
This test by Motoiq is very well done but it does read a bit like a Carbon Revolution sales pitch.
What does the average person know? Carbon fiber is light, strong, and expensive. The reason carbon fiber wheels were relatively rare is because not only is the expense an issue but when carbon fiber fails, it shatters.
Think of breaking glass rather than bending metal. If you bend an aluminum rim, you likely will be in better shape (as will your car) than shattering a carbon rim.
As Carbon Revolution and Motoiq show, modern carbon fiber wheels are much stronger than their aluminum counterparts:



Steel can not be beat for stiffness or cost but it is not light. Aluminum we all know well but you will have to sacrifice stiffness to lower weight. There is no way around it.
Carbon fiber blows the competition away as far as stiffness for the weight of the material.
Also, keep in mind, aluminum fatigues over time or even over a race. You can lose camber after intense lapping simply due to the metal flexing.

Ok, we can sit here and look at charts and theory all day. What about some real world testing? That is exactly what Motoiq did at the Las Vegas Speedway Infield Course. Keep in mind this is a tight, short course.
They picked up a set of OEM 19 inch 997 GT3 aluminum wheels and a set of 19 inch Carbon Revolution wheels. Both sets wore the same 235/35/19 up front and 305/35/19 Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo R tires.


Weights (in lbs):
GT3 Wheels
21.0 front, 26.0 rear
Carbon Revolution CR-9 Wheels
17.5 front, 21.0 rear
Right up front you save seven pounds up front and 10 in the rear.
How did this work out on the track?

.38 seconds shaved right off the bat. Not bad, right? Extrapolated out on a larger road course they estimate over a second at VIR. Let's just say saving over a full second just from lighter wheels is well worth it for hardcore track junkies.
The carbon wheels were easier on the tires too:

Are these worth it? That depends if $12k for a set of carbon fiber wheels is worth it to you.
In the next few years we will no doubt see quality carbon fiber wheel options for under $10k.
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