1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Alloy wheels = More MPG?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by KelleyLafitte, Mar 8, 2016.

  1. KelleyLafitte

    KelleyLafitte New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2016
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I bought a base model 06 about a month ago, wondering whether getting the nicer (and apparently larger?) alloy wheels would be worth it. They look a lot better and I'm wondering if they'd fit, if the fuel economy would be improved/ impacted, and what other considerations might be taken when looking at purchasing new wheels for this model. I know there's plenty of threads for tires so I'll look to those for advice there.
     
  2. valde3

    valde3 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2014
    2,002
    745
    0
    Location:
    Finland
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Stock Prius alloy wheels are very light. Almost any other wheel is heavier. Fitting larger rim will make it even heavier since rim gets bigger and amount of air (that’s weights almost nothing) gets smaller. And bigger rims are normally wider too.
    Weight of the wheel matters a lot more for fuel economy than other weight since it’s unsprung and rotating mass.
     
    uart likes this.
  3. KelleyLafitte

    KelleyLafitte New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2016
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks for the input, kind of a noob when it comes to this so I wanted to ask first before whipping out the card
     
  4. Kevin_Denver

    Kevin_Denver Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2016
    581
    421
    1
    Location:
    Denver, CO
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    valde3 hit the basics. As far as rims go, lighter is more fuel efficient. However what will have a larger impact on fuel economy is the tires. Properly inflated low rolling resistance tires can significantly reduce fuel economy. However low rolling resistance tires often have tradeoffs - such as worse snow handling.
     
  5. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

    Joined:
    May 13, 2012
    2,170
    744
    0
    Location:
    Delaware
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    snow handling isn't a factor in tampa, but yes, lighter wheels and LRR tires inflated to 40psi will give you better mpg. there are several choices for very light 16" wheels. bigger than 16" not too many. I have ecopias, and they give good mpg, but handling isn't all that.