Cheap lightweight wheels

[handbraketurn]

Any suggestions for cheap lightweight track wheels?

18x7.5, et55, 5x114.3, standard tyres 225/40/18

Lots of people in forums running 225/45/17 to save a bit of weight, roughly same diameter so not really affecting the speedo.

Some people running ETs as low as 38 but obviously slight concern of rubbing.

Found these: https://rotashop.co.uk/products/356-wheels-tfs3-17...

Any other suggestions, cheaper the better.

I'm considering used, but always a worry that you just can't tell if they've ever sustained damage or been poorly fixed.

Thanks,

[Dave.]

There used to be a website with loads of comparisons, but my googlefu is letting me down.

If you google your particular car, there maybe a list of popular options with some listed weights to give you an idea of what’s light and what isn’t.

[E-bmw]

OOPS, wrong string, ignore me.

[HustleRussell]

How important is an accurate speedo for track days? I’d run a smaller tyre radius, free short ratio upgrade?

[FNG]

HustleRussell said:

How important is an accurate speedo for track days? I’d run a smaller tyre radius, free short ratio upgrade?

You can, and I have, but it changes the scrub radius (unless you know by exactly how much, and can change rim offset to compensate) and certainly changes the roll centre height, so it will affect steering and handling.

Don't go too mad on smaller overall tyre diameter and it may not be noticeable, could even be better - but you need to be aware you're not just changing gearing.

[Evoluzione]

Unfortunately 'cheap' and 'light' rarely go together with wheels.

[mmm-five]

Evoluzione said:

Unfortunately 'cheap' and 'light' rarely go together with wheels.

A classic 'trilemma'...CHEAP and/or LIGHT and/or STRONG

You can get any 2, but never all 3

Similar to the other classic 'trilemma'...CHEAP and/or FAST and/or QUALITY

[Trackdayer]

Mitsi Evo alloys are the right PCD for you. And iirc made by Enkei or Speedline so decent quality.

Fairly light and quite strong.

[aka_kerrly]

Trackdayer said:

Mitsi Evo alloys are the right PCD for you. And iirc made by Enkei or Speedline so decent quality.

Fairly light and quite strong.

Yep, a set of Evo wheels is a much better option. The Evo 5 RS OZ F1 wheels are made by Enkei in 17*7.5 et35iirc and look remarkably similar to the Enkei RpF1 which is what that Rota is a copy of.

Or the Evo 6,7,8 models which have 17x8 but still fit nicely with 225/45/17

[Humour]

HustleRussell said:

I’d run a smaller tyre radius, free short ratio upgrade?

Is it though? Agreed that you will be running higher RPM and the Speedo will read a higher speed, but when checked against a GPS you won't be going any faster.

I've done this test on both track and road and on both occasions running smaller wheel/tyre circumference did not equate to an equivalent GPS speed when measured.

Hum

[timbo999]

Humour said:

Is it though? Agreed that you will be running higher RPM and the Speedo will read a higher speed, but when checked against a GPS you won't be going any faster.

I've done this test on both track and road and on both occasions running smaller wheel/tyre circumference did not equate to an equivalent GPS speed when measured.

Hum

Surely if you're at the same speed but the revs are higher the ratio has changed? What am I missing?

[ATM]

timbo999 said:

Humour said:

Is it though? Agreed that you will be running higher RPM and the Speedo will read a higher speed, but when checked against a GPS you won't be going any faster.

I've done this test on both track and road and on both occasions running smaller wheel/tyre circumference did not equate to an equivalent GPS speed when measured.

Hum

Surely if you're at the same speed but the revs are higher the ratio has changed? What am I missing?

I think what he is saying is that the top speed of the car was unchanged. Dont forget it still takes a lot more power to increase top speed so if your car topped out at 150 - random number - then switching to a smaller radius might still mean you only achieve 150 but with the engine spinning faster.

Smaller or lower gearing can be counter productive if you're burning through gears quicker. I had an e46 bmw with a 5.7l ls1 engine conversion and the final drive was way too low. The car would have probably been quicker with a different diff.

Anyway back to wheels and tyres.

I've recently been down sizing all my wheels and tyres so if you can go to 17 but up the tyre wall then I'd recommend it. The lightest wheels I've found for sensible money are oz ultraleggera or superleggera. These pop up second hand occasionally. I bought a set in 18 inch 2 or 3 years ago from a chap with an evo. He claimed they would fit 5x120 BMW but when I tried they didn't. So I'd guess they were in evo or jap fitment, whatever that is. I've got 3 sets and you can tell when you pick them up they're feather weights. I run 17 inch on my big BMW.

Final word on tyre widths. My current play thing is this 23 year old 911. Strictly road use only for me. It came with 225 40 18 fronts but I switched to the factory Porsche 17 setup which uses a tiny 205 50 17 front tyre. At first I was convinced it wouldn't turn in as good or brake as hard but I honestly can't tell. Ok out on track you might lose a 10th of a second here or there but would you even notice. Going thinner makes a massive difference to weight. Tyres get a lot lighter as you go thinner.

[Mikee19]

Team dynamics? Right at home on a civic too, BTCC style.

[E-bmw]

Humour said:

HustleRussell said:

I’d run a smaller tyre radius, free short ratio upgrade?

Is it though?

Hum

Of course it is, you have the same engine/gearbox/diff driving smaller wheel/tyre size so you have a shorter ratio and better acceleration.

You go on to talk about top speed testing, it is nothing to do with speed but acceleration.

[Trackdayer]

Regarding tyre sizing, the key metric is rolling circumference.

It's usually not that much of a change, going from say a low profiel 17" to a mid profile 15". So the change to gearing is fairly minimal too. More of a mathematical / theoretical change than a real world one.

Actually dropping your final drive is an excellent mod to some cars. Typically n/a cars and/or cars with very tall gearing. An E46 M3 for example is geared to 201mph IIRC. Absolutely outrageous.

[ChocolateFrog]

Mikee19 said:

Team dynamics? Right at home on a civic too, BTCC style.

Pretty much the go to answer for cheap and reasonably lightweight.

[944 Man]

Cheap
Good
Light

Pick any two...

[944 Man]

ChocolateFrog said:

Pretty much the go to answer for cheap and reasonably lightweight.

Are Team Dynamics wheels really any good? I don't expect Rays quality for Compomotive money, but I am old enough to remember when Team Dynamics were branded 100+ and they were gash.

What has improved the most: their quality or their marketing?

[Furyblade_Lee]

The least-effective arena for unsprung weight is a nice smooth circuit.... I would not blow loads of cash to save 2kgs-a-corner on a circuit specifically, grab a set of cheap used wheels by all means but don't blow hundreds on light wheels, I doubt you will notice the difference on track.

[944 Man]

Steering you will.