Just got a 06 350z and it came with Rays Volk Racing SE37 rims with Toyo Proxess4 rubber on them. It also came with the stock rims with worn out stock tires on them.
I plan to use the car as a daily driver on nice days and take it to the track a few times a year.
Would there be a noticeable difference between using the Rays over the stock rims at the track? They are lighter but would it make a noticeable difference at the track?
Should I:
a)use the Rays for both daily driving and track
b)use the Rays for daily driving and dedicate the stock rims with track rubber for the track
c)use the Rays for track only (with dedicated track rubber), return the to the stock wheels for daily driving (although not a fan of the stock rims looks)
d)sell the stock rims, buy lighter rims for track

Not sure if anyone else went through this dilemma, if you did, which setup did you go with?

 

Welcome. And what track are we speaking about? Tires will make a difference of course - wheels will not.

 

What size are the SE37's?

 

SE37's are 18 and the current tires are 225/45 ZR18 all the way around (way I bought it)

Tracks that are not to far would be grattan raceway, mid ohio, and grand bend raceway.

 

Proxes4 are an all season tire. They will be ok for daily driving use, they are absolutely useless for any track day/auto-x, etc compared to summer only or r compound tires

The usefulness of the Volks vs stock will depend on what size your stock wheels are, what size the Volks are, as that will determine the size of the tire you can eventually fit on them and the weight difference between them

 

Post the size of the volks for better comparision.

 

Assume these are road courses. Stock wheels and competition tires will be good. And the stock wheels are what sizes?

 

The stock wheels are 225/45R18 front and 245/45R18 rear, Potenza RE760 Sport (worn out). Comparing the SE37 to the stock wheels, the tires on the stock wheels go straight up from the rim, whereas, the SE37 the tires look "stretched" to fit the rim.
I read in another post that Michelin Pilot Sport Cups would be good tires for track as they can be used to get you there also.
So far, it looks like to buy the best rubber I can and put them on the stock rims as I will not notice a difference between the rims when driving it.

 

if they are SE37k Volk wheels, they are one of the lightest wheels Volk made, im sure you will see a difference in acceleration with the lighter volk wheels vs the stock wheel.

if its a 225 size tire probably an 18x8?

 

A set of RPF1 in 17x8.5, 17x9.5 would be fine. They're like 16lbs each.

 

No not tire specs - wheel specs.

To me dedicated wheels-tires for the track are just that. They are changed at the track for track driving only.

 

I have been through this 100 times, and like to NOT use my "street" wheels at the track to get thrashed. If you like the Rays more than the stockers, I'd use those for DD, and use the stockers for track with a good set of tires. Change them before you leave for the track event, bring your torque wrench and air pressure gauge, and be done with it. Put some Dunlop Star Specs, Hankook RS3s, or Toyo R888s on them, and enjoy your day without worry. Alternatively, you could put the Dunlops or Hankooks on the Rays wheels and use those for all situations, but I always like to have a set (or 3) of dedicated track wheels. Too often I see fancy wheels get scuffed, bent, or corroded from wet brake dust from the track.

 

Thank you for the stimulating conversation.