• With the tires below, 0ur ultra-light, forged aluminum SSR Type-C wheels helped save 9.4 lbs per corner-that's 18.8 pounds less unsprung, rotational drivetrain mass. According to EPA estimates, a 14-percent savings in fuel efficiency can be seen per ten percent of rotational mass removed from a vehicle's driveline. Adding lightweight wheels is the easiest and most attractive way to increase acceleration, cut braking distances, and improve suspension performance. In dyno testing, we found our SSRs (one of the lightest wheels on the market) to free up to 10 horses, and about as many lb-ft of torque.
• Tires are also significant contributors to rotational mass, as well as drag, and frictional energy loss known as "rolling resistance", which can rob more than 20 percent of an engine's output to the wheels-meaning that if your 400whp EVO's tires were 100-percent efficient, it would actually be pushing closer to 500 whp. When modifying for increased fuel efficiency, look for a radial tire that's lightweight, features a thin sidewall that absorbs less energy when flexing, is of a smaller width to decrease contact with the ground, and is made of a stiffer tread compound for higher rebound. The 185/60-15 Continental ContiProContacts we added also bring a slightly larger circumference than stock, which further reduces rolling resistance. Tires are one of the only areas of increasing efficiency that doesn't simultaneously increase performance; tires like these will increase acceleration and top speed, but will offer significant drawbacks to traction over a sticky performance tire. The good news is that our Conti radials offer all the qualities we looked for in a fuel efficient tire, for about one third the price of some so-called "high-efficiency" tires, leaving us with money in the bank for some dedicated track meat.
• Increasing the angle of a car's hood by propping it at the rear isn't always beneficial in and of itself, but decreasing the angle at which it meets the windshield, while covering the windshield wipers, helps cut drag.
• A car's doors are its heaviest detachable body components, mostly because of side-impact door beams, glass, power window motors, lock solenoids, and speakers. Removing some of these items in "race-day" doors (not pictured) cut more than 50 pounds over our stockers, but switching to carbon fiber replacements would be best.
• A tall wing, like the Type R unit or an aftermarket GT-style wing, will increase downforce, but create a large point of drag. We simply removed our small stock wing. Extending the lateral surface area of the trunk with a level, flush-mount wing would make it even more aerodynamic, as is the case with the current FWD land-speed record holder, Hondata's 246mph RSX (July, '09 2NR).
• Getting really picky, side moldings are also another point of drag, albeit small ones. Removing them is aerodynamically sound and looks better. Why else would Honda choose not to include them with the Type R?
• Low-profile sideskirts, like the ones we obtained from Versus Motorsports, further limit the amount of airflow that can enter the underside of a vehicle, decreasing drag and increasing downforce.
By Luke Munnell
Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!