"So if you add 30lbs to your wheels, you've basically just put 240 to 300 pounds of dead weight in your car. "

So getting the rims chromed is equiv. to permanantly riding around with an NFL nose tackle in your backseat.

Interesting, I had no idea that plating added so much weight.

Back in the 80s when we took things into have them chromed, it was an extensive electrostatic process that used nickel rods. No noticeable weight was added.

I wonder how it is done now....

 

I just shipped a 6 spoke wheel and it weighed 15lbs including the box so I would say the weight is under 15lbs

BTW, Does anyone know the the width of the wheels on my 04.5 g35x?

 

That's really hard to believe. Sounds more like the scale was off.

 

You're right! I just checked my reciept and it says 10.14 INCLUDING THE BOX!

 

Chroming tends to add about .5 to 1lb to the wheel according to the Tirerack when comparing like wheels that are painted vs chrome.

I happen to like the OEM 5 spoke rims quite a bit. They appear larger than they really are because the spoke is pulled to the edge of the rim. IMO, they look a lot more aggressive than the 6-spoke. As for the center cap being plastic, my Sport rim center caps match perfectly and they feel cool to the touch which leads me to believe they're metal. That always struck me as odd. To each his own though

As for weight, as measured on the scale I at work to ship Fed-Ex said ~46lbs for the 17" Sport rim with a Turanza EL42 with 80% tread. According to the Tirerack, the 215/55R17 EL42 weighs 26lbs. That means the 17" Sport rim should weigh in the neighborhood of 20-21lbs.