Lightest wheel/tire combo for track

[laughac]

Hi All,

It's my first Boxster and I need your wisdom before I buy a set of track wheels/tires for Autocross.

There's always a balance between weight, strength, grip, and cost. Please share your experience with me as I begin to shop.

Aesthetics are not important to me, and I'm not too proud to run a small wheel diameter for better performance and lower cost tires.

My Boxster S has big reds on it, so I just need wheels large enough to clear those calipers, and just wide enough to keep the Hoosiers sticking... Or whatever tires you recommend. I'll build a tire trailer to tow them to the track and back.

[jfarris]

Greetings,
I purchased a used 2001 S six years ago and started slaloming in Birmingham with the SCCA after a 23 year layoff from autox. History is 914s and 911s autox over 12 years, Western Wash Sports Car Club, PCA, and SCCA.
First question is autox or track days? Who sponsors events? What class do you want to run?
I run "B Stock" in SCCA, but next year rules put me in "B Street" with 140 UTOG tires, raising to 200 UTOG in 2015. Any "R Compound" tire will be in the new "Stock" class for 2014. In 2014 "Street" about the only real changes you can make outside of factory options and combinations are wheel spacers (1/4" or 6.5 mm) and change one sway bar. Any more than that and you get bumped to "A Street Prepared" with all the newer Porsches and Corvettes. Wining in B Street against the Honda S2000s is hard enough. If your're not running SCCA, you can forget most of the above, but I suggest you check the rules first (New 2014 SCCA rules not yet published) and decide what you want to do.
Where in the Nashville area are you going to run - I have a son in Nashville with a Suburu WRX he wants to start slaloming.
Also suggest you get on the SCCA Tennessee Region Forums Tennessee Region Sports Car Club of America • Index page and contact "Han Solo" who drives an ASP Boxster and and AS Cayman.
Good Luck,
Your original question:
Some of the factory oem wheels are as light as you will find (turbo with hollow spokes)
You'll need 17" wheels to clear the brakes = lighter, lower gearing, cheaper tires
I run Hankook RS3s daily plus slaloms, 255 & 225 X 17, very happy with grip and longevity.

[laughac]

Great info!
I'll run AutoX and anything else I can find time to drive.

Sounds like my 18" turbo twist wheels are ok.
I'll order Hankook RS3s next chance I get.

Looking at scca link now.

Chris
615-562-0005

[jfarris]

Chris,
Your 18" Turbo Twists should work fine. They might be a little wider than the 17" wheels on a Boxster.
Unless you need tires now, I would wait until just before the spring autox season to buy. I believe the tire manufacturers will start now to make adjustments so their tires will meet the SCCA 2015 UTQC of 200. My current rear tires are 200s and the fronts are 140s. I think Hankook now offers a 225/45X17 that is a 200 UTQC. All that is assuming you want to stay in a street class. The TireRack test results and customer feedback are great places to comparison shop.
I routinely drive in the winter in central Alabama below the 40* recommendation for most performance tires, but you guys in Nashville occasionally get some snow; don't think I would drive on these tires in snow.
Jim

[laughac]

Wow, I really appreciate your good advice.