Weight vs HP?
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: mobile,alabama
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Weight vs HP?
How much weight must you lose to overcome HP? Say one car has 200hp and the other has 400hp. How much lighter would the other car have to be to make up the Difference? I'm sure this has been asked before. Sorry if so.
#2
Lives on the Forum
It depends on a lot of things, such as suspension, tire size, drag, etc.
For instance you have 2 identical cars, but one has half the hp and half the weight, the heavier car will have a faster top speed and faster acceleration at speed because it'll have the same drag as the lighter car, but more power to overcome it. The lighter car will have better grip than the heavier car, so it'll handle better.
Within reason, a bigger, heavier, more powerful car will be faster than a light, less powerful car on a race track given appropriately sized wheels and tires. Corvettes are faster than Miatas (even turbo ones) because they've got more power, not a heck of a lot more drag and they can fit massive tires.
For instance you have 2 identical cars, but one has half the hp and half the weight, the heavier car will have a faster top speed and faster acceleration at speed because it'll have the same drag as the lighter car, but more power to overcome it. The lighter car will have better grip than the heavier car, so it'll handle better.
Within reason, a bigger, heavier, more powerful car will be faster than a light, less powerful car on a race track given appropriately sized wheels and tires. Corvettes are faster than Miatas (even turbo ones) because they've got more power, not a heck of a lot more drag and they can fit massive tires.
#3
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: mobile,alabama
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There has to be a point where being light would make a difference in acceleration, stopping distance and would be equal to or better than the car with more Hp in speed. How much would it take?
#4
Lives on the Forum
I already told you, it depends. You seem to be looking for a simple answer to a complex problem, but there is none. It depends on many, many, many different variables, I listed only a few of probably a hundred different significant variables. On a shorter, tighter, more technical track the lighter weight will be a greater advantage than on a longer, faster track where hp/drag will be more of an advantage than on the other track. So even taking all the car variables out of the equation the answer is still that it depends.
All else being equal, lighter is better, but all else is almost never equal. HP/weight tells only a very small part of the story as far as speed potential goes.
All else being equal, lighter is better, but all else is almost never equal. HP/weight tells only a very small part of the story as far as speed potential goes.
#5
Moderator
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
Posts: 30,805
Received 2,577 Likes
on
1,831 Posts
if you include cornering the answer gets really complex, power doesnt matter at all. in a corner, its all about how the driver uses the car/suspension to manipulate the contact patch. in odd cases adding weight can actually HELP cornering. the suspension/tire/driver interaction is really complex.
#6
Lives on the Forum
THERE IS NO SIMPLE ANSWER, EVEN FOR DRAG RACING!!!
Trending Topics
#8
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: sioux falls south dakota
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the less a car weighs the less force its gonna take to move it so if u have a 2000 lbs car wit 200 hp compared to a 4000lbs 400 hp car in a perfect world they will both cross the 1/4 at the same time
#9
Lives on the Forum
That said, lighter is ALWAYS better, all else being equal, but all else is NEVER equal.