 PM
  #5  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
zcct04's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Houston - Clear Lake
Posts: 1,307
Received 80 Likes on 66 Posts
C63 coupe, Z3M Roadster garage queen
On-topic for the impact of lighter wheels:

Earlier this year Car & Driver had a flawed but interesting blog post about their attempt at a performance test of the CF wheels on Ford's Mustang GT350R.

They tested acceleration times on the GT350R with it's CF wheels, and then tested the same car with the aluminum wheels off the standard 350. They found the CF wheel/tire combo from the 350R to be an incredible 58 pounds lighter. In top gear, they clocked improvements of 0.9 seconds in 30-50 acceleration and 0.8 seconds in 50-70 acceleration. In 4th gear, they clocked a 1.2 second improvement in 30-130 times. VERY impressive gains!

But not all of the gain was from lighter wheels . . .
https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...er-wheels.html
Old 04-05-2016, 08:34 PM
  #6  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Diabolis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 3,726
Received 795 Likes on 546 Posts
W204 C63 Coupe, W166 ML350 BlueTEC, 928GT, C5 Z06 & IS300 race cars, EQE 4Matic+ on order
Didn't read the link - but was that the one where they used wider PSC2s on a lighter car and narrower, street Michelin rubber on the heavier car and decided this was somehow a valid comparison? Sorry, but the fact that it's C&D speaks volumes... about as relevant as Top Gear tests but only 1/1000th of the fun.

The CF wheels on the new 350R are freakin' awesome. I remember examining one closely at the auto show (they had one that was cut so you could see the cross-section of one of the hollow spokes) and wondering why premium European manufacturers don't offer something comparable.
Old 04-05-2016, 10:06 PM
  #7  
Super Member
 
Phil Chow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 609
Received 23 Likes on 19 Posts
W204 C63
I find everytime I've gone lighter wheels, the car feels much nimbler and more responsive. Ergo, I will always get lighter wheels.
Old 04-05-2016, 11:28 PM
  #8  
SPONSOR
 
SupremePower's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: So Cal
Posts: 891
Received 24 Likes on 23 Posts
GT3RS, 356, Raptor, M2, Sprinter 4x4
Better rubber should help in shaving off the tenths you're looking for at the track. Forged wheels will make your car feel like its much lighter on it's feet though as a whole. Every set we have put on a car, dependent up on size and tire of course, dramatically improve the cars turn in and feel.

Forged isn't the only option for lighter. There are some great companies that utilize flow form technology to shave weight while still maintaining extreme strength.
Old 04-06-2016, 12:03 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
need2speed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 389
Received 64 Likes on 43 Posts
2016 S212 E400 RENNTech 345 whp/360 wtq
I can't find fault with the stock Edition 507 wheels, super light and real forged. Well perhaps if they were 1/2" wider to fit bigger tires ;-)
Old 04-06-2016, 01:01 AM
  #10  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
zcct04's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Houston - Clear Lake
Posts: 1,307
Received 80 Likes on 66 Posts
C63 coupe, Z3M Roadster garage queen
Originally Posted by Diabolis
Didn't read the link - but was that the one where they used wider PSC2s on a lighter car and narrower, street Michelin rubber on the heavier car and decided this was somehow a valid comparison? Sorry, but the fact that it's C&D speaks volumes... about as relevant as Top Gear tests but only 1/1000th of the fun.
Yes. . . and I agree.

Originally Posted by need2speed
I can't find fault with the stock Edition 507 wheels, super light and real forged. Well perhaps if they were 1/2" wider to fit bigger tires ;-)
I wasn't aware that these were forged, or that they were lighter than the stock C63 wheels. Are these both fact?

Last edited by zcct04; 04-06-2016 at 01:04 AM.
Old 04-07-2016, 11:05 AM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
need2speed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 389
Received 64 Likes on 43 Posts
2016 S212 E400 RENNTech 345 whp/360 wtq
Here is a snip from MBUSA. The weight difference is very appreciable when I change over to winter tires mounted on standard 18" AMG rims.
Attached Thumbnails real performance benefit of forged wheels?-edition-507-pkg-usa.jpg  
Old 04-07-2016, 03:10 PM
  #12  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
zcct04's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Houston - Clear Lake
Posts: 1,307
Received 80 Likes on 66 Posts
C63 coupe, Z3M Roadster garage queen
Thanks - I'd not noticed that! I'm now curious about how MUCH lighter they are.

Next time someone has their tires remounted, can you weigh the wheels and post the weight on the sticky called The C63 OEM & Aftermarket Parts Weight Thread ?

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: real performance benefit of forged wheels?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:30 AM.