Rear Wheel Skirts That Bulge (issue)
 

I'll have to get pictures later, but the problem is pretty simple: my rear wheels are out far enough that I can't make a rear skirt that runs flush with the body of the car.

So, I see that I have two options:

1. Make one that doesn't go all the way down
2. Make one that bulges out a little bit and goes all the way down.

Whatcha think? I'll snap some good picture later in the day hopefully.

800 ? 800: true);
 

https://images5.theimagehosting.com/DSC00131.07a.th.JPG
https://images5.theimagehosting.com/DSC00132.1d8.th.JPG
https://images5.theimagehosting.com/DSC00133.90d.th.JPG

Ah yes... the bulge issue. I
 

Ah yes... the bulge issue.

I think both solutions are good ones for this problem. I've actually considered doing both at one time or another.

I'll probably end up making one that goes all of the way down and just bulges out past the tires for the ultra geek effect.

I think you'll need to go
 

I think you'll need to go all the way down for increase FE. I have the same problem and tried skirts that came down to the bulge and saw no effect on the FE.:( My driving is mixed, hardly ever get over 60 and most of the time it's around 30-40 MPH averaging about 30-35 MPH for a tank of gas.

down
 

The bottom of the tire is not moving through the air - ground speed is 0 so you don't have to cover it. The upper half of the tire is moving at twice the ground speed and needs to be covered.

Re: down
 

Excellent point -- kinda like how tornadoes will destroy one house and the house next door is left untouched: there's a fast side as it moves and a slow side. I also see some camber issues (I think I'd run into the same problem). I'd experiment with the top half idea -- first though, jack up each side of the car and see if the top of the wheel pushes out at the top in any form during suspension operation. All hope is not lost.

Re: down
 

if ground = 0 and upper = 2 x ground (0)

you still have 0

Re: Rear Wheel Skirts That Bulge (issue)
 

i think the full ones looks better. and even though the very bottom of the tire may not be moving relative to the ground, the wheel arch *is* moving through the air at full speed, so the further down you streamline it, the better.

mine bulge out a bit - see the photo in my DIY of the aluminum strip i attached to the back side of the skirt to get an idea of the shape i had to use.

you could cheat and stick a set of rear mudflaps on - that's what my skirts attach to (which reduces the amount of "bulge" required to clear the tire).

Quote:I also see some camber
 

If you mean enhanced handling through curves issue, yes, you see that.

Quote:i think the full ones
 

Agreed, this is why I will prolly go for them. The insight looks like it bulges, yeah?

Prolly hella expensive jdm ****, :p

cover
 

The Ground speed is the speed over the ground - the bottom of the tire is at 0 mph unless it is slipping and the top is twice the Ground speed moving forward - the center of the tire is at ground speed.

Re: Quote:i think the full ones
 

mine are $5 aftermarket jobbies. pancake flat, no fancy molded stuff.

i don't think the insight has any flare to their skirts. they're pretty flat straight across. remember, the insight's rear track is narrower than the front, so that helps with the skirt clearance issue.

Re: cover
 

right

bottom of tire 0
center/hub 1
top of tire 2 , or twice the center/hub speed (gound speed, not twice the bottom of tire speed)

Why not buy a aftermarket
 

Why not buy a aftermarket wheel with more backspacing?

Re: Why not buy a aftermarket
 

I think most of the aftermarket wheels are wider than stock, not skinnier.

Does anyone know what the bolt pattern is on teh honda insights? I they their wheels are really narrow.

Re: Why not buy a aftermarket
 

Why would they be any different then other 4 lug Honda wheels, 4x100mm.

Quote:Why would they be any
 

There happen to be 4x114.3 things out there in the honda/acura lineup, :p

Re: Quote:Why would they be any
 

The easiest thing to do is go to tirerack and choose wheels for an Insight. It will tell you the bolt pattern. im toooo lazy to look. Speaking of Insights, I will be driving one from Wed thru Sat. Hypermiling heaven!

I'm pretty sure it's 4x100,
 

I'm pretty sure it's 4x100, I'm just giving you a hard time about the 96-97 itr.

Re: Why not buy a aftermarket
 

Honda actually has a few 5-lug wheels out there now adays. Maybe that's acura... can't remember.

Re: Why not buy a aftermarket
 

Backspacing is the measurement of the wheel mounting surface to the outer surface of the rim, I should not have used the word "aftermarket". Backspacing controls how far your wheels stick out.

If you measure your backspacing, maybe you could find another wheel with more backspacing, that way it will tuck your wheels/tires in closer.

Since you have a thin wheel to begin with, I assume a 5-6 inch, you might want to try and check Summit Racing. I would think they would carry skinny wheels, for the front of drag cars, with a variety of backspacing and lug patterns.