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LIGHT Wheel/Tire Project

25K views 48 replies 12 participants last post by  twinturboz 
#1 · (Edited)
PLEASE SUBMIT ANY ADDITIONS, CORRECTIONS, &/OR QUESTIONS. Help make this an easier project for others:

- Heavier wheel/tire sets reduce acceleration & braking performance because they not only have to be accelerated/decelerated horizontally, but also rotationally.
- I weighed the stock wheels of the 500e I own at about 17.5 pounds (about 17 1/4Lb 5.5" wide fronts & 17 3/4Lb 6.5" rears) & the stock tire spec is 17Lb. Total weight 34.5Lb (138 for all 4).

- Stock 500e offsets: 28mm front, 35mm rear.

- 500 hubs have a 4x98 bolt pattern, for which light wheels are hard to find, especially for a reasonable price, but 4x100 wheels will bolt on* with floating-cone "wobble" bolts IF the wheel's bolt holes are at least 14mm. The bolts do NOT wobble. The cones just slide 1mm out to mate with the wheel's seats. They are approved by TireRack, PepBoys, Konig (verbally), Sean at GoodWin Racing, & my super-picky hard-core track-racer friend. The problem is that even though they bolt onto our cars, the wheel manufacturers don't have clearance specs, so I'm sharing my research results.

- Contrary to what I thought prior to this, tires with the same O.D. on larger diameter wheels are nearly always heavier, for example:

- 14" wheels will fit "standard" 500s (since they have 10" front brakes): Wheel/tire as low as 24.6Lb (98.4 for all 4, details in a Jan 21 reply)

- 15" wheels sometimes fit the 500e & Turbo (& Abarth, if you file down the swaybar clamp), since they all have 11" front brakes. According to Sean at GoodWin Racing, some 15s have too small an I.D: Lightest wheel/tire found so far that definitely fits (with work) is 26.9Lb (107.6 for 4, details in a Jan 21 reply).

- 16" is required to clear the STOCK Abarth rear swaybar, but to use lighter 15s you can file its clamp as pictured, or remove it & use an aftermarket base 500 bar.

*The following will bolt on even though they're all listed as 4x100, & all prices listed at time of writing from GoodWin Racing, with whom I have absolutely no affiliation besides buying a set of wheels from them:

- 8.6Lb $169 Enkei RPF1 28mm offset 14x7 will bolt on, & clear 10" brake 500s but not 11"s.

- 9.8Lb $184 Enkei RPF1 35mm offset 15x7 will bolt on, & clear 10" brake 500s, but Sean at GoodWin says probably not 11s.

- 10.9Lb $124 Advanti Storm 35mm offset 15x7 clears 500's 11" brakes' calipers (& everything else except a stock Abarth swaybar mount), but will only bolt on if you enlarge the bolt holes by 18 thousandths of an inch radius, which there is plenty of room for.

- 11.4Lb $88 Konig Helium 40mm offset 15 x 6.5 will bolt on (according to fellow forum member 500Emazing), & would clear any 10" brake 500. 500eMazing has a set to check 11" brake caliper clearance. Same width as stock rears should allow lighter tires than 7" width wheels.

- 11.8Lb $127 Konig Hypergram 35mm offset 15x7.5 will bolt on as pictured, & clears 500's 11" brakes' calipers (& everything else except a stock Abarth swaybar mount). The extra width will generally require heavier tires.

- 13.6Lb $79 Konig Current 25mm offset 15x7 will bolt on as pictured, & clears 500's 11" brakes' calipers (& everything else except a stock Abarth swaybar mount).

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#3 ·
EuroCompulsion has:

- Floating-cone "wobble" bolts for Fiats.

- 13.7Lb $240 Enkei RPF1 35mm offset 16x7 (but tires for them are generally heavier too).

- Centering rings (a.k.a. "spigot rings" or "hub centric rings") available with their wheels, but when I asked to buy them separately they gave me an eBay link where they're cheaper!!!
 
#5 · (Edited)
FOURTEEN INCH TIRES (LIGHTEST, FOR "STANDARD" 500s ONLY):

I checked all 48 tires at TireRack that are available in any of the 13 appropriate sizes (21 to 23.7" O.D. under 225 width*) listed for 14" wheels at tiresize.com
Coincidentally, seven of them are approved for RPF1's 7" width.
2 are 19Lb, 1 is 18Lb, & 1 is 17Lb, but these are the lightest 3:

-16Lb $53 Kumho Solus TA31 185/65-14
-16Lb $60 General AltiMax RT43 195/60-14
-16Lb $57 Kumho Sense 195/60-14

Any of those on an RPF1 would be 24.6Lb (98.4 for all 4), but I also found this lighter TIRE combo, which might have lower ROTATIONAL mass, even though the wheel is heavier:

-13.2Lb $105 Sparco Assetto Gara 42mm offset 14x6 will bolt on & clear "standard" 500s (but not the 500e, Abarth, or Turbo) & fit in the two available 13Lb tire sizes, for a total of 26.2Lb:

-13Lb $80 Bridgestone Potenza RE92 165/65-14
-13Lb $105 Dunlop EnaSave 01 A/S 165/65-14

*Even IF the 225 cleared a 500's suspension, inner/outer fenders, etc, the only one available is more than 25% heavier, at 21Lb.
 
#6 · (Edited)
I was looking at the 175/60/15 Yokohama Avid Envigor @ 15.4lbs. Slightly taller than OEM at 23.4" diameter. Which would help on the "e" since that aero panel on the front bumper is pretty low. Already scraping my driveway stock unless I'm extremely careful taking the angle right and rolling at 1 mph.

I wish someone made a lightweight 15x6 that is reasonably priced. Should be able to get a flow-formed Konig down to just under 10lbs if their 15x7's are 10.9.

Regarding the brakes on the "e," I know with the Leaf, they had to over-engineer the brakes to work independent of the regen (should it ever fail or when the battery pack has a full charge.)

But yeah, a brake downgrade may be the hot ticket for reducing unsprung mass! Lol. But, remember again that the wheel/tire weight is much more important since its mass is furthest from the axle. So, I wouldn't sweat it too much.

I'm a nut about weight savings. I actually took one of the 2 calipers off my sportbike (Kawasaki 636) and ran a full Ti exhaust and Li-Ion battery. Had the bike weighing less than a 250 ninja. It still stopped fine from any speed less than 3 digits. It certainly wouldn't qualify for track duty or aggressive canyon runs down the mountain, but uphill canyon runs and street duty, it was fine. And between the caliper and rotor & assoc hardware, I lost 6.5lbs off the front. I used a 2lb lighter front tire and removed the radiator fan and horn and had over 10lbs off the front of the bike. Doesn't sound like much, but it meant that I could clutch up the bike in 3rd instead of 2nd gear in a seated position with stock gearing. Made freeway wheelies much easier.
 
#9 · (Edited)
LMAO! Ya, I love taking stuff off to save weight &/or drag. My 500e now has no back seat, rear wiper, front license mount, pedestrian warning speaker, "heavy" plastic motor cover, & miscellaneous other parts that do nothing for me.

I told a friend I was going to remove the rubber air-dam extension & he said "Why bother? If you don't want it on, just ignore it, let it scrape, & if you're lucky it will fall/wear off by itself!" I've been doing that, but so far it's still there.

All I meant about the brake downsize was that its weight savings would be an additional benefit to the wheel/tire savings, but now it looks like 14s only save 1.8Lb over 15s, if you determine that Heliums clear 11" brakes, so probably not worth all the work of a brake downsize. I've charged to "100%" at the top of a steep hill, & I'm pretty sure the regen still worked, so I wonder if "100%" isn't really full. I heard that some eCars do that for braking, & others to make the battery last forever (gen-1 Volt software keeps it between 30% & 80%). My best friend charges her 500e to 100% & lives on a hill. I'll see if she can confirm.

15x7 RPF1 is already only 9.8Lb. Even a 15x6 at that weight would allow some 15Lb tire choices, for a total weight of 24.8Lb (99.2 for 4) which is about 2Lb less than the lightest 15 I've found that I know can be made to fit.
 
#7 · (Edited)
FIFTEEN INCH TIRES:

I checked all 114 tires at TireRack that are available in any of the 18 appropriate sizes (21 to 23.9" O.D. under 225 width) listed for 15" wheels at tiresize.com

The lightest that will fit on the stock 500e rims or 6.5" Heliums are:

-15Lb $84 Goodyear Integrity 185/55-15
-15Lb $55 Kumho Sense 185/60-15
-15Lb $62 Hankook Optimo H724 185/60-15

Any of those on a Helium is 26.4Lb (105.6 for all 4). Maybe Emazing can measure from the wheel face to the hub face, to calculate curb clearance.

The lightest that will fit on 7" wide rims are:

-16Lb $52 Hankook Ventus V Concept 2 195/50-15 (note width spec 7.8" measured on 6" rims)
-16Lb $78 General Altimax RT43 185/55-15 (width spec 7.9" on 6" rims)
-16Lb $71 Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter 195/55-15
-16Lb $54 Toyo Proxes T1R 195/45-15
-16Lb $98 Conti Control Contact Touring A/S 185/60-15

-16Lb $85 Goodyear Eagle LS 185/60-15 MADE IN USA BUT LOOKS DISCONTINUED in favor of 18Lb Japanese model.

Any of those on a drilled-out Storm is 26.9Lb (107.6 for all 4).

Note that even extrapolating for the wider rims, these tires will be very nearly flush* with the outer surface of a Storm (I measured one), & the lightest that will protect the rims from curbs is:

-18Lb $59 Hankook Ventus V2 Concept 2 205/50-15, for a total weight of 28.9Lb (115.6 for all 4)

*From 0.09" tire extending past rim, to 0.11" RIM extending past TIRE.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Are you saying you're worried about curbing the rims with the narrow tires? THe 175/55/15 COnti EcoContact tires I have on the Heliums have a nice rim protection strip around the bead area. Not fullfroof like the OEM "e" front wheel/tire setup, but enough to save the rim if you make a mistake while parking slowly.

Conti lists the tires at 13.6 or something, but I think they're actually 1lb heavier as the wheel/tires setup was 26lbs even on the scale, but that is including the centercap and 1 oz of wheel weights.

BTW, edited my prev post with more info.

There's also this tire. 14lbs supposedly according to TireRack:

23.4" diameter. A bit too "all-season" for me here in San Diego.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...5TR5PCTX&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes
 
#10 · (Edited)
"Curbing": Yes, an issue for me since I often loan my car out, & I live on a pretty crazy hill where others have difficulty too, often making it hard to avoid curbing when I squeeze into the small spaces they leave between cars. My stock wheels are both scraped. In fact it's one reason I got silver Storms, to show scratches less. I also opted for the 2-Lb-heavier 205s I mentioned on my Storms. They stick out about 0.2" (stocks are about 0.3 front & 0.1 back). Once my new rims get scraped, I may as well go for 195s.

Specs: Ya, my "18Lb" 205s are really 19.25Lb. Not happy about that, but then again the "lighter" "19Lb" tires might really be 20.25!

"14Lb" tire: 6" max rim width on that one.
 
#11 ·
THese are some of my picks. Each is unique in their benefits/drawbacks. As u know, you can't get low roll resistance, light weight and max grip all in one tire. =(

175/60/15 Yoko Avid Envigor 15.4lbs according to manufacturer website
185/60/15 Conti Control Contact Tour A/S 15.7lbs ebay (Discount Tire)
185/60/15 Kuhmo Sense 15.7lbs manufacturer website
185/55/15 Ecopia 422 Plus 16 lbs Tire rack/bridgestone website
195 55 15 Hankook Ventus V2 Concept 16.6 lbs Ebay (discount tire)/Amazon
205/50/15 Kuhmo Ecsta PS31 18.8 lbs Kuhmo site

I had the Hankook Ventus V2 COncept and I was disappointed in the level of grip. Of course it is an all season tire tho At 16.6lbs, I guess I still have it under consideration.

I weighed the Heliums with the 175/55/15's on them today (maybe 2k miles) and they were 25lbs 7oz. =) THey are bronze in color and my car is silver. DOn't quite look right sitting in front of the OEM wheel mounted on the car, but hard to tell until they're mounted on the car. I pulled off the rear wheel and weighed it, and it was exactly 36lbs. I read somewhere else here that someone pulled off a front with 7k miles and it was 34.5lbs.

Electric tire shredder seems to be favoring the wider setup to protect the rims from curb damage, while I'm leaning towards minimum weight at the expense of possibly curbing a wheel. I still can't figure out if I want to sacrifice grip for range and vice versa. I also got to remember this is my wife's car and she commutes in it 5 days a week. I feel like part of the fun would be ripping off the line, but no hope of that happening with skinny and/or all season tires. The OEM Firestones are actually decently light at 17.xx lbs. If I throw a 20lb sticky 205/50/15 on there, and benefit I got from a light wheel would be lost. Remember that the tire weight is more important than the wheel weight. Better to get a light tire and heavy wheel than the other way around. Of course best is to do both as we know. This is why I'm really leaning toward running that 175/55/15 ContiEcoContact @ 14lbs that I already have (and because it is convenient!)

Ok, I get way too worked up about this stuff. But really looking forward to getting them on in a few days and reporting back.

 
#12 ·
Believe me, I want light weight too, & after my rims get scraped, for my next set of tires I'll probably downsize the width & save 2 more pounds per wheel.

I wish Emazing had taken off a FRONT wheel to check Helium's 11" brake clearance, because they are the ideal 6.5" width (since it allows lighter tires than 7") & hopefully the spokes don't protrude enough to require wider tires to prevent curbing. On that note, with a Helium off the car, it's pretty easy to stick a straight edge across it & use a tape to measure from there to the hub surface, & if the straight edge is only touching rubber, subtract the distance from it to the outermost part of the rim. That way I can calculate curb-resistant tire width.

I should be reporting soon on the grip of my new Ventus vs stock Firehawk GT which don't spin when you floor it from a stop ONLY if you're going straight, on smooth, flat, dry, black pavement. Going straight, 25mph, up a slight incline on smooth flat dry black pavement I floored it suddenly to make a yellow light & spun a stock tire!

As for the above tire list. First: Thank you Emazing for mentioning a size (or 2) I missed before. I have now checked ALL the 15" sizes (like I had for 14s) & updated the list on my earlier post.

-175/60-15 Yoko has a maximum 6" rim width, which won't quite fit the rear of a stock 500e.

-185/60-15 Conti seems great, & I have now added it to my Jan 21st list (page 1 of this thread) for 16Lb tires for 7" rims (if 6.5" Heliums fit, there are also a few 15Lb choices).

-185/60-15 Sense seems great for 6.5" max rim, so I added it to my list too, for stock 500e rims or IF Heliums fit.

-185/55-15 16Lb Ecopia has 6.5 max rim, & is among at least 12 such options at that weight, but there are three 15Lb options.

-195/55-15 Ventus seems great to me too, for 7" rims (was on my Jan 21st).

-205/50-15 Ecsta is among at least 4 at 19Lb for 7" rims, but the same size Ventus spec is 18Lb (although I weighed mine myself at 19.25Lb, however if they all lie the same, that's still lighter).
 
#13 · (Edited)
"Standard" 500 (everything except 500E, Turbo, or Abarth):

-26.2Lb FOURTEEN INCH wheel/tire:
-13.2Lb $105 Sparco Assetto Gara 42mm offset 14x6 in one of the following:
-13Lb $80 Bridgestone Potenza RE92 165/65-14
-13Lb $105 Dunlop EnaSave 01 A/S 165/65-14

-25.8Lb 15" wheel/tire:
-9.8Lb $184 Enkei RPF1 35mm offset 15x7 in one of the following:
-16Lb $52 Hankook Ventus V Concept 2 195/50-15 (note width spec 7.8" measured on 6" rims)
-16Lb $78 General Altimax RT43 185/55-15 (width spec 7.9" on 6" rims)
-16Lb $71 Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter 195/55-15
-16Lb $54 Toyo Proxes T1R 195/45-15
-16Lb $98 Conti Control Contact Touring A/S 185/60-15

-16Lb $85 Goodyear Eagle LS 185/60-15 MADE IN USA BUT LOOKS DISCONTINUED in favor of 18Lb Japanese model.

-24.6Lb FOURTEEN INCH wheel/tire:
-8.6Lb $169 Enkei RPF1 28mm offset 14x7 in one of the following:
-16Lb $53 Kumho Solus TA31 185/65-14
-16Lb $60 General AltiMax RT43 195/60-14
-16Lb $57 Kumho Sense 195/60-14

FOR OTHERS' BENEFIT, IF YOU CAN FIND ANYTHING LIGHTER, PLEASE POST A REPLY WITH DETAILS.
 
#14 · (Edited)
500e, Turbo, & "standard" (fits Abarth IF you file or remove rear swaybar mounts):

~34.3Lb* for stock 500e

~32.3Lb*wheel/tire FOR 500E:
~17.3Lb* $0.00 STOCK 500e 15 x 6.5/6.5 (Fr/Rr) in one of the following:
-15Lb $84 Goodyear Integrity 185/55-15
-15Lb $55 Kumho Sense 185/60-15
-15Lb $62 Hankook Optimo H724 185/60-15
*Avg. of front & rear

-29.8Lb wheel/tire:

-11.8Lb $127 Konig Hypergram 35mm offset 15x7.5
-18Lb $92 Yokohama S.Drive 195/45-15
(There are at least five 205s that also fit, at 21Lb)

~28.8Lb wheel/tire FOR 500E:

-11.8Lb $127 Konig Hypergram 35mm offset 15x7.5
-17Lb $0.00 STOCK 500e Firestone Firehawk GT 185/55-15 (H-Speed: V-Speed has 18Lb spec.)

-28.8Lb wheel/tire:
-11.8Lb $127 Konig Hypergram 35mm offset 15x7.5
-17Lb $91 Bridgestone Ecopia EP150 185/55-15

-27.8Lb wheel/tire:

-11.8Lb $127 Konig Hypergram 35mm offset 15x7.5
-16Lb $54 Toyo Proxes T1R 195/45-15

IF you drill just 18 thousandths of an inch* more radius in the bolt holes of the Advanti Storm:
-26.9Lb wheel/tire:
-10.9Lb $124 Advanti Storm 35mm offset 15x7 in one of the following:
-16Lb $52 Hankook Ventus V Concept 2 195/50-15 (note width spec 7.8" measured on 6" rims)
-16Lb $78 General Altimax RT43 185/55-15 (width spec 7.9" on 6" rims)
-16Lb $71 Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter 195/55-15
-16Lb $54 Toyo Proxes T1R 195/45-15
-16Lb $98 Conti Control Contact Touring A/S 185/60-15
-16Lb $85 Goodyear Eagle LS 185/60-15 MADE IN USA BUT LOOKS DISCONTINUED in favor of 18Lb Japanese model.

FOR OTHERS' BENEFIT, IF YOU CAN FIND ANYTHING LIGHTER, PLEASE POST A REPLY WITH DETAILS.


Note: Calculations based on rim width show these tires as very nearly flush** with the outer surface of a Storm (I measured one), & the lightest that will protrude from the rims is:

-28.9Lb wheel/tire:

-10.9Lb $124 Advanti Storm 35mm offset 15x7
-18Lb $59 Hankook Ventus V2 Concept 2 205/50-15 (protrudes 0.2" from outermost rim surface)

*I used a $15 9/16 bit from Home Depot
**From 0.09" tire extending past rim, to 0.11" RIM extending past TIRE.
 
#15 · (Edited)
ALL 500s, INCLUDING 500e, Turbo, & Abarth:


~30.7Lb SIXTEEN INCH wheel/tire:
~13.7Lb: $220 Enkei RPF1 35mm offset 15x7, or $279 O.Z. Alleggerita HLT 37mm offset 15x7 on any of the following:
-17Lb $75 General G-Max AS-03 195/50-16
-17Lb $87 Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter 195/50-16
-17Lb $100 Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 195/50-16
-17Lb $109 Continental ContiProContact 195/45-16

~29.7Lb SIXTEEN INCH wheel/tire:

~13.7Lb: $220 Enkei RPF1 35mm offset 15x7, or $279 O.Z. Alleggerita HLT 37mm offset 15x7
-16Lb $83 General Altimax RT43 195/50-16

FOR OTHERS' BENEFIT, IF YOU CAN FIND ANYTHING LIGHTER, PLEASE POST A REPLY WITH DETAILS.

Note:
-13+Lb $198 Advanti Storm 35mm offset 16x7.5 still requires drilling, I could only find ONE 17Lb tire option that fits it's width ($109 Continental ContiProContact 195/45-16), & all the rest put it over 31Lb
 
#17 · (Edited)
^^^I like those wheels! Don't really want to do any drilling tho!

Ok, got the wobble bolts in today and checked it with a Konig Helium in the garage. Can confirm there is no need to drill and everything is fine as far as the bolt side of things goes.

Wife has the car at work, and the hubcentric rings come in tomorrow which will allow me to actually bolt up the whole set on the car (and check front brake clearance).

I'm intending to do some 0-60 or at least some sort of timed runs just to see if I can confirm some actual benefit in acceleration. We'll see if I can actually get around to it! Prob is, I don't have any scientific equip, just a cheap Chinese cell phone that counts by the second that I'm going to have to hold by hand. But, if the difference is enough, it WILL be noticeable. I'm thinking it will be...possibly as much as a full second to 60, but at least a 1/2 second with as much weight/rotating mass as I'm losing. I will correct to acct for speedo error due to the difference in stock vs. my 175/55/15 tires. Difference is aobut 1mph at 60mph, so the run with the Heliums and the 175/55/15's will be done to 61mph.

I think I'd actually prefer the red Konig Helix wheels. And if I do that, I will get some different tires on them that will work with my Prius C as well. In which case I'd be doing 185/60/15's which are larger in diameter. But we'll see. Unfortunately, my Heliums are Bronze color which is going to look too funky for the Fiat 500e I have in silver color.

OK, stay tuned.
 
#20 · (Edited)
^^^I like those wheels! Don't really want to do any drilling tho!

... I think I'd actually prefer the red Konig Helix wheels...

I think the 15x7 +35 is prob very close to stock offset...
First off, THANK YOU again. Glad you like those Advanti Storms. Mine are the "chrome-like" color though. I didn't want to do any drilling either!! However Sean at Goodwin said the Storm 15xEIGHT bolted on with "wobbles", so I had assumed the 15xSEVEN would too, but it didn't!!! The VERY slight drilling required makes no noticeable difference though, as shown in the attached pics.

CAUTION: Helix might not clear 11" brakes (same rim OD & manufacturer does NOT guarantee same ID), AND, I like the red Helix too, so I asked about it when I called Konig, & they said "Helix & Helium have 12mm bolt holes, so 'wobble' bolts won't work". Obviously they were wrong about the Helium, but that doesn't guarantee they're also wrong about the Helix!

The Konig Helium only comes in one size: 15x6.5 +40.
Stock rears (which also fit the front) are 15x6.5 +35, so on a Helium a stock tire's outer edge will be 0.5cm further inboard. Tires pictured above on Heliums are 1 size narrower, so that puts the outer edge even further inboard.
Stock fronts are 15x5.5 +28, so on a Helium any given tire's outer edge will be .03" further OUT than on a stock rim.

Wheel Alloy wheel Auto part Rim Automotive wheel system
Wheel Auto part Alloy wheel Rim Automotive wheel system
 
#18 · (Edited)
Ok, so I got the Konig Heliums mounted with the wobble bolts & hubcentric rings.

I did a pre and post 0-50mph run to test for differences between the two setups (OEM vs 10lb lighter setup).

First, don't expect a huge increase in acceleration. Not really sure if it is noticeable, but I did time my runs, but unfortunately, don't have a stopwatch to accompany the video, so it is a rough estimate, but looks like I've dropped .5 seconds off my 0-50 time. After the fact, I watched the videos with the sound off and used the stop watch feature on my phone keying off the moment the tach moved from zero and clicking "stop" the moment the car's speedo read 50 or 51. 1st vid, time to 50, 2nd vid, time to 51 to account for speedometer error with the slightly smaller tires. I got 6.0 stock and 5.5 with the Konig Heliums. =) If you want to get analytical and check for yourself, click below.

OEM setup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu8huW6Z9L0

Konig Helium: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY_sy7A9k_I

And a few pics. Clears the caliper no problem. Wheels tucked under the car a little more than I'd like, but not bad. I think the 15x7 +35 is prob very close to stock offset.

 
#21 ·
Ok, so I got the Konig Heliums mounted with the wobble bolts & hubcentric rings.

I did a pre and post 0-50mph run to test for differences between the two setups (OEM vs 10lb lighter setup)... I got 6.0 stock and 5.5 with the Konig Heliums. =)
That is Emazing!!! (pun intended) That's 8.33% better acceleration by losing only 1.34% of vehicle weight, & you can do it for just over $700 in parts!!!

It should also improve range, at least in the city, so maybe you can check & reset one of you trip guages, & after a while you can give us a "before & after" number for that too. If you set the units to MPGe instead of mi/kWh, you get more precise numbers. Did you max out the tire pressures for the above-spec load, & low rolling resistance?
 
#19 · (Edited)
THANK YOU EMAZING!!!!

NEW LIST for 500e, Turbo, & "standard" (fits Abarth IF you file or remove rear swaybar mounts):


FOR OTHERS' BENEFIT, IF YOU CAN FIND ANYTHING LIGHTER, PLEASE POST A REPLY WITH DETAILS.

~34.3Lb* for stock 500e

~32.3Lb*wheel/tire FOR 500E:
~17.3Lb* $0.00 STOCK 500e 15 x 6.5/6.5 (Fr/Rr) in one of the following:
-15Lb $55 Kumho Sense 185/60-15
-15Lb $62 Hankook Optimo H724 185/60-15
-15Lb $84 Goodyear Integrity 185/55-15
*Avg. of front & rear

~28.4Lb wheel/tire FOR 500E:

-11.4 $88 Konig Helium 40mm offset 15x6.5
-17Lb $0.00 STOCK 500e Firestone Firehawk GT 185/55-15 (H-Speed: V-Speed has 18Lb spec.)

-26.4Lb wheel/tire:
-11.4 $88 Konig Helium 40mm offset 15x6.5 in any of the following
-15Lb $55 Kumho Sense 185/60-15
-15Lb $62 Hankook Optimo H724 185/60-15
-15Lb $84 Goodyear Integrity 185/55-15
 
#22 · (Edited)
I already took them off. The tires are just too small visually. Plus my driveway is steep and really don't want to go any lower. I'm leaning towards the Storm if anything, and I'll drill them out...no biggie. And I'd prob get the 185/60/15 Kuhmo Sense. They're cheap, light. And it would have the added benefit with the speedo error of giving me an additional free 1k miles or so on my lease with the speedo error!

But, before I buy any more wheels, I'll need to sell a set. Got too many sitting around in the garage!

 
#23 ·
I already took them off. The tires are just too small visually.

I think it would've looked great it you dumped your car...the stock fenderwell gap is offensive on these cars LOL
Same size as the minilite replicas that I still wish I would've gotten...

(pic is from 500madness)
 
#29 ·
So my plan is to order the hankook tires and the heliums, I dig but didn't find the thread explaining how to properly lower our Emazing cars to a respectable wheel gap, this is 1990 gap man!

madness 500e lowering springs (pick low or lower)
koni shocks
Energy shorter rear bumpstops
 
#36 ·
So According to this thread, if i want to get the Avanti Storm S1 in 15 inch, i need to drill out the lug holes by 0.0018, shave down a few mm on the rear torsion bar mount, and make sure the counter weights are closer to the outside edge of the wheel.

Anyone have information on the Avanti Storm S1 in 16 inch? do those have to be drilled out as well?
 
#39 ·
I too am interested to know if any has tried the 15x7 35mm offset Konig Dial In.

Goodwin Racing's page for the Konig Heliums say that the Heliums will not clear their big brakes kit.

Goodwin Racing's page for the Konig Dial Ins say that the Dial Ins will clear their big brakes kit.

This implies that the Dial Ins have bigger inner diameter/dimension than the Heliums. But has anyone confirmed?
 
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