18" wheel for the track?

[911teo]

My 17" wheels just failed at the race track. I was lucky enough to spot the cracks before the wheel disintegrated itself.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/507661-lindsey-fuch-wheel-failure.html


I am now considering how to replace them.

17" Zuffenhaus forged Fuchs replica are a no brainer for a street/track day single solution wheel.

But here in the UK 17" track tyres are getting more difficult to source so I am thinking of going with 2 sets...

17" Zuffenhaus for the street and look....

And a set of BBS E88 in 18" for the track.



Apart from the look (which I really do not care about when on the track) what are the downsides of going to 18" if I keep the circumference of the tyre the same?

Granted less sidewall will make the suspension work more and it will stiffen up the ride... but it is ok on the track.

Anything else I am missing?

What do you think?

[GaryR]

As I said in the other thread, CCW.

[ted]

I'll place my vote for 15" wheels on your car.
Just for appearance have you tried a set of 15s on your car before?
When they make them a set of Alton 15" fuchs would looks awesome on your car.
Do you like the vintage look?

18s with R rated tires?
Will the 18" diameter R rated tires be taller than your current tires?
Is the R rated 18 still less that than 26" tall?

My 18" rims were for radial slicks.
Now I have a set of RA-1 tries on 18s, tallest tires I have.
Have you got your camber optimized for R rated tires?

I just changed my set up to less camber and plan to use bias ply slicks at the track.
They can be found for 15" or 16" rims.
The bias ply Avon slicks I am considering are shorter, 23.5 front and 25 rear.
Shorter tire, lower c/g, improved final drive ratio, more grip.

If you have to drive it to the track the slick idea may not work.

A 15" diameter wheel on your car might make the car look more factory/IROC/RSR where as the rims you posted are very nice but they look more aftermarket.

These photos show the 15s but with the vintage chunky TB tires fine for the track too.

[Bill Verburg]

The E88s are a great track wheel and 18 is a great size for tire availability. Think I heard that in on your side of the pond the greens have managed to put the kibosh on R rated street tires. Sometime in the near future the supplies may dry up

[911teo]

15s would look awesome. But I think we are 1yr away from seeing any wheel....

My current diameter with the 315/35-17 is 25.7. The Michelin TBs 15 would be 24.3... quite a bit smaller...

In 18 I can get Pilot Sport II in 315/30-18 and they are 25.4

[rsrfan]

Rims

Posted on other thread

Billet forged aluminum 917 three piece wheels either lug or centerlock versions available with hubs...