17in alloy wheel weight (range)

Nothing stopping you, from taking off one wheel, weighing it (say with a digital luggage scale), deducting the published weight of the tire that's on there. Maybe deduct an additional oz or two, for the valve, tpms sensor and wheel weights. Then put it back on.

 

Here are weight from Prius 2023 Premium:
TOYO EXTENSA II A/S 195/50R19
Tire:
Original alloy rim:
TPMS:
Total: 48 lbs

Custom wheels:
TOYO EXTENSA II A/S 195/60R17
Tire: 17.2 lbs
Alloy rim Fast EV01(+): 19.4 lbs
TPMS:
Total: 36.6 lbs + TPMS weight

Prius 2005 original Wheel (Tire and alloy rim): 31 lbs

 

Aftermarket wheels can be lighter. But lighter is not always better.

Lighter wheels can bend more easily and not take the punishment that an OEM wheel is designed to handle.

As an example just running over road debris or a pinecone repeatedly and at speed.

In general though lighter wheels (rim) can improve fuel economy. But I believe the tire compound and contact patch (tire width) has a greater overall effect on fuel economy more than wheel weight.

Just ride a heavy mountain bike with fat tire versus a road bike with skinny tires and you'll know. You tire so much faster on the mountain bike but you go much faster and more easily on the road bike.

You can even just swap tires on a road bike frame and feel the difference. Of course no one will do this as its a lot of work and really unnecessary plus very hard to measure scientifically. But you can definitely feel it.

 

The tire width can’t be the main factor because the Prime SE with 17” and the XSE with 19” tires have the same width at 195mm but, there’s almost 10% difference in EV range and fuel economy!

I am convinced that the total weight of the tire plus wheel has a major impact on fuel economy. The reason is that it takes so much more energy to get the heavier wheels inertia rotating every time you stop or accelerate. Try stopping or starting a merry go round to get a feel for this.

 

50% of people drive a car with under-inflated tires. While this is a much more important factor in consumption than height or width. The weight of higher rims can be partially recovered by regenerative braking.


1. **Tire width**: Wider tires generally have higher rolling resistance because they have a larger contact area with the road. This increases friction and therefore the energy required to roll the tire.

2. **Tire pressure**: Under-inflation significantly increases rolling resistance. This is because the tire deforms more while driving, resulting in additional energy loss. A reduction of 0.3 bar can increase rolling resistance by **6%**, while a reduction of **1 bar** can increase resistance by **30%** "1"). Over-inflation, on the other hand, can reduce rolling resistance, but this can come at the expense of grip and comfort.

**Comparison**: The impact of tire pressure on rolling resistance is generally greater than that of tire width. Incorrect tire pressure can increase rolling resistance by tens of percent, while a wider tire causes a more gradual increase. That's why it's crucial to maintain the correct pressure for optimal performance and fuel efficiency.

 

The distance between the wheel's mass and axle centre is a factor too. The further out the more effort it takes. 17" have an advantage accordingly.

 

If I were in the market to replace my OEM wheels I would definitely be looking for something with less weight rather than more. Unsprung weight makes a HUGE difference on how your suspension reacts to the road. There's always a tradeoff.

Inertia works both directions, so a wheel that is easier to accelerate will also decelerate quicker. Not sure how this will affect regen braking but I suspect it will be noticeable when you take your foot off the gas.

 

I respect that folks want different wheels/tires for different reasons. However, I would suggest the the cost of new wheels will surpass any dollar savings in energy consumption...as it it relates. Just do what makes you happy.

 

Double posting again Mods.