Perfect Track Wheels Thread
Rob, thank you, you said it better than could I.
Back to the topic of track wheels - I was not even thinking about discussing what wheels folks have had bad experiences with until the past few posts. With that said - I have to recommend against using the ROTA P45R for road course use. In the 18x9.5" size they flex so much that under very high loads the back side of the spokes can scrape against your front calipers. With a lightweight car or with street tires you may not flex them enough to cause damage to your calipers, but with slicks and a full weight EVO - can be bad news. . .
Back to the topic of track wheels - I was not even thinking about discussing what wheels folks have had bad experiences with until the past few posts. With that said - I have to recommend against using the ROTA P45R for road course use. In the 18x9.5" size they flex so much that under very high loads the back side of the spokes can scrape against your front calipers. With a lightweight car or with street tires you may not flex them enough to cause damage to your calipers, but with slicks and a full weight EVO - can be bad news. . .
I think they will be my permanent track wheels unless I go to 17's and then I'll get me some 17X10 rpf1's 
For autocross the 285/30/18 is considered by many the "must have" tire. It is around 24.5" tall. For road course use, though, it seems there are many more people that stick with 17's and even a few that run 16's.
Going with something like a 22x10-16 would lower the center of gravity about an inch and a half whle saving some rotating mass. Who all has experience with 16's on the road course??
Going with something like a 22x10-16 would lower the center of gravity about an inch and a half whle saving some rotating mass. Who all has experience with 16's on the road course??
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Why do they always call the Evo the Dark Side?
I'm lazy and not particularly bright, but I think it'd be cool to have a quick summary in the first post with some of the more popular options (size/offset/weight/approximate cost) 
For autocross the 285/30/18 is considered by many the "must have" tire. It is around 24.5" tall. For road course use, though, it seems there are many more people that stick with 17's and even a few that run 16's.
Going with something like a 22x10-16 would lower the center of gravity about an inch and a half whle saving some rotating mass. Who all has experience with 16's on the road course??
Going with something like a 22x10-16 would lower the center of gravity about an inch and a half whle saving some rotating mass. Who all has experience with 16's on the road course??
With a BBK, probably not. With stock sized brakes, yes - there are several that fit. . .
Im running a 255/35 Z1 star spec on my Advan RGII 18 x 9 +29. No spacers. Rolled rear fenders. I love them and think there great for autocross but need to upgrade to a more competitive size. I was thinking of the NT03 18x9.5 +27's with a 10mm spacer up front. Trying to figure out what tire width A6 would fit that best. I was hoping to see some feed back with Tire width to Rim width and its advantages.
Here is the question im really after. Can I get a 285/30 on a 9" rim? What is the widest A6 you would recommend on a 9.5"?
Here is the question im really after. Can I get a 285/30 on a 9" rim? What is the widest A6 you would recommend on a 9.5"?
Evolving Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 102
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From: Bloomington, MN
AlwaysBoostin: Bias-ply slicks have much more deflection than street tires, so you need more room.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8UiE7yvO_M
Another question about the TC105N 18x9.5 +35. On the tires, can you you run a 265/35/18 because I can't seem to locate a tire in 265/30/18. I was looking at the R888's specifically.
FWIW, I run hub-centric 20mm spacers with extended studs on the front. I did not get different backspacing front and rear so I could rotate the wheels/tires as needed. The spacers also give me a wider track in the front. I run RPF01s 17x9 with Hoosier 275As. I have never had any issues with breaking wheels or loose lug nuts, and checking torque regularly is just a smart thing to do, spacers or not.
Marty
Marty
Ive been using spacers on my racecar for over a year now and i think theyre great. Gives you the capacity to run slightly wider in the front, and you can still rotate your wheels/tires from one corner to the next, which is a major plus.
And btw, 275 sized tires on an Evo may seem wide to you, but that depends on a few factors. For instance, to a track noob a 275 might sound huge, but to a more advanced level driver they might be a necessity. So it sometimes depends on your level of experience. It also depends on what youre doing with your car, HPDE, autox, time trial, your class, your competition... I race against Porsches/Vettes/RX7s that run 285-335 sized tires. And some of those racecars are anywhere from 300-800lbs lighter than my car. So to me, a 275 sized tire on an Evo is narrow.
Sorry if i got a little off-topic.
+1
Ive been using spacers on my racecar for over a year now and i think theyre great. Gives you the capacity to run slightly wider in the front, and you can still rotate your wheels/tires from one corner to the next, which is a major plus.
I only glanced through this thread, so im sure ive missed a lot. While i understand your concern with spacers, i think youre going overboard with your point of view. A lot of racers use spacers. Every team has their own perspective, but either way, a lot of racers use them. I think its noteworthy to use racecars as an example because theyre out there for long stints. Sprint races are at least 35-45min long. Because of that i think its even more noteworthy to use higher class racecars because not only are they out there for at least 35-45min, theyre maintaining relatively faster laps the entire time. Try keeping a racecar together for 1 sprint race against some serious competition. Then try keeping it together year after year. Now thats something. It comes down to money, but if you dont know what youre doing, money cant really help you much. Although, i know ive been really fortunate thus far.
And btw, 275 sized tires on an Evo may seem wide to you, but that depends on a few factors. For instance, to a track noob a 275 might sound huge, but to a more advanced level driver they might be a necessity. So it sometimes depends on your level of experience. It also depends on what youre doing with your car, HPDE, autox, time trial, your class, your competition... I race against Porsches/Vettes/RX7s that run 285-335 sized tires. And some of those racecars are anywhere from 300-800lbs lighter than my car. So to me, a 275 sized tire on an Evo is narrow.
Sorry if i got a little off-topic.
Ive been using spacers on my racecar for over a year now and i think theyre great. Gives you the capacity to run slightly wider in the front, and you can still rotate your wheels/tires from one corner to the next, which is a major plus.
I only glanced through this thread, so im sure ive missed a lot. While i understand your concern with spacers, i think youre going overboard with your point of view. A lot of racers use spacers. Every team has their own perspective, but either way, a lot of racers use them. I think its noteworthy to use racecars as an example because theyre out there for long stints. Sprint races are at least 35-45min long. Because of that i think its even more noteworthy to use higher class racecars because not only are they out there for at least 35-45min, theyre maintaining relatively faster laps the entire time. Try keeping a racecar together for 1 sprint race against some serious competition. Then try keeping it together year after year. Now thats something. It comes down to money, but if you dont know what youre doing, money cant really help you much. Although, i know ive been really fortunate thus far.
And btw, 275 sized tires on an Evo may seem wide to you, but that depends on a few factors. For instance, to a track noob a 275 might sound huge, but to a more advanced level driver they might be a necessity. So it sometimes depends on your level of experience. It also depends on what youre doing with your car, HPDE, autox, time trial, your class, your competition... I race against Porsches/Vettes/RX7s that run 285-335 sized tires. And some of those racecars are anywhere from 300-800lbs lighter than my car. So to me, a 275 sized tire on an Evo is narrow.
Sorry if i got a little off-topic.
that is a good point i never thought of that. So one point is on the spacer side now for me.
" So to me, a 275 sized tire on an Evo is narrow. "
in rally the 245 is a max new tire size, since the X came out with that + 18 inch wheels. it wasn't allow that wide before ... LOL