Need Maximum 18" Wheel/Tire Combo Sizes to fit '06 DB9
Discussion
Hello Fellow Astonheads...
I recently picked up a beautiful DB9 Volante which will see track duty 5-10 times per year and I want to have dedicated track wheels/tires ready for those days.
My car is lowered one inch (H&R) and I want to maximize the space under the wheel wells with the widest possible wheels/tires for track duty. I have tried but failed to find any reliable information from multiple sources so it's time to ask the community.
I imagine there are folks here that race or know racers with DB9s and hoping someone can give me the definitive answer. I know the V8V GT race car has 18X10 wheels up front and 18X11 in the rear, but that's all I know Can my DB9 support this wheel size and what tire size would be right?
If I can't go that wide, what will work without question?
Thank you...Robert
I recently picked up a beautiful DB9 Volante which will see track duty 5-10 times per year and I want to have dedicated track wheels/tires ready for those days.
My car is lowered one inch (H&R) and I want to maximize the space under the wheel wells with the widest possible wheels/tires for track duty. I have tried but failed to find any reliable information from multiple sources so it's time to ask the community.
I imagine there are folks here that race or know racers with DB9s and hoping someone can give me the definitive answer. I know the V8V GT race car has 18X10 wheels up front and 18X11 in the rear, but that's all I know Can my DB9 support this wheel size and what tire size would be right?
If I can't go that wide, what will work without question?
Thank you...Robert
WildBob said:
Hello Fellow Astonheads...
I recently picked up a beautiful DB9 Volante which will see track duty 5-10 times per year and I want to have dedicated track wheels/tires ready for those days.
My car is lowered one inch (H&R) and I want to maximize the space under the wheel wells with the widest possible wheels/tires for track duty. I have tried but failed to find any reliable information from multiple sources so it's time to ask the community.
I imagine there are folks here that race or know racers with DB9s and hoping someone can give me the definitive answer. I know the V8V GT race car has 18X10 wheels up front and 18X11 in the rear, but that's all I know Can my DB9 support this wheel size and what tire size would be right?
If I can't go that wide, what will work without question?
Thank you...Robert
Yeti is the master at mods to the DB9 volante and although it does;t answer your question, I'm sure his first response to track days in that car will be if it's an early one, fit the shear plates for rigidityI recently picked up a beautiful DB9 Volante which will see track duty 5-10 times per year and I want to have dedicated track wheels/tires ready for those days.
My car is lowered one inch (H&R) and I want to maximize the space under the wheel wells with the widest possible wheels/tires for track duty. I have tried but failed to find any reliable information from multiple sources so it's time to ask the community.
I imagine there are folks here that race or know racers with DB9s and hoping someone can give me the definitive answer. I know the V8V GT race car has 18X10 wheels up front and 18X11 in the rear, but that's all I know Can my DB9 support this wheel size and what tire size would be right?
If I can't go that wide, what will work without question?
Thank you...Robert
jonby said:
Yeti is the master at mods to the DB9 volante and although it does;t answer your question, I'm sure his first response to track days in that car will be if it's an early one, fit the shear plates for rigidity
Thank you Jonby...I've already been in communication with Yeti and unfortunately because I am in the colonies, any bits from Bamford Rose are unavailable to me. Apparently they must install everything they build and parts only are not available.I will hope for an informed response to my query in the meantime...
Cheers...Robert
If it was me, not wanting to spend lots of money for custom wheels, I'd buy a set of OZ Ultraleggeras from TR - 18 x 9 x 55 mm. These will work for sure. Then I'd put some BFG G-Force R1's on it (245/40 and 275/35). Can't go any lower profile wise, since you're dropping to 18s from the stock 19s, so that'll lose you half an inch ground clearance.
DB9VolanteDriver said:
If it was me, not wanting to spend lots of money for custom wheels, I'd buy a set of OZ Ultraleggeras from TR - 18 x 9 x 55 mm. These will work for sure. Then I'd put some BFG R1's on it (245/40 and 275/35). Can't go any lower profile wise, since you're dropping to 18s from the stock 19s, so that'll lose you half an inch gnd clearance.
Not to mention the car is already lowered by an inch...but on the smooth surface of a race track I'm not so worried about ground clearance and I'm not a apex curb smasher...If I can go wider without custom wheels I will... hoping to ultimately find a set of used racing wheels for sale.
I'm not familiar with R1s...some research is in order, but I will be looking into slicks as well.
Thank you for the reply...Robert
burntout said:
I run a set of OE Am 18" wheels wrapped in slicky stickies..... 
I'm looking for very light wheels, so the Oz is a good option, but racing mags would be awesome...OEM wheels are too heavy for my purposes...But, to answer my question...exactly what sizes are your wheels and tires and what brand of tire do you run?
Thanks...Robert
Edited by WildBob on Tuesday 17th December 19:32
WildBob said:
burntout said:
I run a set of OE Am 18" wheels wrapped in slicky stickies.....
I'm looking for very light wheels, so the Oz is a good option, but racing mags would me awesome...OEM wheels are too heavy for my purposes...But, to answer my question...exactly what sizes are your wheels and tires and what brand of tire do you run?
Thanks...Robert
WildBob said:
Not exactly a track car, but a car that loves the track...
Arguably the least track friendly car in the AM range. Off the top of my head, it's heavy, bendy and not particularly aerodynamic or safe.IMHO, your money would be far better spent on a slightly more focused track vehicle, something along the lines of a Caterham, a Lotus or an MX-5. The money you will spend in consumables alone (brakes and tyres) would probably cover the running costs, garaging and transport of such a car. And it would run rings around a DB9 Volante!
Still, each to their own, and all that...
Those 2 pics demonstrate the woeful softness of the Volante suspension I am trying to address.
Look at how low the car is on the lower picture and how far it is rolling on the first pic.
My coilovers fitted with the larger front roll bar and the installation of a rear bar will hopefully reduce this to an acceptable level.
It may not be the best choice of a track car, but it sure looks fun, and thats all I would be looking for.
Look at how low the car is on the lower picture and how far it is rolling on the first pic.
My coilovers fitted with the larger front roll bar and the installation of a rear bar will hopefully reduce this to an acceptable level.
It may not be the best choice of a track car, but it sure looks fun, and thats all I would be looking for.
8Tech said:
Those 2 pics demonstrate the woeful softness of the Volante suspension I am trying to address.
Look at how low the car is on the lower picture and how far it is rolling on the first pic.
My coilovers fitted with the larger front roll bar and the installation of a rear bar will hopefully reduce this to an acceptable level.
It may not be the best choice of a track car, but it sure looks fun, and thats all I would be looking for.
The car was bone stock this day to baseline the handling...and indeed she is a bit soft, but very nice on a smooth track... the lowering has improved it with H&R springs on stock dampers...the Sport Pack front/rear anti-sway bars on going on soon...Look at how low the car is on the lower picture and how far it is rolling on the first pic.
My coilovers fitted with the larger front roll bar and the installation of a rear bar will hopefully reduce this to an acceptable level.
It may not be the best choice of a track car, but it sure looks fun, and thats all I would be looking for.
The car should be transformed...will report back
Bravo73 said:
Arguably the least track friendly car in the AM range. Off the top of my head, it's heavy, bendy and not particularly aerodynamic or safe.
IMHO, your money would be far better spent on a slightly more focused track vehicle, something along the lines of a Caterham, a Lotus or an MX-5. The money you will spend in consumables alone (brakes and tyres) would probably cover the running costs, garaging and transport of such a car. And it would run rings around a DB9 Volante!
Still, each to their own, and all that...
Hey Bravo... indeed all that you say is true, but the beauty of owning this car is that I get to do exactly as I wish. The real purpose of track days is to learn the car and find out how cost efficiently I can improve the overall handling...IMHO, your money would be far better spent on a slightly more focused track vehicle, something along the lines of a Caterham, a Lotus or an MX-5. The money you will spend in consumables alone (brakes and tyres) would probably cover the running costs, garaging and transport of such a car. And it would run rings around a DB9 Volante!
Still, each to their own, and all that...
Bone stock this big heavy bendy unfriendly unsafe non-aerodynamic car ran a 1:54 at Laguna without much effort and taking it easy...never put a wheel wrong.
When I want a "real" track car it will be a Corvette...waiting for the '15/'16 Z07 which will be a track beast.
In the meantime my DB9 will continue to tickle my funny bone for a few days of police officer free fun... and like this day, I'll then strip the numbers and take a lovely lady to dinner in an Aston Martin... LIFE IS GOOD!!!
WildBob said:
I'm looking for very light wheels, so the Oz is a good option, but racing mags would be awesome...OEM wheels are too heavy for my purposes...
But, to answer my question...exactly what sizes are your wheels and tires and what brand of tire do you run?
Thanks...Robert
How about these?But, to answer my question...exactly what sizes are your wheels and tires and what brand of tire do you run?
Thanks...Robert
Edited by WildBob on Tuesday 17th December 19:32
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOT-4-ASTON-MARTIN-SUPERTU...
DB9VolanteDriver said:
I looked at those a while ago, they have been for sale for about 18 months that I know of, but the big issue for me was buying some used wheels from China, I tried to asked about how genuine they were as AM wheels, but I got no reply, I sent a few messages, but got nothing back. Maybe they just missed my messages 
The largest standard tyre size, without any modification is 255/35/19 and 295/35/19, but if you start to change wheels, then the sky is the limit, and if you modify the arches, then Carlos Fandango wheels can be fitted.
I once read that the AM race team only used 18 inch wheels because there is a much wider range of 18 inch tyres then 19 inch tyres .... makes sense.
Its all according how much modification you want to carry out to the car, do you want to use spacers, if not then you can use a different wheel with a bigger off set. Unfortunately there is no set answer to your question. How long is a piece of string?
With modification I can't really see you going past 265 or maybe even 275 at the front and say 325, maybe 355 tyres on the rear, but sourcing these tyres would be a problem. So to say you want 18 inch wheels would then limit what you want to do with the tyres, so best to see what tyres you want and then get the wheels to fit them.
But then the problem you face change shape, if say you, "could", run 275 on the front and 355 on the rear, and you, "could", find wheels (probably 20 inch) that would fit these tyre sizes, with tyres as whooping big as this, you would need to consider the Camber/Castor/Tracking issues.
There are no standard tables for this, so it would be trial and error, and mostly on the track, it does take months for manufactuers to set up cars with professional teams and equipment, not to mention a huge budget.
Anything is possible ....... but at what cost....?
If you ran 20 inch wheels you could run 255 or 265 (I have not tried 265) at the front and 315 and maybe 325 on the rear without too much aggro (personally I have not run past 295 on the back, but have the wheels ready to run a set of 325 20 inch wheels on the back)
First look at your budget, then work out the width of tyres, "you want", then find the tyres, then find the wheels to run them, then see how much modifaction you have to do, then look at your budget again, bit of a circle there ......
Good luck
MaverickV12 said:
I looked at those a while ago, they have been for sale for about 18 months that I know of, but the big issue for me was buying some used wheels from China, I tried to asked about how genuine they were as AM wheels, but I got no reply, I sent a few messages, but got nothing back. Maybe they just missed my messages
The largest standard tyre size, without any modification is 255/35/19 and 295/35/19, but if you start to change wheels, then the sky is the limit, and if you modify the arches, then Carlos Fandango wheels can be fitted.
I once read that the AM race team only used 18 inch wheels because there is a much wider range of 18 inch tyres then 19 inch tyres .... makes sense.
Its all according how much modification you want to carry out to the car, do you want to use spacers, if not then you can use a different wheel with a bigger off set. Unfortunately there is no set answer to your question. How long is a piece of string?
With modification I can't really see you going past 265 or maybe even 275 at the front and say 325, maybe 355 tyres on the rear, but sourcing these tyres would be a problem. So to say you want 18 inch wheels would then limit what you want to do with the tyres, so best to see what tyres you want and then get the wheels to fit them.
But then the problem you face change shape, if say you, "could", run 275 on the front and 355 on the rear, and you, "could", find wheels (probably 20 inch) that would fit these tyre sizes, with tyres as whooping big as this, you would need to consider the Camber/Castor/Tracking issues.
There are no standard tables for this, so it would be trial and error, and mostly on the track, it does take months for manufactuers to set up cars with professional teams and equipment, not to mention a huge budget.
Anything is possible ....... but at what cost....?
If you ran 20 inch wheels you could run 255 or 265 (I have not tried 265) at the front and 315 and maybe 325 on the rear without too much aggro (personally I have not run past 295 on the back, but have the wheels ready to run a set of 325 20 inch wheels on the back)
First look at your budget, then work out the width of tyres, "you want", then find the tyres, then find the wheels to run them, then see how much modifaction you have to do, then look at your budget again, bit of a circle there ......
Good luck
Great post Maverick... I understand your point about "how long is a piece of string"... and the reason I'm choosing 18" wheels is for the same reasons as AM Racing... readily available and relatively affordable rubber, plus the benefit of lighter weight than 19 or 20 inch wheels/tires...reducing unsprung weight.The largest standard tyre size, without any modification is 255/35/19 and 295/35/19, but if you start to change wheels, then the sky is the limit, and if you modify the arches, then Carlos Fandango wheels can be fitted.
I once read that the AM race team only used 18 inch wheels because there is a much wider range of 18 inch tyres then 19 inch tyres .... makes sense.
Its all according how much modification you want to carry out to the car, do you want to use spacers, if not then you can use a different wheel with a bigger off set. Unfortunately there is no set answer to your question. How long is a piece of string?
With modification I can't really see you going past 265 or maybe even 275 at the front and say 325, maybe 355 tyres on the rear, but sourcing these tyres would be a problem. So to say you want 18 inch wheels would then limit what you want to do with the tyres, so best to see what tyres you want and then get the wheels to fit them.
But then the problem you face change shape, if say you, "could", run 275 on the front and 355 on the rear, and you, "could", find wheels (probably 20 inch) that would fit these tyre sizes, with tyres as whooping big as this, you would need to consider the Camber/Castor/Tracking issues.
There are no standard tables for this, so it would be trial and error, and mostly on the track, it does take months for manufactuers to set up cars with professional teams and equipment, not to mention a huge budget.
Anything is possible ....... but at what cost....?
If you ran 20 inch wheels you could run 255 or 265 (I have not tried 265) at the front and 315 and maybe 325 on the rear without too much aggro (personally I have not run past 295 on the back, but have the wheels ready to run a set of 325 20 inch wheels on the back)
First look at your budget, then work out the width of tyres, "you want", then find the tyres, then find the wheels to run them, then see how much modifaction you have to do, then look at your budget again, bit of a circle there ......
Good luck
If I went with 18X10 up front that would make the wheel 1 1/2 inches wider than stock which is my main concern...will it fit under the fenders with an appropriately sized tire? Those wheels were on a V8V N24 which may have had bigger fender flares to take the width or it was made up in offset...but I haven't been able to verify that. I'm not concerned with 18X10 on the rear, only 1/2 inch wider.
I just need one person who has actually bolted up an Oz Racing 18X10 on the front and if there were any issues on a DB9...then I'm golden.
WildBob said:
If I went with 18X10 up front that would make the wheel 1 1/2 inches wider than stock which is my main concern...
I think you are right to be concerned.....DBS wheel appear to fit DB9's, everyone seems to wear them, but if we compare the front wheels, then .....
there is not much in it at all ....
...whereas if we look at the DBs and DB9 rears .....
there is whooooping difference ....
also the offset of the front wheels are almost identicle ...
So it would appear you have a lot of play in the back wheel, but not much in the front ....
What direction are you going to go....?
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