gravelexpress

what is recommended 16" 17s or 18s. Im thinking of 17 speedlines or compomotives.

thanks in advance

GC8

Strength is more important than aesthetic appeal and weight. The rim size and diameter will be dictated by tyre choice and the gearing that youre looking for; a smaller rolling radius is a damned sight cheaper than a pair of new diffs..... I think that youll be looking at 16"s

Simon

gravelexpress

as a matter of interest - the Group A cars run 18s for tarmac - is this just to sqeeze the big brakes under the arches??

GC8

This may be so; but you dont have a seam welded massively strengthened bodyshell with enormous tarmac brakes and a selection of gear ratios and final drives, nor do you have their tyre budget... I doubt that you can get suitable covers in this size too; clubmans tyres seem to be available in 16" max.

Remember also that if you opt for a slick or semi slick tyre then you will need to substantially alter your suspension and re-enforce the mountings. A baffled sump might save some tears too.

The point that I was trying to make was that choosing 'track wheels' is totally different to choosing wheels to 'improve' the appearance of your car.

Oh f*ck; Im turning into Greasmonkey; in a minute I'll be winning the WRC on a PS2 and wittering on about there being no such thing as an STI8!

And dont even mention VTA dump valves.....

Simon

C 8HEP

apparently 18's are no good for trackdays and thats including having the geometry set up to allow for the extra size(width/profile). i would think that if you went from 205/50x16 to 205/30x18 then the total wheel/tyre size is the same. the handling would automatically change due to harder ride and less flex in the tyre wall. gearing wouldn't be effected either.

i have 16's and want 18's but purely for looks. i would put trackday tyres on the 16's and swap over at tracks.

GimmeMore

Why would that be? I have 18's with 215/35 on an sti5 ... I planned to put 17's on it to allow for a 335 mm brake upgrade but got carried away! I am off to a trackday next weekend ...

C 8HEP

so you had 16's standard? what size?

gravelexpress

thanks for the advice - any other suggestions for wheel manufacturer

GC8

Id look at Compomotive myself; they know what theyre doing and theyre relatively economical. Look at the competition oriented kit (MOs & THs) rather than the McDonalds carpark stuff though.....

For tyres, Id be looking at Maxsport RB5 or RB5 Wets; 16" fitments 205:50 are about £60 each and theres a 17" 245:45 Wet for about £65. Available Here, because I think I know him. Also; this is the manufacturer's web site.

Robert's your mother's special friend!

Simon

gravelexpress

thanks Simon

see you at a track no doubt!!

mark

GC8

My pleasure

RRH

Mark, she'll handle sweeter on 17s than 18s with your setup, but why not buy what you want for the road and use your current 16s for track?

As Simon says above, you can't beat maxsport, although colway may be worth a look. The Toyo 888s are also worth a look, if you can find the right size.

obviously bear in mind if you move away from road tryes you'll be putting massive stress on the rest of the car and will increase wear on drivetrain, wheel bearings etc consderably. this has been mentioned before but I cannot stress the point enough.

tbh I'd get used to her on track with road tyres first as she's set up very hard.

GC8

Colway's largest tyres seem to be 15" unfortunately

gravelexpress

Hey Simon,
the suspension has been "tamed" thank god - by replacing the springs. The rally prep garage that did the work thought the same as you - that it was previously a drift car.
the cars handling has been radically transformed. we also think it is fitted with a front semi-active diff!

its being converted for track day use and will not be much of a road car when its complete. I intend to start off with road tires as I am a novice.

RRH

it may have a front lsd like the type RA.

I'm glad you took the advice re the springs as it wasn't pleasent at all- although I reckon it may have been fine on the smooth roads of japan.

road tyres are the way to go if you want to learn how to driver her properly. slicks will raise the limits, and , ultimately, the speed that any accident may happen.

if I were you I'd book on to the tracksport day at Croft- a lovely circuit, and a great one on which to learn how the car handles without loads of very close barriers like Oulton.

laters

simon

RRH

forgot to add, shame about the colways, as they're damn fine tyres (as in they do the job ) at a decent price.

GC8

I agree; try some really cheap/hard economy tyres; theyll let go earlier and youll learn a lot more, and it wont cost tooo much.

Simon

RRH

I ran some really cheap and nasty '£30 a corner tyres' on an STi RA, think it was the RS day at Croft last year.

They de-laminated within 10 laps, and tbh they were damn fun laps.

BUT........

You know when you listen to someone who you think 'they must know what they're talking about' so you go along with it, although you deep down know its utter bo llox?

Well that's how I knackered the tyres so quickly- said person said that another certain 'high up' prodrive person (no names) said run high pressure to stop them rolling off the rims. In my younger, and more naive, days I went along with it. Turns out they were talking crap.

Anyway, take no notice of me, I'm talking bo llox (jack daniels ) Simon GC8 talks much more sense than me at this time of night......

RRH

ps still battered them crap cossies, even on knackered de-laminated tyres

GC8

If a Scooby will de-laminate the tyres and cook the compound (which I didnt know) then Id stick with the RB5s myself; at £60 a corner you cant go wrong, but if you do go off youll be going a lot faster, as Simon mentioned. Its a very steep learning curve that youll be on..... For a while it might seem like a brick wall!

Simon

RRH

.... but when you manage to hook it up the first time its magic

I have some photos somewhere and will dig them out- I tracked until about 11am then only did about 4 laps in the afternoon, as I needed to get home on the same crap tyres.

SPEN555

Surely,

If your taking tyre choice so seriously then you should not be doing track days but doing racing events?

Track days are about having fun and stuff all about the ideal tyre choice.

RRH

I just like to try and help when someone with less experience needs it

I do trackdays, and race semi-professionally.

Edcase

I recommend not going above 17 for track use on a scooby.

IMHO you cannot go wrong with team dynamics pro race wheels.

Stupidly lightweight, very sexy range of finishes (hi power silver - yum!) and they are FIA approved, with a beaded lip to stop the tyre coming off the rim if you puncture / delaminate!

They are also remarkably affordable!!!

Team Dynamics are the control wheel for a host of race series' across the globe and even supply a couple of F1 teams, you can't really go wrong with em

Edcase

http://www.rimstock.co.uk

go to wheel range / pro race 1 or 1.2

RRH

trust you to get all techy ed hows bris?

Edcase

http://edbartlett6649.fotopic.net/p3743407.html

Here they are fitted.

(PS No I'm not employed by Team Dynamics )

GC8

You might know my uncle then; as he races professionally and he lives near to Oulton.

Edcase

Hello mate,

Looks like I'm moving back to London in a couple months as the business is really flying and need to be where all the brands / agencies / game publishers are.

Happy and sad in the same breath.

Hopefully I can make my fortune in 3 years and get out for good!!!

Then I'm goin' proper racin'!!!!

I miss Oulton Park

I'm up at Donny on Tuesday actually (*cough* not for the launch of the Team Dynamics BTCC team though *cough* great wheels *cough*)





Did I see you bought (and blew up) an RA?????

RRH

No mate, it was an STi5 Type R, it took me a whole six miles to blow it. You'd be impressed with the other project, close to your heart- I'll pm you now

edited as I'm full of JD