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Wheels and TiresNeed help with wheels or tires? Got fitment issues? Have questions about tire performance and handling? Ask all of those questions here!
You won't be able to get 18" forged custom backspace (direct fit) wheels for less than $800/piece. But you can get cast or flow formed wheels in the $250 - $350/each range - some may need spacers to fit. You might get lucky with used wheels, I wouldn't expect to find too many 18" 3rd gen offset wheels on the market for decent prices.
2) Do you want spacers (or not)?
Spacers open up a lot more wheel options - no one makes a direct fit 18" wheel in the sizes you want, but there may be a Corvette/4th gen application that may make sense.
3) What brakes are you looking to run?
While some wheels are brake limited (Ronal 17" as an example), you can fit some hefty brakes under some 17" wheels. As an example, CTW Motorsports (my company) 17" wheels swallow up the 14" 6 piston kits without a problem, no reason to go larger than that system.
I would also suggest you go as wide as possible on the front wheels and tires. You can fit a 18" x 10" up front with a 275 or 285 width tire (I know of 295s on 10.5" wheels too). No matter how much brake your car has, it will always be tire limited for maximum braking power, that is fact. So go wide and your braking will only get better.
You won't be able to get 18" forged custom backspace (direct fit) wheels for less than $800/piece. But you can get cast or flow formed wheels in the $250 - $350/each range - some may need spacers to fit. You might get lucky with used wheels, I wouldn't expect to find too many 18" 3rd gen offset wheels on the market for decent prices.
2) Do you want spacers (or not)?
Spacers open up a lot more wheel options - no one makes a direct fit 18" wheel in the sizes you want, but there may be a Corvette/4th gen application that may make sense.
3) What brakes are you looking to run?
While some wheels are brake limited (Ronal 17" as an example), you can fit some hefty brakes under some 17" wheels. As an example, CTW Motorsports (my company) 17" wheels swallow up the 14" 6 piston kits without a problem, no reason to go larger than that system.
I would also suggest you go as wide as possible on the front wheels and tires. You can fit a 18" x 10" up front with a 275 or 285 width tire (I know of 295s on 10.5" wheels too). No matter how much brake your car has, it will always be tire limited for maximum braking power, that is fact. So go wide and your braking will only get better.
Thanks for the reply ...
Forged is not necessary, just nice And, they don't have to be custom, either, if they're made in the right size of course. I'm just really picky about how they look. I really don't want spacers, though. A 17" wheel would be fine, if they'd fit a 14" brake.
I really dig the mesh-type centers (and similar) and ideally would get something with a satin/gunmetal center with a polished lip.
Good call on going wider up front ... my 245's rub my a-arms now though, when turned to lock, but I think that's only because the tubular arms/k-frame ditch the stops, and it ony happens turned to lock.
I'm thinking ideally 14" brakes. The roads here in CA make them a lot more attractive than the gentle winding in New England did. Big brakes are the primary reason for the bigger wheels, FYI.
The only 17" made in a mesh direct fit & affordable is the Hawk's GTA wheel. Problem is it is narrow at 9" and is not going to fit a 14" brake kit. I do think an 18" version would clear - but they don't have them yet.
It is possible there is a BMW wheel on the market that may work for you.
Originally Posted by 383backinblack
Thanks for the reply ...
Forged is not necessary, just nice And, they don't have to be custom, either, if they're made in the right size of course. I'm just really picky about how they look. I really don't want spacers, though. A 17" wheel would be fine, if they'd fit a 14" brake.
I really dig the mesh-type centers (and similar) and ideally would get something with a satin/gunmetal center with a polished lip.
Good call on going wider up front ... my 245's rub my a-arms now though, when turned to lock, but I think that's only because the tubular arms/k-frame ditch the stops, and it ony happens turned to lock.
I'm thinking ideally 14" brakes. The roads here in CA make them a lot more attractive than the gentle winding in New England did. Big brakes are the primary reason for the bigger wheels, FYI.
Application is everything. If you're dead set on 14" rotors, then up the unsprung weight.
Many people like the bigger bling, and does look nice if done right. I believe 13" rotors can do the job just fine, but opinions vary. For higher speeds, I want some sidewall - helps with ride as well. Then you have to control all that weight to keep the contact patch - which is not equal to just buying a bigger patch!!
You've got good taste in wheels!
For even the fastest cars, a 13" 4 piston 2pc rotor kit is more than enough - you still have more braking than the front tires can ever hope to contain. There is a weight penalty moving from a 13" 4 piston to a 14" 6 piston, not to mention the increase in weight of a 18" wheel vs a 17" holding the same width and diameter tire - could be as much as 6lbs per wheel and tire. Not just unsprung weight, but rotating weight...
Originally Posted by TEDSgrad
That's my favorite wheel - and pricey.
Application is everything. If you're dead set on 14" rotors, then up the unsprung weight.
Many people like the bigger bling, and does look nice if done right. I believe 13" rotors can do the job just fine, but opinions vary. For higher speeds, I want some sidewall - helps with ride as well. Then you have to control all that weight to keep the contact patch - which is not equal to just buying a bigger patch!!
You've got good taste in wheels!
For even the fastest cars, a 13" 4 piston 2pc rotor kit is more than enough - you still have more braking than the front tires can ever hope to contain. There is a weight penalty moving from a 13" 4 piston to a 14" 6 piston, not to mention the increase in weight of a 18" wheel vs a 17" holding the same width and diameter tire - could be as much as 6lbs per wheel and tire. Not just unsprung weight, but rotating weight...
Great advice, and gorgeous setup TEDSgrad. I guess 13's would be fine for me as well, and I'm cool with a 17" wheel. I just need to find some that I can live with. The Hawk's GTAs are cool, but even the 16's had caliper clearance problems with lots of brakes IIRC.
Well I ASSume that your drag racing days are past living in Santa Cruz.
Are you planning on needing brakes for Laguna Seca?
I'm not going that far, yet. Mostly just for street driving, and it got awfully hard to haul the car down from 140mph at the end of the strip!
Also, Sonoma is only about 2.5hrs away, so it might not be over yet
I think if I was going hit Laguna Seca, I'd probably build another car haha. Too heavy, and too much to undo. The track is only about 45min from here though. Tempting.
I want to give you a perspective on braking from personal experience.
On my Camaro, the 2 piston 13" Baer track kit brings the car from 60 to 0 in about 105ft on 16" tires. If there are a half dozen new sports cars (or super cars) that can beat that, I'd be surprised. Put a set of 295-35-18 tires and more aggressive pads and you could be in the 95ft range. At that point, a 14" kit is just going to regulate the brake heat better and give more even pad wear, not give you better stopping distances.
I want to give you a perspective on braking from personal experience.
On my Camaro, the 2 piston 13" Baer track kit brings the car from 60 to 0 in about 105ft on 16" tires. If there are a half dozen new sports cars (or super cars) that can beat that, I'd be surprised. Put a set of 295-35-18 tires and more aggressive pads and you could be in the 95ft range. At that point, a 14" kit is just going to regulate the brake heat better and give more even pad wear, not give you better stopping distances.
I was looking at the Baer 12" kit (Black label), (13s won't fit with the GTA rims I have now) What's the major difference between the kits, other than the rotor diameter?
That sounds pretty badass. I'm having trouble getting anyone who modifies spindles to answer my emails/phone calls though at the moment, which is an issue as I don't live in fab shop out here in CA like I did in MA.
06-08-2015, 01:05 AM
