Why are RUF wheels so heavy?

[DRV2FST]

Many people have posted on this board (and others) that they love the look of RUF wheels but don't want to use them due to the weight.

RUF went to extremes on these cars to make them better (shaved rain gutters, aero mirrors, narrow bodied turbo, smoother bumpers, adding a 5th gear to a 4 speed box, ....). I can't believe they just got lazy when it came to wheels.

Why did they choose to make them so much heavier than others?

[IROC]

Originally posted by DRV2FST
Why did then choose to make them so much heavier than others?

I don't really know the answer, but it seems that Ruf has always stressed that their cars are street cars and not track cars. Maybe they had that philosophy in mind when they designed these wheels and didn't work to every ounce of weight out of them.

[RallyJon]

I read somewhere that Ruf believes that the rotational inertia from heavy wheels makes the car more stable at very high speeds. For what they cost, they could certainly have made them lightweight.

[Jeff964]

If Ruf's explanation on heavy wheels required for high speed stability is valid, can you imagine how much F1 wheels must weigh?

[Randy Blaylock]

Which Ruf wheels?

Perhaps the original 80s vintage 17s.

The late production 17s, and the 18, 19 and 20 inch wheels are not notably heavier than any other particular wheel of like size.

IMO, it's more of a internet wive's tale than anything.

[RallyJon]

Yeah, now that Porsche OE wheels weigh in the high-20s!

[DRV2FST]

RUF wheels 9x17 are 23 lbs and 10x17 are 23.5 lbs. That seemed heavy for high performance wheels. Many have pointed out before that strength is more important than weight. I would agree. However, don't several companies make very strong wheels at around 18 lbs?

I'm no expert but aren't the wheels the area of the car where it is MOST important to eliminate weight?

Is wheel weight all just overblown hype created by companies trying to sell aftermarket wheels?

Certainly, RUF knows what they are doing. However, they have had a few failed experiments like: Denloc wheels and air vents on the rear wheel arches of Yellowbird (looks cool but does nothing). Any company pushing the envelope as much as they do will have some ideas that don't work.

Is a heavy wheel a bad idea, or better for strength/stability, or not really important either way?

[GrantG]

Rufs are meant for 200mph driving on the autobahn. What matters there is strength over lightness. Lightweight wheels are needed for dicing it up on tight/bumpy tracks where the lessened unsprung mass matters most.