Hello all...I'm sure similar questions to mine have been posted but I feel mine is more specific and caters to a smaller group of ppl, so I will ask anyway....flame away. Anyway I have stock tires on my car now (225f/245r). When these wear out I want to get a new set of wheels and tires but not sure which route to go. I am building this car for the track and it will be used in said manner along the course of its build. That being said I've finalized my wheel and tire setup to 2 choices. Choice 1 is Enkei RPF1s (18x9.5 +15mm with 265/40r18 tires) or Enkei RPF1s (17x9 +20 with 265/45r17 tires). I'm not into the "hella flush" look so I don't care to focus on that. What I want to focus on is the positives and negatives of each setup (extra sidewall, smaller wheel, etc. So if u guys could pitch in your thoughts I'd appreciate it. And also, I'm gonna be running a square setup so it would be the same all around. Most of my driving will be daily with some road course racing, not much auto x. Thanks in advance.

 

Are you building it "for track" or for daily driving with some road course? You say both in your post. I suggest a spare set of wheels for track, as they won't stay pretty for very long, and I like a square 275 or 285 set-up on 18s for track.

 

I am building it for the track but its my daily as well. Also, at the moment, I can't afford an extra set of wheels (I already had to buy winter tires/wheels). I'm not really concerned about them getting beat up (prob gonna get them used anyway), I just want a set that is decent for the track (of course won't be running R-compounds since I drive it daily). I'm also concerned a little about front fitment. I thought about 275s but that would require the 18x9.5 +15mm wheel and I'm not sure the tire would clear the fender (my friend is lowered 1.5in all around and has those wheels up front with 255s and barely clears. I don't have suspension yet (aftermarket that is) but when I do I only plan on dropping the car about an inch and running -2 camber all around. I'm not new to wheel/tire/suspension setups I just find getting the right combo to be a royal PIA.

 

Since this is a daily driver, tire brand is more important that wheel size or tire size. In other words a 245 mm Dunlop SP Sport Max GT, for example, will outperform a 265 mm Nitto Invo any day.

The rest is trivial.

 

17x10 +25 all around with 275/40 would be great. Then the rpf1 you mentioned is great but run 275/35 all around. Personally I love the handling of height stagger front to rear. I run 275/35 fronts and 275/40 rears on my rpf1. First suspension mod I suggest is front camber arms, then sways to tune under/over steer if needed.

 

Not sure of brand of tire yet but I would like to go as wide as possible without rubbing or have my steering feel too squishy. That being said, would 17x10 +28 with 285/40 tires be too wide for the front? I did research on 17 and 18in setups and it seems that both for wheels and tires 17in setups are cheaper (a 285r17 tire is cheaper than a 265r18 tire). That being said, it would be more cost effective and possibly weight effect to go with a 17in setup do to tire wear and such. Just not sure if I want the extra sidewall.

 

Look into 275/40-17's, and not to many people offer rubber worth a dam in 285/40. 275/40-17 is a common tire and commonly used on the front of a Z.

 

Would I put 285 mm tires on the front? No. My concern is hydroplaning.

 

Many run the 18x9.5 +15 with 275s, including my autox buddy, without issue. He is also lowered with about the same camber.

If you're willing to go 285/40/17, which I wouldn't and don't think exists anyway (too tall), maybe you could consider 285/30/18s x 4. A 17" set-up is not necessarily lighter, either, and 275/40/17s have a lot more sidewall than 285/30/18s.

Alternatively, you could consider the 18x10.5 +15 set-up with 285x4s, which people - including myself - have/do run. It appears you are interested in used items - I have some used (and new) RPF1s as well as a bunch of used tires, if you're interested.

 

It seems like its easier to find a decent size both width and height, in 18in rather than 17in.

Seems like 18x9.5 +15 with 275s is a decent, happy medium. I'll probably end up going with a setup similiar to this as I can't find a sizes I am happy with in 17in tires. I'll PM you about the wheels, thanks.

 

Thats whay i went up to 18's for this season, this year i will be running either an Nitto NT05 or Hankook RS3 in 275/35 front and 285/35 rear. 17's your kinda stuck at 275 with nothing else available in wider width. My current track wheels are 9.5 front +15 and 10.5 +15 rear RPF1's. I started out on 17's for track.

 

The Kumho XS are available in 285/40/17. I'd really like to run these on all 4 corners if it is possible. They're only 0.3" taller in diameter than the popular 275/40/17, so I don't really see the "too tall/too much sidewall" argument. Has anyone tried these on a 9.5" or 10" wheel in the front, and if so what offsets? I'm pretty set on 17s due to being on a college budget.

 

Just run them on the back and get the 275's up front. You will probably only run them once (till they die) and move to different tires. Better yet, just run the 275's, when you do change brands later, you can still get the same size.

 

I considered that (275f/285r) but I'd like to be able to rotate tires. If nobody thinks it will work, I plan to run the 275 square setup. It just seems like if guys are running 295 Hoosiers up front on 18's, I should be able to fit 285 street tires with the right offset.

 

Look up the tire height on a 295/30-18 and look up the tire height on a 285/40-17 and of course look up the tire height of a stock 225/45-18.

Also there is really no need to rotate tires on the track, with proper camber it wears them out pretty evenly. Some/most tires can also be flipped on the wheels, thats actually the best way to rotate them.