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Clearly it is better to have lighter wheels; but, how much better? I have a Toyota MR2 Spyder with which I will compete in C stock next year. I’m considering various allowed modifications that I might undertake over the winter, lighter wheels among them. The stock wheels weigh 14.6 lb (front), 15.2 lb rear (the front and rear sizes are different). Possible after market wheels would bring these values down to 8 and 8.6 pounds. So what will this 6.5 lb. per wheel weight difference do to the car’s performance in autox? Can anyone help to quantify the possible improvement? The pecuniary cost is high, so I would want to feel that the potential performance pay back would justify the cost.
Thanks,
Joe

lighter wheels will help acceleration quite a bit. There is no definitive equation for it, but saving weight on a spinning piece is much more important than shaving weight on the overall car. It will also allow the suspension to work better, since it only has to move and dampen a 8 lb wheel instead of a 15 lb one. If the money is there, i would go ahead with it.

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Jesse
-2002-2006 E-stock 93 MR2 (sold)
-2007-2008 XP Spyder

Lighter wheels do help acceleration, if you keep the same diameter wheel. If you step up to a larger diameter wheel, with the rim mass now being located at a larger diameter, it may have the effect of a heavier flywheel.

Think of your wheels like flywheels that you have to rev up and slow down every time you speed up and slow down your car. Wheels can have a noticeable effect on low speed acceleration. - Speedturn

They improve braking and suspension response too (supposedly)