Wheel upgrade is not really a top priority right now, as I would only track once or twice a year. However, I do want to make a plan in my head for the future.
My choice would be Volk Racing CE28N (I know it is a very common choice to most car owners looking for performance out of wheels, and a long wait), since Racing Hart CP-035R is tiny bit heavier in each size, is discontinued, more expensive although imo it looks better.
Buddy Club P1 QF is tiny bit lighter than the CE28N but would require spacers, and eventually become heavier and not as effective (from the spacer). Dymag wheels are nice but super expensive (running around 1-1.5k per rim I think) while being not much lighter than CE28N, and more importantly they'd break during daily driving.
The size is where I am having trouble making decisions. Most common and effective setup seems either 17x9 or18x9.5. I don't plan on getting anything bigger as it would require widebody kit.
For 17x9, there is only one offset is +30mm, and tire choice is very easy, 255/40. I can run on RA-1's for daily driving and perhaps have slicks on for tracks. Tons of alternatives to choose from for emergency cases since 255/40 is very common. Also much cheaper than 18" variants.
For 18x9.5, the tire choices seem very limited. Only a handful of 255/35 and 265/35, compatible R-compounds are all very shortliving, and only way to go is same or worse than stock tire for daily driving. Probably don't need to roll fenders for 255/35 since the overall diameter is shorter than stock, but probably do need to do so for 265/35. It seems there are couple of offset choices: +15mm for deep-dish/concaved and +28mm for deep-dish/flat. The +15mm would stick out too much right?
I know that you'll probably get better times by running 17x9 set up in auto-x, but what about road-racing?
Would you shave a lot of seconds at a circuit for running 355mm 6pot Alcon front (or 370mm if it fits), 330mm 4pot Alcon rear, 18x10.5 CE28N's, 275/35 slicks over 343mm 6pot Alcon front (370mm if it fits), 330mm 4pot Alcon rear, 17x9 CE28Ns with 255/40 slicks (of same brand and model). Say you are running DS3000/2500 Ferodo pads and Moton Clubsport for both set ups and tuned 'optimal' for your driving style.
My choice would be Volk Racing CE28N (I know it is a very common choice to most car owners looking for performance out of wheels, and a long wait), since Racing Hart CP-035R is tiny bit heavier in each size, is discontinued, more expensive although imo it looks better.
Buddy Club P1 QF is tiny bit lighter than the CE28N but would require spacers, and eventually become heavier and not as effective (from the spacer). Dymag wheels are nice but super expensive (running around 1-1.5k per rim I think) while being not much lighter than CE28N, and more importantly they'd break during daily driving.
The size is where I am having trouble making decisions. Most common and effective setup seems either 17x9 or18x9.5. I don't plan on getting anything bigger as it would require widebody kit.
For 17x9, there is only one offset is +30mm, and tire choice is very easy, 255/40. I can run on RA-1's for daily driving and perhaps have slicks on for tracks. Tons of alternatives to choose from for emergency cases since 255/40 is very common. Also much cheaper than 18" variants.
For 18x9.5, the tire choices seem very limited. Only a handful of 255/35 and 265/35, compatible R-compounds are all very shortliving, and only way to go is same or worse than stock tire for daily driving. Probably don't need to roll fenders for 255/35 since the overall diameter is shorter than stock, but probably do need to do so for 265/35. It seems there are couple of offset choices: +15mm for deep-dish/concaved and +28mm for deep-dish/flat. The +15mm would stick out too much right?
I know that you'll probably get better times by running 17x9 set up in auto-x, but what about road-racing?
Would you shave a lot of seconds at a circuit for running 355mm 6pot Alcon front (or 370mm if it fits), 330mm 4pot Alcon rear, 18x10.5 CE28N's, 275/35 slicks over 343mm 6pot Alcon front (370mm if it fits), 330mm 4pot Alcon rear, 17x9 CE28Ns with 255/40 slicks (of same brand and model). Say you are running DS3000/2500 Ferodo pads and Moton Clubsport for both set ups and tuned 'optimal' for your driving style.