Rims rims rims..

[chow]

I want to clarify something..

Im looking into rims that will not only look good, but perform on the track. ( When i do decide to go.)

So i've been looking at rims fom tire rack and noticed that different companies sell rims under RACING / Touring. I dont see ANY difference between racing rims and non-classified rims, besides the weight.

Does the spoke design play a part in speed / w.e ?

[LongBeachCoupe]

Im not a pro... but id say that if you are looking for something specifically for speed.... weight and wind resistance are the 2 factors.... weight is simple.. lighter is better... and on wind resistance, my basic physics knowledge tells me that if you have a SMALLER wheel it will allow the car to accelerate faster, and that the stance of the car is significant as well (drop it to the floor to decrease resistance)... As far as spoke style is concerned, i think that anything that is "deep dish" style is negative.... creating a pocket for air to slow you down... i would guess that something with a flat face would work best, leaving no gaps for air to flow thru... Like on a nascar wheel...

And as always, theres usually a trade off... either you get the looks or the performance... they are usually at an inverse ratio... the better looking, the less performing..

[generic808]

LBC is right, lighter is the way to go. But you have to take into consideration, wheel strength. The most popular street "race" wheels are forged aluminum. Very lightweight and very durable.

[chow]

I think im going to go 1 inch bigger to 18's.Increasing the size increases rotating mass but i want wide tires for more of a contact patch. (I beleive the rims must be wider for wide tires right?)

Also im going to lower it..

And another question now.. It seems like the only "track" days people have are drag racing days.. are there any days where ppl can pay to drive around on the track? Like i windy track.. and how much is it usually? Any inputs would be nice.

[zenki07]

From personal experience, many vendors/distributors define their wheels as "race" or "touring" due to the visual asthetics. An actual "race" wheel for a street vehicle would be like what generic808 said, a lightweight forged wheel.

From what I gather, you'd like to do some SCCA/time attack type of racing. If so, then wider the wheel = more contact patch to the pavement, and the bigger of a wheel you go, the lower the profile of the tire = less sidewall flex during cornering. I leave it up you as to what size you'd prefer to go, due it being personal preference as well as what budget may permit.

Example? Personally, with the Altima, I'd go with a 19x8.5" +43 offset, forged monoblock (1 piece) Volk TE37 wheel (I forget the weight, sorry) with a Falken, model FK452 235/35/19 tire (brand is personal preference as well). This would strictly be used only for time-attack type of driving on the track, but honestly wouldn't be at all bad to be used on the street.

To conclude, it's hard to go off of what other like myself say; all is suggestions and purely personal preference. What I may find best for my style of driving may not be suitable for the way you drive. If you're serious about any type of racing, be prepared to do a lot of trial and error type of experimenting with different type of wheel/tire setups. Unfortunately, no one can get the best of all worlds when dealing with daily driven vehicles.

If I left anything to question, please ask and I will reply as soon as I can. Hope what I've written helps some.

[generic808]

Example? Personally, with the Altima, I'd go with a 19x8.5" +43 offset, forged monoblock (1 piece) Volk TE37 wheel (I forget the weight, sorry) with a Falken, model FK452 235/35/19 tire (brand is personal preference as well). This would strictly be used only for time-attack type of driving on the track, but honestly wouldn't be at all bad to be used on the street.

LOL You read my mind. If you look back on previous posts, I've always loved the TE37's. They are THE wheels I want for my car. And the funny thing is, I've always recommended the FK452's to anyone who ever inquired. Oh yeah, by the way, the TE37's in 18x8's weighed 18lbs I believe, and the 19x8.5's were 20.xxlbs.

[chow]

one problem.. the TE37's are hella expensive.

Im thinking of going with rims that are 100-200 a pop, maybe like enkeis?

Their going to be around 20-22 lbs for the 18's , but .. im assuming thats the best i can get with my budget?

And yes, i do like a stiff ride for some reason ..:S

[generic808]

20lbs-22lbs for 18's is still pretty light. Try to get forged wheels if you can though, because they'll hold up much better to potholes and such.

[zenki07]

Unfortunately, like I said before, can't get the best of all worlds. The TE37s are worth the money, simply due to the fact that alot of research and development when into designing that wheel, but yes, they are expensive compared to wheels on the market ranging from 100 to 200 bucks a pop.

The difference is, the production and overall quality of the wheel. The production cost and timeframe of an average cast aluminum wheel is much cheaper and shorter than that of a forged, which in turn equals to the quality. I've personally used monoblock forged wheels and driven the ish of of them, (smacking a pothole going about 90mph, sliding into a curb, etc. on the street). And when I get back to the shop, remove the wheels to check for warping; pretty much none. As far as balancing goes, same thing, maybe a difference of a half an ounce. Do the same thing to a regular cast wheel and I guarantee you'd have to replace the wheel entirely. (I've seen wheels that cracked completely around the center after a customer hit a pothole going only 30mph)

Honestly, you should try to get the best quality wheel that your budget will permit. Shop around, do your research, look for sales on expensive Japan made wheels; time spending doing so will ensure you get the best wheel that suit your needs.

[generic808]

Do the same thing to a regular cast wheel and I guarantee you'd have to replace the wheel entirely. (I've seen wheels that cracked completely around the center after a customer hit a pothole going only 30mph).

Yeah, just look on your local craigslist and you'll see a bunch of "3 rims for sale" posts That's cast aluminum/alloy wheels for you