E36 wheels for track car 17's or 18's

[Darranu]

Hi,

Im looking for a set of wheels for my 328 which is only used for track use. I've seen two sets,
The first is a set of BBS RC041 & RC042's as fitted to a 328 sport and the other set I've got my eye on is a set of staggered (8Jx18 & 8.5Jx18) BMW style 32 wheels.

My question is, which wheels would suit my use best 17's or 18's. I'll be using part worn tyres so is there far fewer of one size kicking? also as the car was originally designed to run on 17's whould I be best just sticking to what was intended.

Any advice especially from people running a 328 on the track would be appreciated.

Regards,
Darran

[m444ttb]

I'd go with the 17's. Although those aren't the lightest 17's in the world they aren't bad. I've never taken my 18" Style32's off my other e36 but I can't see them being lighter.

All this said my 328i Sport track car is running on 18" BBS RC 1 piece wheels and they feel about the same weight as the old split rims did. The lightest I had were 17" 1 piece RC's!

[Darranu]

Thanks for the reply, just the advice I was looking for.

Regards,
Darran

[griffter]

i use 17's with 235/50 all round. You might get more traction through a bigger footprint with the 18's but breakaway will be less progressive. When i ran staggered tyres on my 328 there was too much bias to understeer. Tyre choice for 17's is good. Id have thought to get the best from 18's on track you'd need well matched suspension too. Imho 17's are the way to go.

[Darranu]

I must admit you've both confirmed what I was thinking, there seems to be loads of quaility part worns for sale with a couple of days life left in them for peanuts.

Cheers,
D

[m444ttb]

There's not really any advantage to 18's. I dont think. You won't even get wider Tyres on most of them! In fact I run 225's on mine and I'd run 235's on 17's!

However I think BTCC cars have gone / are going to 18's so the used wet slick 17's etc will run out. I may get some for mine and R888's on some 17's for the dry.

[Darranu]

Thats an interesting point ref used slicks, at the moment I have't got around to fitting a cage but once I have I'll be running it on used slicks hopefully.
D