Could ~9 lbs lighter wheels effect shock calibration?

[Cartoine]

Im a new 26' BW owner w/ precision pack, and want to get a set of track wheels that are around 9lbs lighter. Ive heard that the mag shocks are recalibrated on cars with the CC brakes cause they are 19-20 lbs lighter per corner, what if i wann to take off 9-10 more per corner? would that make it a bit more springy on rebound? i dunno maybe im being OCD

 

[Kawman]

How would you remove another 10lbs per corner?

 

[nordique14]

How would you remove another 10lbs per corner?

I assume he intends to get significantly lighter wheels.

This guy swapped iron rotors for CCB to get a similar weight loss on each corner. He was also concerned about calibration but did not notice any adverse effects. Here is the thread:

CT5-V Thread 'Installed aftermarket carbon ceramic brakes on 5BW, pictures and impressions'

Jan 2, 2026

My 5BW is a 2023, that I ordered with the iron brakes. I'd never experienced CCBs before, and thought it was hard to justify the $9K expense. In 2024, I bought a C7 Z06 with the Z07 package, which has CCBs. I was blown away by the stopping performance--the initial bite is so strong, it required some recalibration of my right foot to not put my face into the windshield at every stop. But the best part was that even after a bunch of backroad driving and even two track days (4 x 20-minute sessions at each), the wheels were basically unblemished by brake dust. Suddenly I regretted not...

• thefleshrocket
• Replies: 21
• Forum: Blackwing Mods/Tech/Performance

• 

 

[Kawman]

The OEM wheel is already a forged aluminum wheel. Unless there is a magnesium wheel available, I would think there's only a couple of lbs to be shed with wheels? I guess one could also find a track tire that might also be a couple of lbs lighter then the OEM tire. But a set of track wheels and tires are likely to be wider than stock, so a slightly lighter material is offset by being a slightly wider item. Sounds like he's going to take his track days very seriously. My initial guess is there's more weight to be shed with tires than wheels.

Maybe someone with more knowledge will chime in.

 

[Champale]

In the GT350 world, there are aftermarket magnesium wheels in 19x11 that weigh under 18lbs (Litespeed Racing). If OP is talking about the 28+lbs 5BW wheels, shedding 9-10 lbs wouldn't be too hard probably.

 

[blkout]

It's not going to affect anything.

 

[wfdeacon88]

Since suspension and shocks are supporting the entire weight of the car... 10 lb lighter wheels x 4 is only 40 lbs out of 3500 lbs... Wouldn't this be no different than a driver 40 lbs less heavy driving, or adding a passenger?

 

[blkout]

Since suspension and shocks are supporting the entire weight of the car... 10 lb lighter wheels x 4 is only 40 lbs out of 3500 lbs... Wouldn't this be no different than a driver 40 lbs less heavy driving, or adding a passenger?

Slightly different because its unsprung weight, but honestly, I still can't see it mattering at all. I know lots of Shelby GT500 CFTP owners that have switched their 17lb carbon fiber wheels for aftermarket aluminum wheels which typically weigh around 24lbs each and none of them are reporting any differences. I even swapped my OEM aluminum Shelby GT500 wheels for a set of aftermarket wheels and dropped 10lbs at each corner and I couldn't tell any difference at all.

 

[RDATLTE]

Since suspension and shocks are supporting the entire weight of the car... 10 lb lighter wheels x 4 is only 40 lbs out of 3500 lbs... Wouldn't this be no different than a driver 40 lbs less heavy driving, or adding a passenger?

No, unsprung weight vs sprung weight.

 

[Kawman]

Down the rabbit hole I went. There was talk of an optional magnesium wheel for Blackwings, but it never happened. I like OP's goal of reducing un-sprung weight, but it's only going to make a difference on the track.

 

[Champale]

I feel like there is an old thread about the optional mag wheels and at some point I think that option was never officially offered.

I have put lightweight wheels on a number of cars (to include saving 10+ lbs on a Boss 302) and you can feel the difference as soon as you leave the driveway. Steering feels sharper, damping feels better, etc. And that's not to mention the tangible benefits for track guys of accelerating and braking with less rotating mass. I contemplated Litespeed mag wheels for my GT350R but have never pulled the trigger.

 

[blkout]

I feel like there is an old thread about the optional mag wheels and at some point I think that option was never officially offered.

I have put lightweight wheels on a number of cars (to include saving 10+ lbs on a Boss 302) and you can feel the difference as soon as you leave the driveway. Steering feels sharper, damping feels better, etc. And that's not to mention the tangible benefits for track guys of accelerating and braking with less rotating mass. I contemplated Litespeed mag wheels for my GT350R but have never pulled the trigger.

I swapped the OEM wheels on my 2020 Shelby GT500 to aftermarket Signature forged wheels, saved 10lbs per corner and I couldn't tell a bit of difference. Luckily I did it for the look rather than the performance. There's a good Youtube video showing the differences in multiple wheel weights and the impact on performance and it's not nearly as much you would expect.

 

[Champale]

Conversely, I put custom forged 20" wheels sizes and GT500 spec tires on my 350R (adding 6-8lbs per corner) and there is a subtle-but-noticeable difference in the steering.

 

[blkout]

Conversely, I put custom forged 20" wheels sizes and GT500 spec tires on my 350R (adding 6-8lbs per corner) and there is a subtle-but-noticeable difference in the steering.

Thats a different change though, you went from 19" wheels to 20" wheels which can be quite noticeable, especially if the sidewall changed at all.

 

[Champale]

You are correct. But, in general, losing weight from the wheels is a very good thing all the way around.

 

[piranha971]

You don't need to drop 10lb to feel the difference. When I swap my winter stockers for 21lb flow formed summers, I can definitely tell the difference.

 

[blkout]

You don't need to drop 10lb to feel the difference. When I swap my winter stockers for 21lb flow formed summers, I can definitely tell the difference.

Same tires?

 

[piranha971]

Same tires?

The same size, but different model. Michelin pilot sport A/S for winter and pilot sport 4S for summer

 

[blkout]

The same size, but different model. Michelin pilot sport A/S for winter and pilot sport 4S for summer

There's the difference. Two totally different tire compounds.

 

[piranha971]

There's the difference. Two totally different tire compounds.

I am not talking about just traction. The way the car feels going into corners and going over pump, the way it reacts to inputs. Yes, the compounds are different.