Advantage to 18" wheels?
Dec 6, 2004, 12:59 PM
#16
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Originally Posted by gestalt
I am looking to upgrade wheels and I was wondering if there is an advantage to 18" wheels that outweigh the added weight. I do about 4 track events and about 10 autocrosses a year. Any advice would be appreciated. 
When selecting wheels, weight and wheel strength should be your primary concern, not rim diameter.
Dec 6, 2004, 08:25 PM
#18
Here's the key to picking a wheel size: pick your brakes first.
After you have selected your brakes, pick the smallest wheel size that will fit over the brakes.
Then from those that will fit, get the lightest one and strongest one.
Here's another monkey wrench: wider wheels can fit wider tyres, but also weigh more.
Pick your poison
After you have selected your brakes, pick the smallest wheel size that will fit over the brakes.
Then from those that will fit, get the lightest one and strongest one.
Here's another monkey wrench: wider wheels can fit wider tyres, but also weigh more.
Pick your poison
Dec 7, 2004, 01:21 AM
#19
Originally Posted by donour
I'm 
, but you can get 17" (stock) SSR competitions -- quite light indeed.
d
, but you can get 17" (stock) SSR competitions -- quite light indeed.d
Dec 7, 2004, 01:23 AM
#20
Originally Posted by SOF
Nope, try again.
Bigger wheels means bigger tires which means bigger grip and bigger heat dissipation. I don't know what kind of racing you do, but for most people that's pretty important.
Bigger wheels means bigger tires which means bigger grip and bigger heat dissipation. I don't know what kind of racing you do, but for most people that's pretty important.
Dec 7, 2004, 08:22 PM
#21
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Originally Posted by urbanknight
Define bigger. I can get you a set of 18" wheels that are 7" wide, would that grip better than a set of 17x9 rims (assuming appropriately sized tires)? I think you meant that wider rims can get wider rubber. Not worrying about diameter in that case.
Dec 8, 2004, 12:08 AM
#22
I can see that generalization, but racing in SCCA for the past 6 years has shown me that there is no shortage of 15x8, 16x10, and even 13x12 rims either (13x12 looks and performs great on a Dodge Neon, btw). Most "bling" wheel packages for inching up, however, are 7" wide. Good thing racers know better.
Dec 8, 2004, 12:58 PM
#23
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Originally Posted by SOF
Yea I wasn't clear. "Generally" as you go up in diameter you go up in width too. And "generally" as you go up in diameter you go up in tire diameter as well, which means more rubber still.
on my RX-7 I went from 18' to 16' for 1/4 mile and 17' for track both wider
than the 18'
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