2015 5.0 Does Lightweight Wheels Noticeably Affect Performance?

[MoonDoggy-X]

I'm looking to pull the trigger on getting some wheels for my 2015 5.0 Sedan. Wondering If it is worth it to invest in lighter wheels, or if it doesn't matter for this car. I put a lighter wheel and tire package on my 2009 Toyota Avalon and it was a game changer. Easily the best, most noticeable gains of any mod. Acceleration, Braking, steering and cornering all improved. I know every car is different. Compared to my Avalon, my Genesis has a 150+ more HP, 1,000 pounds heavier,more drivetrain components, more sophisticated suspension, better stock wheels and tires, and a more cumbersome engine management system. Anyone here try lighter wheels on these cars and can attest one way or the other?

 

[tdgkorn]

I Shaved 58lbs with my new wheels, there was a noticeable difference from a stop. Seems peppier all around.

 

[MoonDoggy-X]

I Shaved 58lbs with my new wheels, there was a noticeable difference from a stop. Seems peppier all around.

58 pounds???

What wheels did you get? Also, whats the stock wheel weight?

Oh, and thanks for the reply.

 

[tdgkorn]

58 pounds???

What wheels did you get? Also, whats the stock wheel weight?

Oh, and thanks for the reply.

Stock sport wheels and stock continental tires are 59lbs front and 64.4 rear. I put:
Asanti ABL-12
19x8.5 etc 38
25.8 lb
47.2 lb with tire (pilot sport 4s)

 

[tdgkorn]

For reference

 

[MoonDoggy-X]

Ok, the Continentals run about 25 and 28 pounds for the stock sizes. So we're looking at 34 pounds for the front and 36 pounds for the rear wheels. Thats a HUGE help. THANKS!

 

[tdgkorn]

The wheels i have are 25.8lbs no tire, just FYI.

 

[MoonDoggy-X]

Im sticking with 19s. Im in far norther Illinois. Potholes are a real hazard around here an there's only about 2 inches of rubber on the stock wheels.

Looking like 20 pounds for the front wheels, 21 for the rears. Keeping the current tires, nankangs with about half the tread life left for now. Plan on replacing the after this summer. So i should be about 58 pounds down also.

 

[MoonDoggy-X]

Here she is. Haven't really punched it yet, but normal acceleration seems like it take a little less effort.

 

[Aquineas]

I switched out my stock wheels with TSW Amaroo wheels a couple of years back. They were lighter, and I felt a slight difference in acceleration, etc. The car was also noisier and the TSW Amaroos, especially in 20" form, were much more subject to damage on potholes. I finally bent them for the final time last year and since they are no longer manufactured (nor were they repairable), I ended up just going back to stock. I was amazed at how much quieter my car was. This may or may not be important to you; I just wanted to give you that data point. The only other car I've driven or ridden in that is as butta-smooth as a stock 5.0 were old 1980s Lincolns.

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[MoonDoggy-X]

I switched out my stock wheels with TSW Amaroo wheels a couple of years back. They were lighter, and I felt a slight difference in acceleration, etc. The car was also noisier and the TSW Amaroos, especially in 20" form, were much more subject to damage on potholes. I finally bent them for the final time last year and since they are no longer manufactured (nor were they repairable), I ended up just going back to stock. I was amazed at how much quieter my car was. This may or may not be important to you; I just wanted to give you that data point. The only other car I've driven or ridden in that is as butta-smooth as a stock 5.0 were old 1980s Lincolns.

I stuck with 19s for that very reason. Hopefully I dont hit any potholes big enough to get through the stock tires.

I modified the intake and exhaust, so a little road noise doesnt make a difference to me. That said, it is noticeably louder.

I mashed the gas for a few seconds and the car is noticeably quicker, i have to say. From about 35 mph to about 70 mph happened really quick. The best way to describe it is that the power hits the ground faster and the car moves more eagerly. However, it doesnt quite feel like the sprint booster or anything like that. Where the car used to accelerate quickly, but steadily, kinda like a train. Now, it just feels lighter, and you feel more of the torque in your seat.

Removing 30 pound of rotating mass at the end of the drivetrain certainly allows for a little more of the engine's torque to be used for moving the car forward, without triggering the limiter

 

[carguy75]

Im sticking with 19s. Im in far norther Illinois. Potholes are a real hazard around here an there's only about 2 inches of rubber on the stock wheels.

Looking like 20 pounds for the front wheels, 21 for the rears. Keeping the current tires, nankangs with about half the tread life left for now. Plan on replacing the after this summer. So i should be about 58 pounds down also.

I understand your concern about thinner tire sidewalls in everyday driving. The stock tires are already thin on the 5.0 with 40 series front and 35 series rear. Usually 40 series is the slimmest I would go on a tire sidewall(even with aftermarket wheels in the past) due to how easy it is to bend a rim or curve them on the roads in my area. Hence, why I would just buy aftermarket 19in wheels for my 5.0 if I change the style of wheels in the future.

As it stand, I can not find a "better" looking wheel design over the stock 5.0 wheels to justify a change. Aftermarket wheels look different, but not really better unless you go up in size. However, then it becomes form over function. Most light weight wheels look better on a boy racer car than the Genesis.

 

[MoonDoggy-X]

I certainly agree with you about the aesthetics of the wheel design. The stock wheels fit the design of the car beautifully. However, those wheels are HEAVY, and the car looks more sporty, aggressive and expensive with better fitting wheels. That's why bigger wheels look so good on our cars, they fill in those wheel wells better.

Also, i care enough about performance to do intake, exhaust, and try the sprint booster, the all-around performance benefits of cutting the wheel weight almost in half is a must have.

 

[Kraig Wilkinson]

I certainly agree with you about the aesthetics of the wheel design. The stock wheels fit the design of the car beautifully. However, those wheels are HEAVY, and the car looks more sporty, aggressive and expensive with better fitting wheels. That's why bigger wheels look so good on our cars, they fill in those wheel wells better.

Also, i care enough about performance to do intake, exhaust, and try the sprint booster, the all-around performance benefits of cutting the wheel weight almost in half is a must have.

I totally agree with both you guys, however I am a keep it stock kind of guy so I will say keep with 5.0 wheels

 

[carguy75]

I certainly agree with you about the aesthetics of the wheel design. The stock wheels fit the design of the car beautifully. However, those wheels are HEAVY, and the car looks more sporty, aggressive and expensive with better fitting wheels. That's why bigger wheels look so good on our cars, they fill in those wheel wells better.

Also, i care enough about performance to do intake, exhaust, and try the sprint booster, the all-around performance benefits of cutting the wheel weight almost in half is a must have.

Most stock wheels are heavier than cheaper casted aftermarket wheels for durability. It usually take a very large impact to bend most OEM wheels. Many light weight aftermarket wheels are very easy to damage unless they are very expensive brands like BBS. However, they are many decent aftermarket brands like the one you have that makes quality light weight wheels as well.

I like my car to look its best and perform better, hence why I just swapped to performance summer tires over the all-season tires. Car handles like it is on rails now. The 5.0 engine has more than enough low end torque to handle the stock wheel weight and some massive 14in front brakes to stop it on a dime. I only need to swap out the stock brake pads to gain better braking performance.

However, lighter wheels would increase handling and braking as well so there is more than one way to improve on the Genesis performance.

I will just keep my car looking stock since it looks perfect as is without needing to over do it with 20+in wheels. Just my preference for the Genesis. The one car that I have never really needed or wanted to buy aftermarket wheels for. I like how it looks as is.

 

[Bmi949]

I added 19 inch savini bm13 wheels. I didn’t like the stock wheels.

 

[Cali Gen]

I personally think these wheel wells were designed for 20s. Who says you can't have a big rim and some meat to go with it