Race wheels? What are you running?
 

Looks like my project car could be coming online *soon*, and i was wondering what you racers are running for wheels. I run a point based class, and my car already points out of everything so im pretty much unlimited. But I think i was to running 16 x 8's in the front and 16 x 9's in the rear with 225 or 235 fronts and 265 rears. I'm having trouble finding 16's in this size, can anyone recommend some wheels? anyone else run 265's?

what car? FC? FD? 1st gen?

we found on the FC that the 16x8's were better than the 15x7's that were class legal.

the current car we get sponsored by rota so we're running the 15x7 RB's. (again class size)

we've been averaging about 1 bent/broken rim per season/25hour, wheel to wheel; stuff gets run over and banged around.

Budget?

1, 2 or 3 piece?

If you can afford it, Kodiak makes some very nice custom wheels. That's what I'm using, but in a 15x9 at all 4 corners.

In back to back testing with 225/45/15's, 15x9's have shown themselves to be on the order of 2 seconds a lap faster than 15x8's. Do yourself a favour and go as wide as is practical. I'd think that you should be able to fit a 16x9 and 245's in the front with a good fender pull and just the right offset. If not a 16x9 with a 225 should be faster than a 16x8 with a 225.

Also, do you really need to go staggered? There's lots of benefits to running the same tires at all 4 corners. Anyway, I'd be more inclined to go with 16x9's and 245's at all 4 corners.

I love working with John & Chip at CCW (http://www.ccwheel.com/) ... that's what I have on my "other" car and it's what I plan to put on the FC real soon now. They're not cheap, but the customer service is worth it.

Sorry, the car is an FC. And i dont think this car is going to be super competitive so i dont need the best, most expensive wheels. Also, it looks like 16" tires are being phased out; sizes are becoming limited and can actually be more expenisve then 17" tires! (kumhos)

Right now, im looking at enkei RPF1's because they seem to be really light and have a great price. I'm also looking at some Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2 because they have a lot of options for offsets.
Though, they seem to be a pretty heavy wheel at 20lbs. I have OEM '97 cobra wheels that weigh 22lbs...

So, I think im looking at 17 x 8's for the front and 17 x 9 rear... Not too sure on the offset yet.

If you are doing the RP01 at minimum you should do the 17x9 +35 with 255/40-17 front and rear and use a 15mm hubcentric bolt on spacer at the front (powered by Max has this size).

This will fit with stock style springs in front but will require pretty heavy front fender rolling with out negative camber (assuming stock suspension here).

If you are going to coilovers (which you may need to control body roll and brake dive w/ 255 up front) a more mild front fender roll is necessary OR you can go wider!

Since you don't mind getting things to fit that shouldn't you may like to play around with max fitment wheels/tires.

With coilovers a 17x9.5 +38 or even 17x10+38 with a 15mm spacer (at most a 20mm spacer) and 255/40-17 front will fit. Again, front fender roll required.

It is crazy but the rim lip will be under the lower spring perch near the damper body and the tire sidewall will stretch up and out just missing the lower spring perch.

17x9.5 +38 or 17x10 +38 is also perfect for the rear w/ 255/40-17.

With the limited power of the F20C and the FCs chassis balance I wouldn't mess around with stagger.

I am wanting to run a 255/40/17 up front as well. I'll be running coilovers, so a little extra clearance, still contemplating on how though...I am weary of running such a low offset though, wheel bearings will be under more stress and the scrub radius is severely effected...basically effecting suspension geometry in a negative way for handling.

and this thread is 2 years old...bringing topics back from the grave...FAIL

OEM FC wheels for my FC

I am only missing 2 different kinds of stock wheels, which I can use for
non studded winter tires and R compounds

then I truly will have a tire/wheel combo for every surface!

I am wanting to run a 255/40/17 up front as well.

I raced with 255/40-17 NT01 on 17x8.5 +30 on the front of my FC with coilovers, ~2.5 deg neg camber, stock front fender lips rolled under only.

A more aggressive fitment would be 17x9 +25 ish offset and a roll with pull on front fenders.

Thanks for the offset/tire combo...I planned on modifying the fenders to fit 255 up front, but was not sure about the offset....I'm used to s2000 stuff, very high offsets LOL

Good to know. I plan on running 245/40-17 on 17x8.5 +42 with 12mm spacers on the front of my FC this season along with Stance GR+ coilovers and stock fenders with the lips rolled.