Grant 302
basic and well known psychic
The problem with this argument (for both sides) is there is so much theoretical positioning about this that it all amounts to nothing. No real examples even when talking about featherweight cars.
Nobody is really mentioning the added rim/wheel weight to support a larger tire. Incrementally, that might not seem like much when you add 1/2" or 1", but if you are talking about a small/light car that 'fits' a 6" or 7" wide rim and bump it to say 10", 11"+ in addition to the tire weight gain, there will be a *huge* penalty with regard to acceleration.
Nobody is mentioning track specific issues with small cars and *any* added wheel weight. Go uphill at say Laguna Seca in a small/low powered car and you *will* feel the difference when adding wheel/tire weight. Conversely, I know I felt the difference dropping 4 lbs./corner in a 400hp Mustang. I'm sure you would feel a gain of 2 lbs.+ per corner in a car with half the weight and HP. Going form say a 225 to 295 could easily add 6 to 8 lbs./corner in both rim and tire weight. Tell me that sort of difference doesn't create an issue with lap times at *some point*...
Nobody is really mentioning the added rim/wheel weight to support a larger tire. Incrementally, that might not seem like much when you add 1/2" or 1", but if you are talking about a small/light car that 'fits' a 6" or 7" wide rim and bump it to say 10", 11"+ in addition to the tire weight gain, there will be a *huge* penalty with regard to acceleration.
Nobody is mentioning track specific issues with small cars and *any* added wheel weight. Go uphill at say Laguna Seca in a small/low powered car and you *will* feel the difference when adding wheel/tire weight. Conversely, I know I felt the difference dropping 4 lbs./corner in a 400hp Mustang. I'm sure you would feel a gain of 2 lbs.+ per corner in a car with half the weight and HP. Going form say a 225 to 295 could easily add 6 to 8 lbs./corner in both rim and tire weight. Tell me that sort of difference doesn't create an issue with lap times at *some point*...