[Drivingforfun]

I'm aware that switching to lighter wheels has a positive impact on a vehicle's dynamics, handling, comfort and such which is disproportionately higher than simply from the weight saving alone (i.e. saving 15 kilos across 4 wheels has much more of an effect than taking out 15kg of weight from elsewhere in the vehicle)

Is this the same with fuel economy, or would the benefit to fuel economy purely be (insignificantly) improved as a result of the overall vehicle weight being lower

Thanks!

[Santa]

A quick sample of websites suggests a 2% to 5% fuel saving. A lot depends on the relative weights of cars and the sizes of wheels.

https://www.physicsforums.com/thread...0the%20vehicle.

[Rolebama]

I was always taught that one of the best ways to increase drive quality and road-holding was to reduce unsprung weight, which was why the majority of British motorcycles had the business end of suspension units at the top. I certainly noticed the difference when I took the run-flats off my current car, and now carry a space-saver. (I don't know what weight-saving I have made overall, if any, but those run-flats were heavy. The run-flat components and thicker sidewall tyres must be a weight alone.)

[Drivingforfun]

Lighter tyres is not something I'd ever actually considered, probably stupidly

I have experience of swapping runflats for regular tyres and the benefits this brings but never really considered that the tyres weighed more, I just put it down to the stiffness