2 questions, first, i have been advised that tire/rim weight is a huge impact on the overall weight of the car, just want to verify this, and are stock rims (eg) the lightest or are aftermarket ones better?

second question, my car is somewhat lowered, there is still about a 1" gap between the tire and the body, i am wondering what would offer better performance: making it lower with stock size (195) or keeping it at current height and using wider (205-215) tires? btw, i currently have 00 si rims.

 

A lightweight wheel would be about 10-15lbs for a 15" wheel and a 15" tire would be around 19-20lbs. So you're looking at the least 30lbs. per corner.

Si's aren't the lightest wheels out there, but at least they aren't the heaviest.

I'd get the 205/50/15 tires first and see how they sit. If you still see a gap, then lower it to the height that you want. But don't lower it more then get different tires.

 

so it would be beneficial to use stock integra rims or something else with 205s? so how big is the difference between alloys and steels? because i feel like i should be getting more bite on hard corners i think the weak link is my tire size...the falkens i have are good quality

 

Think about it. How easy would it be to move a Merry-Go-Round with no one on it compared to lots of people on it. So yes more weight = more power to turn the wheel/tire.

I believe in Sport Compact Car it was for every 1lb wheel/tire weight that equals 9lbs static body weight.

So my setup which is 15x7" Enkei RPF1s (9.5lbs each) and 205/50x15" Falken Azenis (20lbs each) comes out to 29.5lbs.

My 15x7" Kosei K1s (15lbs each) with the same tire weighs about 35lbs. Difference of 5.5lbs per corner.
5.5 x 4 = 22lbs difference.
22lbs x 9 (static body weight) = extra 198lbs. That's one person riding in my car.

 

Very helpful analogy, completely answers my question from a theoretical standpoint but im still curious as to what is the absolute lightest, im assuming stock since honda tries to make everything gas efficient, please correct me if im wrong. I am literally striving to remove every unnecessary ounce from my car (within reason) possible, cosmetics isnt important toward my goals for this project.

 

if you want efficiency (as in saving gas) you want a narrow tire like 195/55x15" or 185/65x15". Less contact on the ground means less rolling resistance.

The lightest wheel I've seen are my 15x7" Enkei RPF1s which are 9.5lbs each. For tires you want like all season radials (less sticky) instead of summer only type tires (stickier). But you shouldn't put a 195 wide tire on a 7" wide rim.