"Aero" wheels - a new car design trend?

[codenamecueball]

Obviously with the march towards improved MPG and the limits of combustion engines and mild hybrid tech, aerodynamic improvements need to be made, but is this going to be what all new wheels look like? I know lower-trim cars usually have smaller wheels, but these big thick things with diamond cut tops to make them look all skinny is definitely a new trend I've picked up on. Thankfully it seems to be restricted to cooking models and electric variants, but is this something anyone else has noticed?

On the New Octavia -



These awful things on the new C Class in Sport trim -




On a Micra -

[SpeckledJim]

They seem a good idea to me. When a car is doing 70mph its 'top' spokes are doing nearly 140mph through the air. That's a lot of drag and noise.

[Mr lestat]

Sorry but I don’t follow. What’s fundamentally different about them. Isn’t it just the design ?

[havoc]

Mr lestat said:

Sorry but I don’t follow. What’s fundamentally different about them. Isn’t it just the design ?

Much flatter faces / much smaller gaps between 'spokes' - designed to offer far less drag/turbulence than your typical multi-spoke alloy. Usually with some naff gloss-black inserts to make it still look like narrow-spokes but which will look tatty quickly and cost a lot more come refurb time.

In extremis, look at a typical EV, but they are spreading...

[Cyder]

Welcome to the brave world of OEM’s trying to avoid CAFE fines thanks to the CO2 obsessed governance of the industry.

[reapercushions]

I'll admit... I love the idea of Aerodiscs on pretty much anything...

[Evanivitch]

Ampera had aero alloy wheels since 2012. They're odd, but the whole car is a bit. The aero bit is just plastic.

[Baldchap]

These crazy modern trends!

Meanwhile, in 2001...

[TarquinMX5]

It's not really new, certain 3-Series had similar styles years ago, amongst others.

[Mr lestat]

havoc said:

Mr lestat said:

Sorry but I don’t follow. What’s fundamentally different about them. Isn’t it just the design ?

Much flatter faces / much smaller gaps between 'spokes' - designed to offer far less drag/turbulence than your typical multi-spoke alloy. Usually with some naff gloss-black inserts to make it still look like narrow-spokes but which will look tatty quickly and cost a lot more come refurb time.

In extremis, look at a typical EV, but they are spreading...

Thanks for clarifying. I hadn’t really spotted the difference but yes I see it now. Our Kia Sportage has similar wheels I thought it was just the design these days.

[SWoll]

Its the EV affect. Drag the biggest killer of efficiency for an EV (much more than weight) so manufacturers getting in on the trend with ICE variants also.

[Pica-Pica]

Bring back steel rims and plastic wheel covers. Stop all this alloy nonsense. Easier to replace, update, tune for aerodynamics.

[SWoll]

Pica-Pica said:

Bring back steel rims and plastic wheel covers. Stop all this alloy nonsense. Easier to replace, update, tune for aerodynamics.

Look dreadful, add unspring weight so affect ride, steering and handling, easy to steal etc.

[bristolracer]

Pica-Pica said:

Bring back steel rims and plastic wheel covers. Stop all this alloy nonsense. Easier to replace, update, tune for aerodynamics.

Or good old fashioned Rostyles

[Deranged Rover]

Baldchap said:

These crazy modern trends!

Meanwhile, in 2001...

And, of course, In 1983....

[Om]

SWoll said:

Pica-Pica said:

Bring back steel rims and plastic wheel covers. Stop all this alloy nonsense. Easier to replace, update, tune for aerodynamics.

Look dreadful, add unspring weight so affect ride, steering and handling, easy to steal etc.

Time to invest in cable ties again!

[rodericb]

Deranged Rover said:

And, of course, In 1983....

Citroen certainly are ahead of the times what with their incorporating EV stuff into their cars back then!

SWoll said:

Its the EV affect. Drag the biggest killer of efficiency for an EV (much more than weight) so manufacturers getting in on the trend with ICE variants also.

Praise EV's and Electric Jesus!! Those ICE impostors will be smite come judgement year 2030!!!!!11

[samoht]

A completely plain circular disc is presumably the most weight-efficient and aero-efficient form of wheel - as long as your brakes don't need any cooling airflow !

Actually in the old days inboard brakes used to have cooling ducts, so perhaps the best solution is solid wheels and cooling ducts for the brakes?

[darreni]

[Super Sonic]

Aero wheels been around for yonks
Old Rolls Royce 1930 something
And my favourite wheel,Mugen CF48.