Rims for auto crossing & track (question)
 

hi everyone. in a few weeks, i'm going to have the opportunity to have the bbs 15'' vert wheels (11lbs), or 17'' volks (14lbs). i have a few questions...

1) which will be better? the vert wheels with 205/50/15? or the volkracing with 225/40/17? (my car is NA, so acceleration is also taking into consideration)

2) i'm also thinking about a brake upgrade in the future, will bigger brakes be necessary? or can i just upgrade with same size brakes if i stick with the 15 inch.

3) should i save money and buy the vert rims? or will it be worth it getting the volkracing rims? ( i have money for both )

my main concern is handling, i might want the vert rims, but might be too small and too much sidewall on tires. what do u guys think?

I say 15's...No question a better race rim. lighter better turning raduis.. cheaper race rubber... HAnds down go vert rims.

i have been auotx ing forever.. i have run 17's and 15's got 16's. but i'd say go 15's

http://frutsel.terrainhost.com/fruts...emon%20010.jpg

how about thinking of the future? like bigger brakes, wider tires.....? the vert rims will be better tho its not as wide and has more sidewall? i plan on getting better rims when i have the money, but since i have the chance now between vert rims or volkracing, still say vert? i also like the vert rims too, but seem to small, less rubber... more opinions welcome.

btw rrtec, i didnt know one of ur wheels was a cone, hehehe. ( ran over the cone looks like its one of ur wheels. ;)

You seem to already have your mind made up.....

well.... i'm just more to the volkracing side....... just wanted to know what other people would do too... if i compared the 2 rims, would the vert rims be close?

I gave that cone hell.........I'm still picking melted orange rubber out from under the car..he he.. it was either miss the gate and DNF or take out the cone..I chose the latter.

i hear tell you can get 225's on the vert 15x6.5's

If the rims are going to be for autocross only, why would you need a big sidewall? I agree with getting the 15". A couple pounds per wheel will make a big difference in the responses of the car. Plus with it being lighter and a smaller diameter the wheels will have less rotational inertia, so the car will accelerate faster.
Don't discount the weight of the tire either. A 17" tire is going to weigh more than a 15" tire. So your wheel/ tire combo for the 17" will probably be about 50lbs, where-as the 15" combo will probably be 40lbs or less.
You can definitely get a 225/50-15 onto that rim.
If you want the car to look cool go ahead and get the 17", but if you want to go fast and win, get the 15".

That is great that you can fit that wide of a tire on that rim. However, think about sidewall stiffness and the large width of that rubber on a 225.

Also, find out what race tire you want to use. Then figure what sizes they sell in the race tire you want. Then ask your self what rim size you want to use. You might find the race tire you want to use restricting your rim size choices.

Ask around to get some facts on this. But I would avoid using a overly wide tire. IE wider than stock for the rim. The tire might suffer in stiffness.

James

there! that's what i want to hear! so overall, the vert rims would outperform the volkracing? the reason is, i thought the vert rims would be bad because of the tire roll. so i was thinking, maybe getting 215/50/15 on the vert rims, not too wide as it wouldnt be balanced, not sure bout 225 width. then maybe some 17's when i start having more power to the wheels. thanks guys.

ive got azenis on my vert rims...i daily drive them and autox them. I love the rim and tire combo...my speedo is off now though since the azenis are a lower profile....small price to pay though

Any race tire is going to have a really stiff sidewall. Miata folks run 225 width tires on 6" rims all day long.
I have a friend that ran a 245 on a stock WRX rim, which is also 6.5" wide... now THAT was nutty. :)

I run Kumho Ecsta V700s 225/50/15 for autocross on stock GXL 15x6 wheels with excellent results. I don't see any reason on getting a 17" wheel for racing over a 15. The 15s will be lighter and will allow you to run a smaller overall diameter which will help acceleration. Kumho also makes this tire in a 225/45/15 which would let you run a smaller diameter yet. Plus they are 3 pounds lighter than the 50 series.

Just my $.02

- Cooper Lacy

thanks, i'll be looking into that tire size. but right now, if i put on the 205/50/15, my tach wouldnt be off because since i have an s5 gxl model, 15 was the stock size right?

Isn't running anything over stock size (16" x 7" max) bump you in class, unless you're running ST?

Smaller diameter wheel will give you less unsprung weight, usually.

Wider tires will usually add more weight.

Unless you're a pro, I doubt the wide tire width would make you go significantly faster.

Get a tire pyrometer - check your tire temps to make sure you're using them to their maximum potential.  I'll bet they are not hot enough after your runs.

How close are you getting to the fastest car in your class?


-Ted

good point...

good point....

Get the vert wheels.
I have them for autocrossing and can use take-offs from a road race Civic guy I know. Not a bad deal.

If you're worried about upgrading the brakes, don't bother, they're good brakes. Just make sure they're working right.
unless you're going much wider (wide body), I'd bet the weight of the bigger wheels would offset the gains.

Spend your money on a Roth IRA instead...

Cory

You can't run street touring with a 7, street touring is only for sedans.

With bigger wheels (over 16X7) you will be running in SP or SM, depending on mods.. I run in CSP with 16X7's and get to beat up on the miata's and civics.... Much more fun then getting pounded by zo6 vets and vipers...

Yah, ASP is a pretty freaking tough class. My TII is in it, but just barely, so I currently get worked pretty hard. Next season though...

:D

Blah myTII is also in ASP and I have been know to beat a z06 or two......last autoX I beat the turbo mr2 only other car in my class that day....

I'd say go for 16's or wide 15s for a turbo car...when your going through the slomon it gets tricky when the turbo starts to spool, I've had to mash the breaks a few time because of the on coming light post :o

RETed, I don't think tire temp will be a problem. He probably hasn't done serious weight reduction. And a 225 isn't all that wide in the grand scheme of things.
Ambient temps will probably play a bigger role.
Any change in rim diameter or width will bump you out of stock. You are allowed to change the offset by 1/4" in either direction though.

Anybody notice in that AutoX picture that the RX7 shown has just totally eaten a cone under it's front-left wheel. :lol:

I have 225/60 on the back of my vert, I didn't buy the tires, their still new from when I got the car. If you could get 45 profile tires on the vert rims or even 50 it would handle nice. My car handles dam good and my tires fold so I don't push it to the limits. But the 225 on the back aren't wide enough. I have goodyear tires, a slipping clutch, and an almost stock car and I can't keep my tires from spinning. They call me, the drift master round here. I saw the cone under the tire, lol, it happens to all of us.