Did you know that car rims can weigh a ton? It’s true! And if you’re ever thinking about changing your car tires, you’ll want to be sure to factor in the weight of the new rims.
Rims come in different weights and sizes, so choosing the right ones for your vehicle is essential. Here are some quick types of rims and their sizes.
- A standard steel rim has a mass (weight) of approximately 22 pounds (10 kilograms).
- The alloy rims weigh around 19 pounds (9 kilograms).
- Aluminum rims are lighter than steel or alloy but are often more expensive. Aluminum rims can weigh as little as 9.9 pounds (4.5 kilograms) for comparable sizes to steel and alloy wheels.
- Heavy-duty truck rims have a much greater load capacity but can also be very heavy, weighing from 44 pounds (20 kilograms) to over 66 pounds (30 kilograms), depending on the type and size of the vehicle.
- In rare cases, specific large rims for semi-trucks may weigh up to 100 pounds (45 kilograms).
In this blog post, we’ll explore the weight of car rims and provide some interesting facts and figures on the subject. So, if you’re curious to know just how much those shiny new rims on your car weigh, keep reading!
Are Heavy Rims Bad for Your Car?
Many people wonder if heavy rims are bad for cars when they see the huge, aftermarket rims adorn some of today’s hot rods and customs. Now, it depends on how you drive and where you drive.
If you’re the kind of person who likes to floor it every chance you get, the answer is an emphatic yes. If you’re not particularly into speeding or don’t drive most of America’s rough highways, this shouldn’t be a concern.
However, the problem with thick, heavy rims is that they can affect your car’s suspension – mainly your tires and brakes.
How Rims Affect Your Car’s Suspension?
Effect 1: They will lower the tire’s profile and, therefore, reduce its contact with the ground and what you’re running over, such as potholes and speed bumps.
For example, an original equipment tire/rim combination might measure 32 inches high, whereas the exact tire on a heavy-duty rim might measure 31 inches. Losing one inch can mean getting away with a small pothole or dealing with an SUV-sized crater in the middle of your lane.
Effect 2: They will weigh down your suspension components, causing them to sag earlier than expected. Big, heavy rims are hard on your car’s suspension – especially the elements that help keep you in control while riding over bumps or potholes.
Effect 3: These rims will put more stress on your tires because they increase the tire/wheel assembly size. This is good if you like to spend hours carving up Canyon roads.
It isn’t so good if you want big, beefy rims for cruising all day. The larger circumference of these wheels reduces the air pressure in your tire. That means less traction and more wear and tear on your expensive rubber.
Solution: Heavy-duty aftermarket rims are of high-tensile steel or aluminum, which means they’re lighter than the alloy rims that come standard on many newer vehicles. That might not seem like a massive advantage until you consider all of the other parts affected by adding a large wheel.
If you want to squeeze extra horsepower out of your car, you should replace those heavy rims with lightweight alloy rims that are around 16 inches in diameter. These rims will improve the look and performance of your vehicle and cost less than most lightweight alloy wheels.
Different Rim Sizes and Weight
Rim size helps determine the size of the wheels for your car. The most common sizes range from 15 inches to 22 inches. Smaller wheels are lighter and better for performance, but larger wheels typically add a more aggressive look to the car.
Here are various rim sizes and weights to give you a clearer idea.
15 Inch Aluminum Rims
15-inch rims were used on older American and Asian cars. These rims weigh around 13 to 15 lbs each depending upon the make and model of the car due to the differences in material, such as steel/alloy, aluminum alloy, etc.
16 Inch Aluminum Rims
Many American makes and models use 16-inch rims. Most BMWs come stock with this size and weigh approximately over 18 lbs. 16-inch rims typically carry a load rating higher than their larger counterparts because of increased material thicknesses required for strength at offsets.
17 Inch Aluminum Rims
17-inch rims are for European car models that require a 5×112 bolt pattern. They are also standard on American-made cars that have aftermarket wheels. These “European” rims typically weigh around 22 to 24 lbs each.
Check Out This Video on Are Wheel Weight Important?:
18 Inch Aluminum Rims
Most people consider the 18-inch rim primarily a luxury item. More of an aesthetic upgrade than one with practical benefits.
In the early 1990s, GM vehicles used 18″ rims, usually weighing around 29 to 40 lbs each. Also, most tire retailers will not stock 18-inch tires. So, these rims can be difficult to mount if you do not have access to special equipment.
19 Inch Aluminum Rims
19-inch rims are similar in appearance to 18″ ones; however, these larger rims come with equivalent tires. These large wheels allow the installation of larger brakes and other components.
The Toyota Tundra usually has 19-inch aluminum rims. These rims weigh around 31 to 42 lbs each, depending upon the make and model of the car (due to additional material thicknesses required for strength at offsets).
20 Inch Aluminum Rims
The 20-inch rim is a popular choice for modern European vehicles. These rims carry many of the same benefits as an 18-inch rim but with a larger diameter. Also, they offer a very distinct look, attention to detail, and size advantage.
Common brands include BBS, OZ Leggera, and flow-formed versions from Forgiato and Rotiform. These aluminum rims weigh around 37 to 49 lbs each, depending upon the make and model of the car.
21 Inch Aluminum Rims
21-inch rims are best for American makes and models that require a 5×114.3 bolt pattern. A few Japanese car models use this size as well. 21″ aluminum rims weigh around 42 to 60 lbs each.
22 Inch Aluminum Rims
22-inch rims are for American car models that require a 5×120 bolt pattern. Common brands include Axis, HRE, Forgiato, ADV5.0, and Air Runner.
These rims typically weigh around 51 to 71 lbs each, depending upon the make and model of the car.
So, tire weight isn’t any real difference due to its size. The rim size does not change the weight of the wheel. There are strict guidelines about how wide or deep a rim can be.
For example, an 18-inch rim must adhere to specific standards that 15-inch rims do not have. Therefore it is impossible for tires to weigh less than 15s even though they’re both 18 inches in diameter.
Average Aluminum Wheel Weight
Wheel weight depends on several factors: alloy, manufacturer, and finish. An average passenger car tire with an aluminum wheel’s base weight starts at about 2 lbs each, with a maximum of 4 lbs for versions with 40 spokes or more. Manufacturers recommend weighing wheels before installation to ensure the buyer gets the desired alloy and finish.
We will use the average aluminum wheel weight to calculate the average weight of aluminum wheels.
The average wheel weight is equal to the average weight of 4 wheels (for four wheelsets). To calculate the average wheel weight, divide the total weight of 4 wheels by 4. So, the average wheel weight for aluminum wheels equals 20 lbs.
How To Find Out The Rim Weight?
To calculate just how heavy the rim is, the easiest thing is to convert ounces into pounds. One ounce equals 28.35 grams or .04 pounds. So if you have a 10-ounce piece of metal, it would equal 0.4 pounds.
Since each pound has 16 ounces, multiply 16 by 0.4, and you get 6.4 pounds. This means a 10-ounce piece of metal weighs six pounds and four ounces. Now multiply the number of ounces in a rim by 6.4 to find the rim weight.
If you have a 24-ounce rim, it would equal 1.4 pounds or .14 kilograms (which is how much you would weigh if you stood on it).
Check Out Why You Should Buy Lighter Wheels:
FAQs
Are Lighter Wheels Gas-Saving?
Yes, but only a little. The most common way that aluminum wheels save gas is by weight reduction, and the lightest alloy wheel is only about a quarter of the weight of a standard steel wheel.
Another way it saves gas is by being more thermally conductive than steel, which means hotter components may last longer.
What is the weight of a steel rim?
Steel rim weight depends on the steel type, the carbon content in metal, and the vehicle’s dimensions. Vehicle size also plays a role in determining rim weight. The larger the wheel, the more substantial it will be compared to smaller ones that are on motorcycles or bicycles.
One of the most common rims is aluminum alloy. The rim could weigh as much as 7 pounds per wheel or more if it is an aircraft-grade alloy. However, if it were made out of silver steel alloy, the weight would only be around 4 lbs for each tire.
What Is the Weight of Forged Rims?
Forged aluminum alloy wheels are lighter and stronger than a comparable cast wheel. The rim for a 3-wheel ATV may weigh 2 lbs more if it is a cast alloy rather than a forged alloy.
Rims for cars are primarily of steel, aluminum, or magnesium, depending on the weight requirements of the vehicle. Magnesium alloy wheels were standard for economy cars, and with the weight of an inner tire, they lowered the vehicle’s center of gravity and improved handling. However, magnesium corrodes quickly on hot roads or in salty sea air.
Forged rims are lighter than the equivalent cast piece. The difference is close to that 9 lb difference claimed by some wheel manufacturers, though not all brands claim this figure.
How Much Is a Scrap Aluminum Wheel Worth?
The price of scrap aluminum has been on a steady rise for years. The U.S. recycling industry relies heavily on the cost of this metal to provide them with significant income. Its price depends upon the quality and place where you live, but you can expect it to be over 50 cents or a dollar.
Demand is strong, and the amount available in recyclable form runs short when meeting that demand. Aluminum scrap is one of the most valuable recycling materials, making recycling efforts vastly profitable.
People use this metal for manufacturing and production, including construction materials like aluminum siding, windows, gutters, and flashing. Since this material has a wide variety of uses, you can sell it for more than other scrap metals.
What’s the Weight of a Truck Rim?
The average weight for a truck rim is 56 pounds, varying on how much the tire weighs. The 56-pound figure comes from an analysis of GSA Fleet data.
A truck carries 15 tires and rims on the road at any given time, giving it a total weight (tires plus rims) of 1,300 pounds to 1,400 pounds. Using the average weight of 1,350 pounds will account for 45 percent of the total weight of a 1-ton truck.
Final Considerations
Rims are one of the essential parts of your car. They help support the weight, give you traction when turning, and allow for better braking performance. To get a good idea of what rim size would work best for you, consider how much weight your wheel can handle before it tips over or becomes too heavy to carry around town.
An average aluminum wheel is relatively lightweight, saving gas mileage but may not be as durable as steel rims weighing 12 pounds each.
Steel wheels are more expensive than their lighter counterparts. Hence, if durability is your main concern, there’s no need to worry about fuel efficiency. These heavier models also provide better stability during extreme breaking or sliding emergencies.
Now that you know how much a rim weighs, you can buy the ones that go well with your car.
