My Motegi Traklite's are here!!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by treehggr, Oct 3, 2007.

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  1. treehggr

    treehggr New Member

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    After over 2 months of waiting I came home to find my wheels by my front door!! For some reason the 15x6.5 5x100 Motegi Traklite wheel is a rare size. I ended up buying them for a little over $800.00 shipped. After I opened them to check them out I decided to weigh them on our scale to see the exact weight. They weighed in at exactly 10lbs a piece, very light as they're forged. Well anyway I'm waiting on the black lugs to get here so that I can install them. Here are a few pictures.

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    #1 treehggr, Oct 3, 2007
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    oooh very nice! Can't wait to see them installed on your vehicle.
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Oct 3, 2007
  3. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Damnit. You opened my Christmas gift. I can't wait to hear how good they will be in term of acceleration and MPG improvement.
     
    #3 usbseawolf2000, Oct 3, 2007
  4. treehggr

    treehggr New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Oct 3 2007, 06:34 PM) [snapback]520943[/snapback]</div>
    Thanks. I just added 2 pics of them installed. Best I could do as the sun wasn't out.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usbseawolf2000 @ Oct 3 2007, 06:44 PM) [snapback]520955[/snapback]</div>
    I will let you know, I'm hoping for a little bump in fuel economy.
     
    #4 treehggr, Oct 4, 2007
  5. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    The OEM rims are what, 14lbs? Does anyone know the math for unsprung weight and how much a change in weight should affect mpg?

    Oh, and how much were they, where did you buy them, are there other colors (ie. chrome/brushed chrome?)
     
    #5 efusco, Oct 4, 2007
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(treehggr @ Oct 4 2007, 05:42 PM) [snapback]521452[/snapback]</div>
    Wow.. looks blacker than the other photos. In the other photos, they look dark grey.

    Very nice! Now to swap the chrome grille with a colour-keyed one? lol.


    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Oct 4 2007, 05:48 PM) [snapback]521455[/snapback]</div>
    Yeah they're 14lbs.

    He said $800 shipped in his post.
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Oct 4, 2007
  7. treehggr

    treehggr New Member

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    Yeah the exact price was $859 shipped. I bought them from Elites Wholesale. Here is their Ebay store http://stores.ebay.com/Eliteswholesale . I ordered over the phone because the ones I wanted were on back order.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Oct 4 2007, 05:49 PM) [snapback]521458[/snapback]</div>
    I think I'm going to leave the chrome grill. The car is just about as black as possible now with the new rims lol.
     
    #7 treehggr, Oct 4, 2007
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Fair enough. it's a good contrast :)
     
    #8 Tideland Prius, Oct 4, 2007
  9. apriusfan

    apriusfan New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Oct 4 2007, 05:48 PM) [snapback]521455[/snapback]</div>
    There are different opinions on the subject (with stats to back up each position); but the range for 1 lb of rotational mass (such as wheels & tires) vs. static mass (the rear seat) is somewhere between 1 to 3 (1 lb saved of rotational mass equaling 3 lbs of static mass).

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Oct 4 2007, 05:48 PM) [snapback]521455[/snapback]</div>
    I got my Motegi Traklites from Tirerack in Anthracite spokes/center with spun (polished) rims.


    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(treehggr @ Oct 4 2007, 05:42 PM) [snapback]521452[/snapback]</div>
    Depending on the weight of the tires you fit to the Traklites, you will see some improvement in fuel economy. With Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S in 205/60-15 added to my Traklites, I observed a ~1 mpg gain versus the OEM Touring edition wheels & tires.
     
    #9 apriusfan, Oct 4, 2007
  10. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ Oct 4 2007, 09:39 PM) [snapback]521487[/snapback]</div>
    Can we see your ride? Is yours Tracklite or Traklite II?

    Traklites with OEM tires should bump up 5 mpg then?
     
    #10 usbseawolf2000, Oct 4, 2007
  11. apriusfan

    apriusfan New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usbseawolf2000 @ Oct 4 2007, 08:23 PM) [snapback]521540[/snapback]</div>
    Is there a simple way to upload pictures to PC without having to host the pictures on a third party server?

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usbseawolf2000 @ Oct 4 2007, 08:23 PM) [snapback]521540[/snapback]</div>
    Mine are Traklite. When Tirerack sold them to me, the spun rims were a manufaturing "mistake"... (with the spun rims being the mistake). I told them I wouldn't mind if they made the spun rims a standard feature. Personally, the anthracite centers and spokes with the spun rims are a perfect accent to a black Touring edition, But then again, I am biased.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usbseawolf2000 @ Oct 4 2007, 08:23 PM) [snapback]521540[/snapback]</div>
    I can't say how much of an mpg improvement you will get. With OEM tire weights, you should definitely get better than ~1 mpg improvement. But 5? I really don't know. It is possible; I just don't have personal experience. I was wanting to go with the Michelin tires (I have had really great results with the Exalto A/S tires on my MINI). My primary objective was to have the handling, braking and traction improvements of the Michelins with no mileage penalty. Getting the tire benefits with a little more than 1 mpg improvement was a win for me.
     
    #11 apriusfan, Oct 5, 2007
  12. treehggr

    treehggr New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ Oct 5 2007, 12:46 AM) [snapback]521619[/snapback]</div>
    As long as you have the pictures on the computer you are replying to these messages from you should have no problem. All you do is under "file attachments" on the reply screen hit the "browse" button, locate your picture and then click "add this attachment", then add the picture to the post. Very easy.
     
    #12 treehggr, Oct 5, 2007
  13. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ Oct 5 2007, 03:46 AM) [snapback]521619[/snapback]</div>
    Thanks for your experience with the rim/tire. Since you have TE, did you get 16" or 15"? How much did you pay for that manufacturing "mistake" rims?

    Whenever I put on my 17" rim with 205mm tires, I get about 5 MPG hit. The rim/tire combo weights about 5lbs heavier.
     
    #13 usbseawolf2000, Oct 5, 2007
  14. treehggr

    treehggr New Member

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    Hey usbseawolf2000,

    Why do you want to get new wheels? I like yours except for the tires, a little too low profile for me. In the past I've always damaged rims cause of them. What if you would just go with some lighter weight tires to help with the mpg hit?
     
    #14 treehggr, Oct 5, 2007
  15. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Because I can't find a tire for the 17" rim that weights less than 21 lbs. Perhaps, you've seen lighter 17" rim tires before?
     
    #15 usbseawolf2000, Oct 5, 2007
  16. treehggr

    treehggr New Member

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    Yeah, I guess your best bet would be to replace them then. I really like your wheels though. Do you know how much the stock Integrity's weigh?
     
    #16 treehggr, Oct 5, 2007
  17. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(treehggr @ Oct 5 2007, 10:07 AM) [snapback]521698[/snapback]</div>
    Stock Integrity weights 17 lbs. I found Kumho Ecsta AST 205/45/17 that weights 20 lbs. I am not sure about it's rolling resistance rating though.
     
    #17 usbseawolf2000, Oct 5, 2007
  18. treehggr

    treehggr New Member

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    Just to give you an idea, this morning was my first real drive with the new wheels. I calculate my current trip economy with my scangauge every day and with my old wheels I can hardly get a 70-72mpg trip to work which is 16 miles. This morning I got an 82mpg trip to work using the same route and same pulse and glide speed/technique. Also recently I upped my tire pressure to 52 front and 50 rear. Both trips were using this psi. I also noticed that I get to my pulse speed of 40mph sooner than before. So far I love them.
     
    #18 treehggr, Oct 5, 2007
  19. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Very good initial results. Wow, more than 10% gain with P&G.

    Let me know when you get a chance to drive on the highway at 55+MPH since most of my commutes are on the highway. I am probably asking too much for you to go such high speed and drag down your overall MPG. :-D

    I suspect lighter wheel may not benefit much for my highway commute... I do not know...

    Did you realize you got better MPG than the PNGV Super Car?
     
    #19 usbseawolf2000, Oct 5, 2007
  20. treehggr

    treehggr New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usbseawolf2000 @ Oct 5 2007, 08:32 AM) [snapback]521747[/snapback]</div>
    Yeah my initial results were pretty good. I'll have to see what I can get on a new tank of gas. Still have quite a bit left in this tank and am averaging 71mpg at 240mi right now. Would have been better but I had to make a highway trip to the airport and back which made me travel at speeds of 65+mph. A bummer.
     
    #20 treehggr, Oct 5, 2007
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