This May I'm taking a road trip from Las Vegas to Oklahoma. I am going to get new wheels, tires, springs, shocks, sway & strut bars. Will the 18" wheels that I'm getting improve my gas milage for the 2200 mile round trip.

Here's a list of what I'm getting:
Enkei Wheels - CDR9: 18x7 5-100/114 40S
Nitto Tires - NT 450 Extreme Performance: 215/40ZR-18 89W B
Eibach Springs - Pro-Kit: lowers 1.2" front & rear
KYB - AGX Gas Shocks

Any suggestions on what brand name I should get for my sway bars and strut bars?

ALSO, what are Skunk2 Coilovers?

Thanks,
Richard



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CURRENT MODS:
AEM Cold Air Intake
Magnacor 8.5 Ignition Wires
NKG Spark Plugs

i don't know about anyone else, but my 18's (and even my old sets of 17's) hurt my miles per gallon ratio. they're wider and heavier than stockers. unfortunately, you're definately not going to gain any mileage. if i were you, i would make the trip with stock wheels so you aren't putting miles on new tires for no reason.

Ya it will definetely hurt your gas milage for sure. Bigger rims and tires are for mainly looks and for better handling.

although, 18's will actually make your odometer show less miles than you actually are traveling because they rotate slower than a smaller rim.
But yeah, definetly bad as far as gas mileage.....

-Tony 98'GST
eclipzgst@charter.net

if you want better gas mileage do your intake exhaust and igntion. most performance mods improve gas mileage. unless your adding more fuel to the engine. when an engine makes more power it takes less work (rpms) to do it's job.

The only way to improve gas mileage os to find the thinnest lightest wheels for the least amount of rolling resistance.

"The fastest draw is when the sword never leaves the scabbard,
The strongest way to block, is never to provoke a blow,
And the cleanest cut is the one withheld."



Michael J. Kulaga
e-mail: Michael_97RS@2gntDSM.zzn.com aol IM: MJKulga
http://highlander.dsmpower.com/

Injen CAI, 55mm TB, Hooker 4-1 Stepped Header, GS-T Muffler, AFX UDP, S-AFC, 8.5mm Magnecor Wires, SS Clutch Line, NRG Susp. Motor Mount Ins., FU/RU/RL STBs, TSW Blade 17x7.5, Bridgestone Potenza RE730 215/45ZR-17. Front KVR Cross-Drilled Rotors and Carbon Fiber Pads

To Be Installed: Ported/Polished Intake Manifold 1/2, Rear disc brake conversion kit, SS Brake Lines, Rear KVR Cross Drilled Rotors and KVR Carbon Fiber Kevlar Pads, Crane Ignition Amp

Don't forget tires also, certain shit tires weigh a ton. I have dunlop qualifiers I'm using for autocross (not good autox tires also) and they are mounted on some Talon TSi rims right now. The rims came with Firehawks when I bought them from the junkyard (Firehawks are decent tires) and I bought the qualifiers and had them installed man it's like they doubled in weight. I'm guessing since the treadwear is 440 the rubber is really hard which makes it heavier also. Tire pressure is another thing that'll help mileage. More pressure makes it easier to roll, hehe not for grip though. So inflate your tires to the max pressure for the road trip. And yes of course lighter wheels will improve mileage if you can get some light racing wheels that are big but light that'd help.

Bigger wheels wont nessessarily make the odometer spin slower. If you use a tire calculator and figure out what size tires to use to make the whole wheel and tire diameter the same as stock, then it will be the same.