huge different on 3 perspective

1) larger wheel, thinner side wall the turn-in would be sharper, less delay. This can be reduced by getting a higher performance, stiffer side wall tyres.
I think most people should be able to feel Michelin XM vs PS4S, it is super obvious.
But if you can't tell the different of eg:. Continental SC7 vs Michelin PS4S or not so high end MC6 vs Primacy4... same category different brand then this turn-in sharpness feel maybe irrelevant to you.


2) Depends on the TOTAL weight different, and the weight distribution (middle of the wheel vs outer edge close to the edge). The acceleration + bump characteristic change.
I must emphasize TOTAL -> complete wheel -> rim + tyre. My experience is 5kg lighter per wheel, so it is super obvious.
Most claim they call fell 2kg per wheel difference, I would trust that. Those that claim 1lbs (0.5) like day and night, I think it totally BS.

The initial acceleration + braking response is sharper, more immediate.
But when the car is in constant acceleration, not much difference. The key is sudden pace change.
Like you accelerate mild, then sudden accelerate more, or light tap on the brake then back to throttle etc. The whole car response faster.

In racing, little edge on the time attack, but very useful on dog fight. On the road don't expect magic on 0-100km/h, it is more on the feel.

After 2 weeks, when I totally got used it, the magic sensation gone. Until maybe I drive a friend's car of same model...

3) Comfort/Bump. Lighter wheel, the big bump in less intrusive to the cabin. However the small rattle that wasn't present on heavier wheel can be felt on lighter wheel.
Then generally smaller wheel, thicker side wall tyres can absorb the small rattler better than low profile tyres.

The final effect have to see complete wheel package => Complete weight, rim weight distribution of the spoke design, tyre side wall thickness, tyre side wall stiffness, tyre width.
Probably best way is test drive see what you like.

For me personally, the concrete higher car limit wins. Not fans of feels good myself, but by someone else simply chilling and go faster around the corner.

Using the cars I'm familiar with Mazda3 vs Elantra Sport.

For the same excitement feel fun drive in Mazda3, I would need to drive 20-30km/h faster in Elantra Sport to even start feeling it.

If the Elantra Sport is driven at the same speed as Madza3, same speed, same road, same corner.... it is like walk in the park.

Can I say the limit of the Elantra Sport is just much higher? I didn't even compare the power.

Anyway each person have their own preferences.

Edit/Add: For me the jaw dropping feature of Mazda is all the White LED interior/headlamp is the perfectly calibrated true natural white. There is zero... absolute zero colour temperature drift, zero hue, and consistent across all LED light source. Not even cars cost 2-3 times the price ever achieve this to best of my own/drive/ride in different cars.


This post has been edited by constant_weight: Aug 15 2024, 11:59 PM

Hail the almighty mechanic friend.

If so confident with the mechanic friend, just publish the shop name, address. We'll judge actual reputable pro or bawah pokok ourselves...

I think I'm nagging same thing again... big majority of people judge handling/feel base on body roll alone.

Not a lot of regular driver can tell other dimensions.

Compression/rebounds, body rotation/slip angle, tyre twist, steering assist force resolutions, weight transfer like nose dive vs whole chassis sink flat during hard braking.
I'm sure there are still many others that pro drivers beyond my caliber can feel, that I can't

Bose on Mazda a tad better then no brand 6 speakers on the 2017 Elantra Sport.
This is just strictly objective sound quality, clarity, distortion, noise, base 2 distinctive beats isolation, not muffle together.
Not the subjective more/less base/treble, warn/cold, etc that related personal preference.

Harman Kardon on the Volvo is so much better than Bose, like 100x better, there is no second doubt.
Again this is on objective sound quality alone.
The instruments vs vocal separation, and separation among different instruments are next level. You'll notice a lot not dominant instruments playing, that wasn't aware before.
The whole soundstage also appear wider, sounds appears to come from further distance beyond the car 4 walls.

To an extend, it made me question how Mercedes justify the hefty price tag of Bang & Olufsen, the quality is not at the same level as HK in Volvo.
And I own B&O devices, I know how good is B&O quality. Sometime it is the chassis, interior, rather then speakers themselves.

Bowers & Wilkins on Volvo again next level from the HK. Base, mid about the same.
Treble is clearer, vocal from artist come out "CLEAN", and contains more "DETAILS".
Especially when the female vocalist do a very subtle transpose at the end of highest pitch, the HK can completely loss that details.
Actually same for most major brands soundbars, headphones that I experienced, they loss this kind of details. Don't talk about B&W 803 level of madness.

An audiophile, that super tall guy at mid-valley told me sound wave bounce off glass make huge difference. But I seriously can't recognize the impact objectively, scientifically.
Interested to test Mark Levinson in Lexus next...

This post has been edited by constant_weight: Aug 30 2024, 08:35 AM

Just FYI. After 3 years (sedan version), the headliner develop some rattle near the rear glass. Push lightly with palm, it stops.

Hope yours will be fine, but it is relatively small issue and easy to fix (stuck some foam there) vs the steering

I'm actually agree with you. Just wanna share the gap from my persective.

Of of 100%, initially I vote the Mazda Bose 85-90 (really good score). White other Japanese/Korean no brand but 6-8 speakers on the high trim 75-80.
But of all odds, I experienced HK on Volvo that is off the chart like 200%. Then B&W again further off the chart like 800%. It is that significant, in terms of objective quality.

BTW, it is Volvo thing. If you try HK on BMW, it is not at same level, even though the DSP tick all the same capability as the Volvo.
It has to do with Volvo included audio experience right from SPA chassis R&D.

Other than that, it is personal preference.
Sony totally not my cup of tea, even though quality is top notch base on spectrum analyzer. Like audiophiles gang said, for Sony it is either hate it or love it.
For those that Love Sony, most tends think others not punchy enough.
Similarly those that Love Meridian, tends to think B&W is not lively enough.
Those that love B&W, most tend to think Sony is crap, noisy, lack of details.

BTW, the old B&W if you still have them. They are GOLD.
The speakers are top notch, but the capacitors are crap.
I saw mod guide, if you buy good quality capacitors for reputable source like RS Components, replace those on legacy B&W, you get quantum leap in sound quality!


Edit: I grew up from poor family. For most part of my life I though Altec Lansing is the best ever, lol...

This post has been edited by constant_weight: Aug 30 2024, 06:46 PM

For the most part, it can be better than stock. But can't beat good design from factory R&D.

There is just one thing they can't do, also most important to get clean sound. (at least 99% of the shop, with rare exception the shop has sound engineer worked in the major OEM before).
Which is tune the delay/phase of each speaker, so that they superposition reaching the ear together.
Then way from drivers/passengers cancel each other, minimize sound wave bouncing of the cabin.

Have you seen any accessories shop but a stereo microphone with dummy human ears shape + spectrum analyzer to measure the waveform?
At least I never.

This post has been edited by constant_weight: Aug 30 2024, 10:45 PM

You can summarize as that...

You seen shop with that capability?
My area can calibrate the volume balance among all speakers very geng already. Most ah beng accessories shop just install, as long as punchy more base many people happy already.

Some OEM lower end also didn't calibrate the timing per specific car

When push high volume, very very noisy, sound no longer clean. Also the option to center at driver, or single passenger, all got very little change, don'tfeels real. My car is very obvious sitting right at middle of band vs first row of the stsge vs sit far way from stage.

I only seen one home theater professionally done that. Got to know one install case, the owner get modern 5.x.x DSP, not sure what he uses for the ceiling/sky channel. Each of the 5 goes to one B&W 803. Not sure what he use for the subwoofer channel, maybe not need already with the 803. Now got higher end Nautilus, don't know the uncle upgrade or not...

This post has been edited by constant_weight: Aug 31 2024, 09:02 AM

Those on the roof are microphones. They are for active noise cancellation (just like the ANC headphones/TWS earphone) + mic for call.

My car you can sit anywhere, including the rear seat and speak with natural talking volume + don't need lean forward.
The caller can't tell and assume I'm in a quiet room, with car cruising at highway speed.

Amazing 2004 Mercs have this. Older Mercs until W204 C Class are fantastic. After that zzzzz..... don't mention their EV.

This year there are some premium car come with Dolby Atmos, those gotta be the first of their kind with ceiling/sky channel support.
Speakers can on on root/head rest or even both. 2025 onwards, it will be the new norm.

My car, I tried with 5.1 Test File. All channel works precisely from the right direction, although the spec sheet never mention surround support.
Not sure the limit can't find 7.1 test file.

I think most Japanese/Korean car 100-150k price range when mention surround, it is the virtual surround "effect". Sound data still get flatten to 2-channel, not actual surround.
I never validate each with the 5.1 Test File, let me know if anyone know this car segment get "real" surround.

I guess Chinese cars most likely will support, their focus has always been infotainment, perceived luxury instead of drivability, mechanical engineering, high speed >200km/h stability.

This post has been edited by constant_weight: Aug 31 2024, 11:12 AM

Yea, not new thing. But I only seen home theater pro doing it. The accessories shop around me all ah beng shop 🥲

This post has been edited by constant_weight: Aug 31 2024, 01:48 PM