Ian Barkley Posted November 1, 2000 Share Posted November 1, 2000 I've just aquired a set of [used] 13" 'minilites' with part used Yokohama 210's. Although the weather has not been ideal sad.gif floods, trees blown across the road etc, the turn-in seems sharper and they feel much more responsive than the Michelin Pilots [36,000miles] on 15" Prisoners, as expected, [recomended]. My query is, the 13" wheels [and tyres] are 30lb each! which is surprisingly blush.gif slightly more heavy than the 15" wheels [and tyres]!!! I thought that there would be a substantial advantage in reducing the unsprung weight, if you had smaller wheels and tyres?? in addition to using the 'stickier' rubber! I was also told on replacing a front wheel bearing a while ago that the larger wheels were straining the bearing more than smaller [lighter?] wheels. Any comments?? I would be most interested in your views/experience. Thanks Ian B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Posted November 1, 2000 Share Posted November 1, 2000 I gather that there are Minilites... ...and there are Minilites. I haven't weighed mine but a friend weighed his and I thought he said they weighed 5 kg each; I don't know what tyres weigh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark.hall Posted November 1, 2000 Share Posted November 1, 2000 I think that wheel bearing life expectancy is related to rim/tyre width rather that diameter. Wider would mean greater leverage or higher loading for the same given weight or force exerted........................or something. Where's Peter C when you need himquestion.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Gillet Posted November 2, 2000 Share Posted November 2, 2000 I weighted my 185 60 14 Minilite-style wheels shod with Pilots: 14.5 kg. Seems to me a high figure. The brand of my wheels, supplied by Caterham with the car, is "Two Gates" . I wonder if these are the lighter minilite-style wheels... Pierre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted November 2, 2000 Share Posted November 2, 2000 Ian, Panasport 'minilites'(American) claims a weight of 10 pounds for a 13"x7" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Wong1697456877 Posted November 3, 2000 Share Posted November 3, 2000 Go for a set of ACB10's These are crossplys and weigh alot less than the Yokos. Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Gillet Posted November 4, 2000 Share Posted November 4, 2000 The 16 x 7 inch Caterham wheels weight 7 kg according to Jez Coates (Interview in LF March 1988). It is pretty low for this size of wheels. Pierre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old captain slow Posted November 4, 2000 Share Posted November 4, 2000 Try weighing the 16 x 7 wheel with a tyre! Mine weigh 15kg compared to my "Minilites" that weigh 11kg with tyre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius Posted November 6, 2000 Share Posted November 6, 2000 Image-wheels did some 13"-wheels for me and the weight-saving in contrast to the 15" Revos before was significant. Before I used to bend my back when carrying one 15" wheel, now I carry a 13" left and a 13" right. They´re split-rims, expensive but worth every pence. Pictures at www.mospeed.de. Cheers ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Gillet Posted November 6, 2000 Share Posted November 6, 2000 We need to collect any information available on weights of tyres by sizes and make, and weights of wheels by sizes and make, if we want to be able to make comparisons. Seems to me to be worth doing so as, eventually, it will be multiplied at minimum by 4! And the unsprung weight may also be a factor of good handling. Can someone elaborate? Chers, Pierre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c7kjt Posted November 6, 2000 Share Posted November 6, 2000 FWIW: KN Minator (aka Caterham Minilite) 6x13 = 4.5Kg Yokohama A021R 185/70x13 = 7.5Kg That gives 12Kg per corner for me (compared with 13.5Kg per corner for my old wheels/tyres, same dimensions). A total saving of 6Kg of unsprung weight (if only I knew whether this was any good or not!!!!!!). Kevin Thomas kevin.thomas@bigfoot.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Gillet Posted November 8, 2000 Share Posted November 8, 2000 Any idea of the weight of Yokos A 021 R in 14 inches? Pierre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Morris Posted November 9, 2000 Share Posted November 9, 2000 Much like 30+ other members I have just fitted 13" wheels and tyres. These Minitor wheels are shod with 185/70 21R's and replace the standard 15" prisoner and pilots (part worn). Whilst swopping them over I noticed a considerable weight difference which worked out to be 5lb per wheel (going imperial to be difficult) with the new items being ligher. This adds up to a 20lb (9.1kg) saving on unsprung weight and an additional 5lb (2.3kg) saving on vehicle weight due to the spare wheel. Obviously had I fitted ACB's or 60 section Yoko's then the saving would have bee greater. Perhaps this will explain why the R500 is faster than my Vauxhall? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen Posted November 9, 2000 Share Posted November 9, 2000 I once read an amusing letter and reply in a cycling magazine about putting helium in the tyres (this idea was only being aired as a provocation to the weight obsessive lobby) - although the saving was not small, the magazine pointed out that it would be extremely difficult to maintain tyre pressure, due to Helium leeching away much more rapidly than air! The annoying thing about savng weight is that one has to be really extreme on lots of minor details to gain a decent accumulated benefit. Having said that, with a bicycle it is definately worth it and a light bike (esp one with light wheels) is much more of a joy to ride than the regular equivalent. By far the biggest gain though is in the KNOWING that you've got the light bike! No doubt the same applies with our larger toys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted November 9, 2000 Share Posted November 9, 2000 Yes and the R500 wheels only weigh about 3 KG each as well ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Morris Posted November 10, 2000 Share Posted November 10, 2000 F1 Tyres are filled with Hydrogen! Fact Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Gillet Posted November 10, 2000 Share Posted November 10, 2000 Is it right? Can make a deadly mixture with oxygen! Pierre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Bees Posted November 13, 2000 Share Posted November 13, 2000 Hydrogen???? Are you sure you don't mean Nitrogen? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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