Re: bigger wheels

[desousa@cisco.com]

> From: Eliot Lim <eliot@lanmola.engr.washington.edu>
> 
> re: larger wheels
> 
> aluminium is heavier than rubber right?  so if you have bigger wheels, you
> also increase unsprung mass, which is also an enemy of ride and handling,
> unless you go to exotic materials for the wheels.
> 
> 
> eliot

Yes, aluminum alloy is heavier than natural rubber, like over double if you 
compared.  I seem to remember Audi alloys to be very lightweight though, 
ever try to buy a replacement from the factory, pretty expensive? Don't know 
the exact material.  
	The amount of exchange, rubber for aluminum alloy in this case, 
produces a negligible difference in unsprung weight.  Its a good point though,
especially on Audi's since they are kinda underpowered to begin with. 
(relatively speaking, and excluding the S4)

Carl DeSousa