Wheel Weight

[JBofKC]

I was unable to post in the wheel/axles section, but my curiosity was too great note to ask this question somewhere.

Our BSA rules do not permit thinning, shaping or other material modifications that you find in the ultra light lathed BSA wheels. Only truing the tread to remove the mold mark.

My question and is there any value in this. When looking at a BSA wheel you see the "mag wheel" diamond design in the center. What if I took a tiny drill bit and removed the material to create holes where these diamond shapes were. Would this lighten the wheel much?

By keeping all the molded words on the inside of the wheel I am not violating any rules such as reducing the thickness of the hub, tread or side. I would only be drilling some holes and reducing the weight.

This thought came from two sources. First, an 8 year-old who asked if we could make the wheel with holes in the side like a real car has the ventilation for the rotors/brakes. Second, seeing the extra thin wheels that have holes in them I only assume to reduce weight.

Have a great day folks!

[johna745]

I would say you would have to be extremely careful on the spacing of the holes, so you don't throw off the balance of the wheel.That would be bad

[2FAST4U]

jbofkc said:

I was unable to post in the wheel/axles section, but my curiosity was too great note to ask this question somewhere.

Our BSA rules do not permit thinning, shaping or other material modifications that you find in the ultra light lathed BSA wheels. Only truing the tread to remove the mold mark.

My question and is there any value in this. When looking at a BSA wheel you see the "mag wheel" diamond design in the center. What if I took a tiny drill bit and removed the material to create holes where these diamond shapes were. Would this lighten the wheel much?

By keeping all the molded words on the inside of the wheel I am not violating any rules such as reducing the thickness of the hub, tread or side. I would only be drilling some holes and reducing the weight.

This thought came from two sources. First, an 8 year-old who asked if we could make the wheel with holes in the side like a real car has the ventilation for the rotors/brakes. Second, seeing the extra thin wheels that have holes in them I only assume to reduce weight.

Have a great day folks!

I WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING WITH A DRILL BIT...
DRILLING OUT WEIGHT CLOSE TO THE CENTER DOSE NOT HELP...
WEIGHT REMOVED FROM THE OUT SIDE EDGES IS WHAT HELPS THE WHEELS TO BE FAST...
THE MOD WHEELS YOU SEE WITH HOLES THROUGH THEM IN MY OPINION ARE FOR SHOW...
DON'T GET ME WRONG, DRILLING HOLES DO REMOVE WEIGHT BUT THE AERODYNAMICS PLAYS A BIG ROLE...

CAN I SEE YOUR RULES I THINK THERE IS A LOOP HOLE FOR YA ON THE WHEELS... ;D
LET ME KNOW...

GLENN

[hotrod1]

I would not think drilling the side walls would be legal. I know in our rules its not. you can only sand off the mold marks.

[Barnyard]

It's a fender for a trailer.

[JBofKC]

I had thought of the balance issue. Looking at the value side versus the risk side of getting things out of balance.

My son thought it would be cool to have holes in the side of the wheel. He has never "decorated " the wheel and this and some light paint to highlight the wheel details were his suggestions.

Thank you for your input folks!

[A-Line Performance]

I have tried to drill holes in wheels and I feel that the drag caused by the "spokes" overcomes the value of weight loss. Think about bicycle racers. Many have gone to disk wheels rather than spoked wheels for aerodynamic purposes. As 2Fast said, weight reduction is only helpful if at the outer edges of the wheel.