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Flat alloy wheels for hypermiling

2577 Views 28 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  minhonda
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Hallo forum,
these weeks I am looking around for alloy wheels - mostly the 16" - in the direction of greater aerodynamic efficiency. To develop my CR-Z in a hypermiling direction.

My reference, below are the wheels from Honda Insight mk1:
Automotive parking light Wheel Tire Car Vehicle

Another reference:
Wheel Automotive tire Hubcap Synthetic rubber Tread


Do you heard of rim manufacturers who have compatible flat models?

thx
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Hallo forum,
these weeks I am looking around for alloy wheels - mostly the 16" - in the direction of greater aerodynamic efficiency. To develop my CR-Z in a hypermiling direction.

My reference, below are the wheels from Honda Insight mk1:
View attachment 67190
Another reference:
View attachment 67191

Do you heard of rim manufacturers who have compatible flat models?

thx
Civic Hybrid.
06-15 Civic Hybrid to be specific. Couple members here run them.

They are the 114.3x5 and 15x6 with +45 offset.

Kind of heavy for what they are at 16lbs. I do think the painted version from the 12-15 is a touch lighter.
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5 lug 15" Civic steel wheels are lighter, undoubtedly cheaper and just throw flat hub caps on them.

But regardless of which way you go unless you got the whole wheel and tire setup for free or through trade you likely wouldn't recoup the cost of the switch in fuel savings for several years.
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Yup...

$5 a gallon

36mpg = 13.888 cents per mile
37mpg = 13.513 cents per mile

Lets say you get wheels and tires for $600 that has an ROI of 160,000 miles.
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Yup...

$5 a gallon

36mpg = 13.888 cents per mile
37mpg = 13.513 cents per mile

Lets say you get wheels and tires for $600 that has an ROI of 160,000 miles.
160,000 miles you'll need more than 1 set of tires but the super skinny eco tires that would go on the Civic Hybrid wheels might be cheaper than the skinny eco tires of the CR-Z
Thanks, I see another problem which is that the only size of allowed CR-Z wheels are 17" and 16".
Where I am I meant...

But maybe there's a cheap solution suggested by a friend: to buy 16" basic wheels and then put an "aero" plastic cover for wheels. I should pick a tyre with "A" rating on fuel label also.
Wire tie aero discs on the factory wheels?
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Thanks, I see another problem which is that the only size of allowed CR-Z wheels are 17" and 16".
Where I am I meant...

But maybe there's a cheap solution suggested by a friend: to buy 16" basic wheels and then put an "aero" plastic cover for wheels. I should pick a tyre with "A" rating on fuel label also.
You want the wheels that my Civic IMA has. (Click <<<)
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Thanks, I see another problem which is that the only size of allowed CR-Z wheels are 17" and 16".
the 15" wheel from the civic hybrid will fit on the CRZ, and the Performance wheels on the HPD kit are 18" so I'm not sure where you're hearing that only 16 and 17 inch wheels are allowed? or is that a regulatory issue for you locally?
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the 15" wheel from the civic hybrid will fit on the CRZ, and the Performance wheels on the HPD kit are 18" so I'm not sure where you're hearing that only 16 and 17 inch wheels are allowed? or is that a regulatory issue for you locally?
Yes. In Italy there are rules more strict about wheels, and I have 16" and 17" wheels allowed.
I will search again for similar flat alloy.

A radical and economical solution could be 16 "steel wheels and flat design rim covers...
but I am not surrending on this.
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Yes. In Italy there are rules more strict about wheels,
Meh I'd take wheel size restrictions in exchange for people not being made homeless because they broke their leg.
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2
Meh I'd take wheel size restrictions in exchange for people not being made homeless because they broke their leg.
I am not understanding the humor... maybe translation.

A note, these are quite nice looking Sparco rim covers. Not that bad.
Also it seems that many steel wheels around are actually lighter than the average alloy wheel...
Wheel Automotive tire Tire Alloy wheel Hubcap

Wheel Automotive tire Tire Alloy wheel Automotive design
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I find it very odd that you cannot put 15" wheels on the car since some CR-Zs and other Honda's have 15" wheels. What is the reasoning for that legal restriction in your country(If it actually exists and is not a misunderstanding of information that relates to something completely different about wheels & tires)? It should not matter as long as the speedometer is not off because of it and with the right size tire it will not be.

I know you have strict rules about winter tires and that you have to run them. They can be all season but have to have the special alpine winter icon to indicate certified as a winter use tire on the tire and there is a minimum tread depth but that does not restrict you from running a different size wheel. I did a little searching online here in the US so I might not have all the correct information since I am searching here and in English.

Do you know that and have it in writing or have you been told that? There is lots of weird things people talk about that are said and are FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt).

I just do not understand why anyone would argue or try to convince on something like this as long as the wheel and tire combination in that size is not inherently unsafe for some reason.

That being said even in the US we have outdated laws that make no sense at all and need to be changed. (If there is even a law covering wheel size in Italy)
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I find it very odd that you cannot put 15" wheels on the car since some CR-Zs and other Honda's have 15" wheels. What is the reasoning for that legal restriction in your country(If it actually exists and is not a misunderstanding of information that relates to something completely different about wheels & tires)? It should not matter as long as the speedometer is not off because of it and with the right size tire it will not be.

I know you have strict rules about winter tires and that you have to run them. They can be all season but have to have the special alpine winter icon to indicate certified as a winter use tire on the tire and there is a minimum tread depth but that does not restrict you from running a different size wheel. I did a little searching online here in the US so I might not have all the correct information since I am searching here and in English.

Do you know that and have it in writing or have you been told that? There is lots of weird things people talk about that are said and are FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt).

I just do not understand why anyone would argue or try to convince on something like this as long as the wheel and tire combination in that size is not inherently unsafe for some reason.

That being said even in the US we have outdated laws that make no sense at all and need to be changed. (If there is even a law covering wheel size in Italy)
Do not underestimate the EU/Italian burocracy, it's real:
"If you opt for tires with dimensions other than those specified in the booklet, first of all you run the risk of not being able to mount them as they are unsuitable for the rims supplied, and then you can face administrative sanctions, with fines starting from a minimum of 422 euros and up to 1697 euros; to this, moreover, the seizure of the vehicle and the withdrawal of the booklet can be added."
Source: Codice della strada e misure pneumatici: tutto quello che c’è da sapere

PS With a new homologation it is possible to mount wheels of different sizes, but it costs too much.
What size wheels are listed in the booklet for the CR-Z specifically? What tire dimensions or specifications do they list are they the "stock" sizes for the wheels they do list? This quote appears to talk about sizes of tires not the wheels specifically and using a non stock size tire on a rim. That makes sense to me but I still do not see where 15" wheels are prohibited and I do not read Italian. Could you be misinterpreting the rules in that booklet? Is it specific to the CR-Z? is wheel size even mentioned?

If you can get 15" Honda rims would they be acceptable as they would be supplied by Honda for that car? You of course will need to research the recommended tire size for those rims.

I am not sure of the laws regarding homologation. I know they affect headlights, bumper height and other things not sure it goes so far to require a specific wheel as the wheels are the same world wide. Other items are not.

Thank you for replying. I hope you find a loop hole or a solution.

Do not underestimate the EU/Italian burocracy, it's real:
"If you opt for tires with dimensions other than those specified in the booklet, first of all you run the risk of not being able to mount them as they are unsuitable for the rims supplied, and then you can face administrative sanctions, with fines starting from a minimum of 422 euros and up to 1697 euros; to this, moreover, the seizure of the vehicle and the withdrawal of the booklet can be added."
Source: Codice della strada e misure pneumatici: tutto quello che c’è da sapere

PS With a new homologation it is possible to mount wheels of different sizes, but it costs too much.
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This quote appears to talk about sizes of tires not the wheels specifically
the Tire size include wheel diameter. 195/55/R16 or 205/50/R17 would be what is specified in the registration paperwork.

also, "booklet" is a bit of a slanted translation. It's the registration paperwork for the vehicle. Run the wrong tires, they impound the car and confiscate your tags.

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Well in that case he has to run 16"s or whatever is approved and listed even though some CR-Zs in other areas were sold with 15"s.. That is too bad.

On My US car the door post sticker specifies the standard size for the factory 16" that came with the car. A replacement sticker is provided that lists the spare tire size if you buy the spare tire kit. I presume the door post sticker if you get the optional 17" wheels would list the tire size. In this case the registration document lists the standard wheel sizes and tire sizes the car was sold with. If no car in his market was sold with 15" then they are not authorized as they are not OEM supplied. But if any CR-Zs were sold with 15" wheels and it can be proven they came stock then it might be a simple thing to get the documentation changed to allow the correct OEM tire size for a 15" wheel on that car but that is a long shot.
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Also it seems that many steel wheels around are actually lighter than the average alloy wheel...
Yeah it's a common misconception that steel wheels are 'always' heavier than aluminum alloys. Aluminum is lighter than steel for the same measured dimensions but also weaker, in simple terms, so the aluminum version must be made thicker.

Forging is where aluminum can surpass steel in both strength and weight but is a significantly more expensive process.
Here's the result with Civic Hybrid 16" wheels (probably I did them large like 17"), it's stunning: retro-futuristic design.
I need some help on finding one or getting the Honda code, in case there's one.



Wheel Car Tire Vehicle Plant
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