Track & Weekend Use Wheel/Tire Setup Questions
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From: Massachusetts
Track & Weekend Use Wheel/Tire Setup Questions
Hey all, just recently acquired my 350Z. I'm trying to figure out a cost effective wheel and tire setup. I will be running Toyo Competition tires and want 18in rims for better contact patch and handling as well as less expensive rear tire replacements. The Z is not my daily; I only bring it out on mild/warm no precipitation days. I will be tracking the car semi regularly and will more often be cruising through some twisties. I do not like the stretched look and I am lowered by an inch give or take; so what are your recommendations for tire sizes and rim offset?
Thanks in advance for all your responses!
Edit: I'm not looking for people to tell me to go to a tire size site or look at other guides; I am looking for legitimate suggestions from people who have their own experiences here so I can get a general concensus.
Thanks in advance for all your responses!
Edit: I'm not looking for people to tell me to go to a tire size site or look at other guides; I am looking for legitimate suggestions from people who have their own experiences here so I can get a general concensus.
Last edited by Gallaticus; Feb 6, 2020 at 12:57 PM.
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From: Massachusetts
I deeply appreciate your response. I know it has been covered plenty of times; I've done my research very thoroughly over the past several weeks. Still, you can ask the same question 1000 times and get 1000 different answers. Are the RPF1s what you ran personally? I'm not a fan of the looks so I'm still searching around for similar weight/size rims.
I didnt track my car so I didnt care about weight, know several personally who did have them. Weight, size availability, and strength make it a no brainier imho. Any enkei wheel I would imagine would be good
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My car is primarily track and canyon use. I run 18x10.5, +18 Konig Dekagram (flow-formed, so light weight and strong with lower price than forged) with 285/35-18 Falken Azenis square. It grips really well with little-to-no under steer, but you will lose some responsiveness from going so wide up front. The steering is definitely heavier than stock, but on track it's welcomed.
My wheel and tire setup was about $1800 brand new from America's Tire, which should meet your cost effective requirement.
My wheel and tire setup was about $1800 brand new from America's Tire, which should meet your cost effective requirement.
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As was already mentioned, any of the Enkei "Race" class wheels - RPF1, NT03+M, RS05RR, PF01, PF05 all light and strong plus look good.
And the mentioned Konig Dekagram, along with the Ampliform, Ultraform, etc. flow formed wheels fall into the same category. Konig developed the flow form technology now known more widely as Enkei MAT (who licensed the technology and marketed it heavily.)
But ya, of all the wheels I've run (some 2 dozen or more sets; NONE on track, all hills/canyons only), the top three performers are/were RPF1, Nismo S-Tune LMZ5, Nissan Track V.1. What they all have in common: very stiff, forged construction (Except the RPF1, roll forged), strong, light weight. (All sub-20#). These not-hugely-expensive wheels all outrun my expensive (but heavier) forged Rays, Volks, and every other one ever on my car.
One comment about your "Toyo competition tires"... I had a half used set of triple-8s on one set of wheels as purchased and found that on hills runs (probably OK on track), they are very sensitive to heat. They like hot (200 or more) so careful when first getting out there. Even my RE71s were a lot more tolerant. I don't subscribe to the theory that "race tires are great even for the street" because its difficult to get 'em hot enough. Max or Extreme rated street tires are better for the street/hills. They run very nicely at a little lower temp (say, 175-180) due to their construction but its tough to even get those to that temp in the hills; and that's why I won't go any higher or wider than a 275 on 10.5 wheel (already pushing it, temp wise.)
And the mentioned Konig Dekagram, along with the Ampliform, Ultraform, etc. flow formed wheels fall into the same category. Konig developed the flow form technology now known more widely as Enkei MAT (who licensed the technology and marketed it heavily.)
But ya, of all the wheels I've run (some 2 dozen or more sets; NONE on track, all hills/canyons only), the top three performers are/were RPF1, Nismo S-Tune LMZ5, Nissan Track V.1. What they all have in common: very stiff, forged construction (Except the RPF1, roll forged), strong, light weight. (All sub-20#). These not-hugely-expensive wheels all outrun my expensive (but heavier) forged Rays, Volks, and every other one ever on my car.
One comment about your "Toyo competition tires"... I had a half used set of triple-8s on one set of wheels as purchased and found that on hills runs (probably OK on track), they are very sensitive to heat. They like hot (200 or more) so careful when first getting out there. Even my RE71s were a lot more tolerant. I don't subscribe to the theory that "race tires are great even for the street" because its difficult to get 'em hot enough. Max or Extreme rated street tires are better for the street/hills. They run very nicely at a little lower temp (say, 175-180) due to their construction but its tough to even get those to that temp in the hills; and that's why I won't go any higher or wider than a 275 on 10.5 wheel (already pushing it, temp wise.)
Last edited by MicVelo; Feb 6, 2020 at 02:59 PM.
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Feb 2020
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From: Massachusetts
As was already mentioned, any of the Enkei "Race" class wheels - RPF1, NT03+M, RS05RR, PF01, PF05 all light and strong plus look good.
And the mentioned Konig Dekagram, along with the Ampliform, Ultraform, etc. flow formed wheels fall into the same category. Konig developed the flow form technology now known more widely as Enkei MAT (who licensed the technology and marketed it heavily.)
But ya, of all the wheels I've run (some 2 dozen or more sets; NONE on track, all hills/canyons only), the top three performers are/were RPF1, Nismo S-Tune LMZ5, Nissan Track V.1. What they all have in common: very stiff, forged construction (Except the RPF1, roll forged), strong, light weight. (All sub-20#). These not-hugely-expensive wheels all outrun my expensive (but heavier) forged Rays, Volks, and every other one ever on my car.
One comment about your "Toyo competition tires"... I had a half used set of triple-8s on one set of wheels as purchased and found that on hills runs (probably OK on track), they are very sensitive to heat. They like hot (200 or more) so careful when first getting out there. Even my RE71s were a lot more tolerant. I don't subscribe to the theory that "race tires are great even for the street" because its difficult to get 'em hot enough. Max or Extreme rated street tires are better for the street/hills. They run very nicely at a little lower temp (say, 175-180) due to their construction but its tough to even get those to that temp in the hills; and that's why I won't go any higher or wider than a 275 on 10.5 wheel (already pushing it, temp wise.)
And the mentioned Konig Dekagram, along with the Ampliform, Ultraform, etc. flow formed wheels fall into the same category. Konig developed the flow form technology now known more widely as Enkei MAT (who licensed the technology and marketed it heavily.)
But ya, of all the wheels I've run (some 2 dozen or more sets; NONE on track, all hills/canyons only), the top three performers are/were RPF1, Nismo S-Tune LMZ5, Nissan Track V.1. What they all have in common: very stiff, forged construction (Except the RPF1, roll forged), strong, light weight. (All sub-20#). These not-hugely-expensive wheels all outrun my expensive (but heavier) forged Rays, Volks, and every other one ever on my car.
One comment about your "Toyo competition tires"... I had a half used set of triple-8s on one set of wheels as purchased and found that on hills runs (probably OK on track), they are very sensitive to heat. They like hot (200 or more) so careful when first getting out there. Even my RE71s were a lot more tolerant. I don't subscribe to the theory that "race tires are great even for the street" because its difficult to get 'em hot enough. Max or Extreme rated street tires are better for the street/hills. They run very nicely at a little lower temp (say, 175-180) due to their construction but its tough to even get those to that temp in the hills; and that's why I won't go any higher or wider than a 275 on 10.5 wheel (already pushing it, temp wise.)
On the tire note; has anyone ran different model tires in the rear vs the front? ie: something with a higher traction in the front and something a little more slippy in the rear? If so, what tires did you use and why?
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2020
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From: Massachusetts
I've always heard mixed things about Enkei. I was looking into some Rotoform or BBS wheels; but after doing some digging on this forum I may give a set of Enkeis a shot after all.
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
My car is primarily track and canyon use. I run 18x10.5, +18 Konig Dekagram (flow-formed, so light weight and strong with lower price than forged) with 285/35-18 Falken Azenis square. It grips really well with little-to-no under steer, but you will lose some responsiveness from going so wide up front. The steering is definitely heavier than stock, but on track it's welcomed.
My wheel and tire setup was about $1800 brand new from America's Tire, which should meet your cost effective requirement.
My wheel and tire setup was about $1800 brand new from America's Tire, which should meet your cost effective requirement.
Last edited by Gallaticus; Feb 7, 2020 at 08:48 AM.
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