Best wheel size for handling?
Best wheel size for handling?
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Discussion

Nefarious

Original Poster:

989 posts

294 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
Thinking about getting a second set of wheels that I can fit with 888s just for doing trackdays.
Not fussed about the appearance but what is the best size for outright grip and feel?

Gut instict says to go for maximum size (i.e. 18"s) with lowest profile tyres to the amount of rubber in the system as low as possible, but I've seen a few other people on here that regularly track their cars have gone for the 17" RL7s or SP12s over the 18" options.

I also remember Joo waxing lyrical about the best Cerb he ever drove on track was an S6 with standard 16" wheels - and going for standard 16"s would certainly keep costs down.

Thoughts?


Tanguero

4,535 posts

230 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
I went from 18" Spiders to 16" Oz Saturns (T1Rs on both) and it improved the ride and handling dramatically. I have now got a set of 16" with R888s on them for sprinting and it is a brilliant combination!

haircutmike

22,477 posts

233 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
Don't know about 16"?

I run 17", 8" front & 10" rears (Image), with triple 8's.

Compared to the T1R's, the handling can only be described as "awesome"

Due consideration should be given to tyre size/cost.

My setup is always a min. of £800.00 a set redcard

HCM.

Nefarious

Original Poster:

989 posts

294 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
Tanguero said:
I have now got a set of 16" with R888s on them for sprinting and it is a brilliant combination!
What size tyres did you go for in the 888s on th 16"s? 225/45 and 245/45?

Steve_T

6,356 posts

301 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
16s might be a bit tight on clearance for the front calipers on a 4.5.

Nefarious

Original Poster:

989 posts

294 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
Steve_T said:
16s might be a bit tight on clearance for the front calipers on a 4.5.
I thought pre-99 cars all came with 16"s as standard??

Steve_T

6,356 posts

301 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
The early 4.5s came with 17" RL7s and the 4.2s 16" OZ Saturns.

aubrey9160

396 posts

211 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
I too have a 4-5 cerb and 16in wheels dont fit the front. I was told by a few people to go for 17in fronts and 18in rears. Havent tried them yet but I trust the people who gave me the advise as all they do is trackdays

Tanguero

4,535 posts

230 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
Nefarious said:
Tanguero said:
I have now got a set of 16" with R888s on them for sprinting and it is a brilliant combination!
What size tyres did you go for in the 888s on th 16"s? 225/45 and 245/45?
Yes - thats what I used.

I have disks and 6 bolt callipers off a 4.5 Cerb on my 4.2 and the 16" wheels fit over them fine with about 15 mm clearance.

Edited by Tanguero on Monday 17th May 11:20

grahamn

1,777 posts

263 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
Tanguero said:
Nefarious said:
Tanguero said:
I have now got a set of 16" with R888s on them for sprinting and it is a brilliant combination!
What size tyres did you go for in the 888s on th 16"s? 225/45 and 245/45?
Yes - thats what I used.

I have disks and 6 bolt callipers off a 4.5 Cerb on my 4.2 and the 16" wheels fit over them fine with about 15 mm clearance.

Edited by Tanguero on Monday 17th May 11:20
Before you decide on wheel sizes, check what size 888's you can get. I had a set of 18" and couldn't get the 888's in that size. I now have a set of RL7, with 888's on, which I use on track.


Nefarious

Original Poster:

989 posts

294 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
grahamn said:
Before you decide on wheel sizes, check what size 888's you can get. I had a set of 18" and couldn't get the 888's in that size. I now have a set of RL7, with 888's on, which I use on track.
For the 18"s Camskill list r888s in 255/35/18 (ideal for the rear) and 225/40/18 (which I reckon is acceptably close for the fronts).

For the 17"s, they list a 255/40/17 (which I guess would be right for the rear), but only a 225/45/17 (too high profile?) or 235/40/17 (too wide?).



Edited by Nefarious on Monday 17th May 12:43

grahamn

1,777 posts

263 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
Nefarious said:
grahamn said:
Before you decide on wheel sizes, check what size 888's you can get. I had a set of 18" and couldn't get the 888's in that size. I now have a set of RL7, with 888's on, which I use on track.
For the 18"s Camskill list r888s in 255/35/18 (ideal for the rear) and 225/40/18 (which I reckon is acceptably close for the fronts).

For the 17"s, they list a 255/40/17 (which I guess would be right for the rear), but only a 225/45/17 (too high profile?) or 235/40/17 (too wide?).



Edited by Nefarious on Monday 17th May 12:43
Will the 18" in 40 profile fit in the arches?

Nefarious

Original Poster:

989 posts

294 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
I believe some folks in 18"s actively choose the 225/40 front as it's nearer to the original rolling radius than the lower profile 225/35s - can anyone confirm this?

touching cloth

11,706 posts

268 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
I run 225/40 Falkens on the front they look snug in the arch and have felt them snag very occasionally on full lock (read that as attempting donuts on the last Spa trip hehe) Day to day though no problems and never felt rubbing whilst on track. Problem is that each tyre type is different and I guess the sizes end up as the nearest equivalent rather than bang on exact, I have a feeling that 888's have a squarer edge profile than most road tyres so a 225/40 R888 may well rub more than mine do. I think Brummie had 888's on 18" Spiders and did mention he had occasional rubbing on track, when he went to SP12 wheels he moved to a 17" front which I think is probably the better option - it's also going to depend a fair bit on geo and ride height, even running more neg camber will tuck the tops in more inside the arches but wont make much of a difference to front and back clearance which is where I suspect they snag when on full lock.

Nefarious

Original Poster:

989 posts

294 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
Graham - what size did you go for in the 17"s?
If you went for the wider fronts, did it have a noticable impact on turn-in/steering feel etc?

ttmr

175 posts

204 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
My 4.5 has 225x40 18's front, 245x40 18's rear with no issues.

Steve_T

6,356 posts

301 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
Nefarious said:
For the 17"s, they list a 255/40/17 (which I guess would be right for the rear), but only a 225/45/17 (too high profile?) or 235/40/17 (too wide?).
255/40R17 rear and 235/40R17 front are the standard sizes for RL7 cars.

Edited by Steve_T on Monday 17th May 13:43

grahamn

1,777 posts

263 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
Steve_T said:
Nefarious said:
For the 17"s, they list a 255/40/17 (which I guess would be right for the rear), but only a 225/45/17 (too high profile?) or 235/40/17 (too wide?).
255/40R17 rear and 235/40R17 front for me as well

high52kojak

505 posts

226 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
I have spiders and run R888's 225-40-18 on the front & 255-35-18 on the rear, thats whats size was recommended,by I think monster TVR? I think to keep the rolling dia. correct.
I have no issues with fitment, and the difference in grip compared to 'normal' tyres is vast.