18's vs 19's for street/track

Strengthrehab · Oct 26, 2016

Is the only reason people go for 18 over 19 due to tire availability and price?

I ask because I changed out my PP wheels for 19x8.5 and 19x10 MMD Zeven wheels (wasn't a fan of the SVE drifts at the time). Unfortunately I bought my tires (Continental DWS-06's) prior to picking up the car in Feb and knowing I'd be driving in 20 degree weather.

Next year I'll be needing tires, I'm sure so I'm trying to decide if I want to just get 2 more 19x10 Zeven wheels (26lbs without tires) and invest in some 19" tires or scrub around for some 18's that will fit plus tires.

Any thoughts?

SoundGuyDave · Oct 26, 2016

Total mass, and rotational inertia are also factors... (Generally speaking) the larger the wheel, the more weight it has, AND that weight is pretty far out from the center of the wheel. That has adverse impact on acceleration and braking. And yes, generally the 18" rubber will be cheaper than the 19" in equivalent widths.

BUT, it's all a moot point if you can't get the wheel over the brakes...

Strengthrehab · Oct 26, 2016

Yeah thats the issue i have. Only a few offerings for 18's with the perf pack brakes: forgestar cf5 and apex ec7's; but apex isnt making an 18x10 right now.

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ddd4114 · Oct 26, 2016

SoundGuyDave said:
Total mass, and rotational inertia are also factors... (Generally speaking) the larger the wheel, the more weight it has, AND that weight is pretty far out from the center of the wheel. That has adverse impact on acceleration and braking. And yes, generally the 18" rubber will be cheaper than the 19" in equivalent widths.

BUT, it's all a moot point if you can't get the wheel over the brakes...

I would definitely try to get a set of 18" wheels that will work with you brakes for the reasons Dave mentioned. I think the tire cost alone is worth getting 18" wheels. If you're interested in tracking the car with any regularity (especially with sticky tires), it will save you a lot of money in the long run.

noldevin · Oct 27, 2016

Most like to go for 18s. If you want to go full race compound there will be more choices. Just keep in mind any track-worthy 18" tire will be shorter than stock, so your gearing and speedometer will be affected as such. It can also be more difficult to find tires wider than a 285.
I went with 19s personally. They don't lower your ride height or affect gearing as much, and 19" Forgestars are still pretty light. Plenty of decent tire choices in 285/35 or 305/30.

TGR96 · Oct 27, 2016

I prefer 18's myself, due to cost (both wheel and tire), weight, and the fact that my car is also a DD, and 18's offer a "nicer" ride on public roads with more sidewall to act as "shock absorbers" than 19's. But I have no brake clearance issues, since I am running the 14" GT500 Brembo's. As mentioned already, if you can find 18's that will fit over the big PP brakes (CF5s?), I'd go 18's

Strengthrehab · Oct 27, 2016

Yeah cf5 and apex ec7 (who disconntinued the 18x10 for mustangs). Also my 3.73's will be a bitch wuth a 25.5" tire vs 27.7 of the 19.

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GoinDrivin · Oct 27, 2016

I'm currently running 18x10 SVE Drifts at all for corners. I haven't upgraded the brakes yet but these will clear the Brembo brakes. This is going to be my dual-duty street/track car. I know there are lighter options out there as well. I would recommend going to a square setup. But really it depends on what you're looking to spend and how serious you want to get. Just remember that a track day can wreck havoc on your basic street tire. I learned that lesson the hard way when I started autocrossing my RX-7.

Strengthrehab · Oct 27, 2016

GoinDrivin said:
I'm currently running 18x10 SVE Drifts at all for corners. I haven't upgraded the brakes yet but these will clear the Brembo brakes. This is going to be my dual-duty street/track car. I know there are lighter options out there as well. I would recommend going to a square setup. But really it depends on what you're looking to spend and how serious you want to get. Just remember that a track day can wreck havoc on your basic street tire. I learned that lesson the hard way when I started autocrossing my RX-7.

18x10 Drifts would be awesome. They wont work with s550 6 pot Brembos

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Boone · Oct 27, 2016

Create a list like the one below that I did for 11" wide rims. Check availability of tires in appropriate sizes and with features you're wanting. I've decided to go 19" because I want 200TW or more to compete in CAM and Optima. More tires available in my size, but more money for the rims, and more money every time I replace the tires. I'm willing to accept this because at 200TW I won't wear out rubber at the rate of R comps. I can always get a third set of rims at 18x10 if I want to put on 285 slicks, but that's not my focus right now.

Rims - Forgestar CF5 Deep Concave 18x11 with 52mm offsets:

315/30/18 (All 200TW unless noted)
Falken Azenis RT615K
BFG Rival S
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 (220TW)

305/30/18 and 305/35/18
None
Nothing
Nada

295/35/18 (All 200TW unless noted)
Nitto NT05
Michilin Pilot Sport PS2 (220TW)
Toyo Proxes 1 (240TW)
Nitto Invo (260TW)
Michilin Pilot Super Sport (300TW)
Conti ExtremeContact DW (340TW)
Bridgeston Potenza RE760 Sport (340TW)

Rims - Forgestar CF5 Deep Concave 19x11 with 52mm offsets:

315/30/19
None
Nothing
Nada

305/30/19 (All 200TW unless noted)
Bridgeston Potenza RE-71R
Khumo ECSTA V720
Hankook Ventus R-S3 V2
Bridgestone Potenza RE-11
Michilin Pilot Sport PS2 (220TW)
Nitto Invo (220TW)
Khumo ECSTA PS91 (260TW)
Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position (280TW)
Michilin Pilot Super Sport (300TW)
Hankook Ventus V12 EVO2 (320TW)
Conti ExtremeContact DW (340 TW)

295/30/19 (All 200TW unless noted)
Michilin Pilot Sport PS2 (220TW)
Khumo ECSTA PS91 (260TW)
Conti ContiSportContact 3 (280TW)
Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position (280TW)
Michilin Pilot Super Sport (300TW)
Hankook Ventus V12 EVO2 (320TW)

295/35/19 (All 200TW unless noted)
Yokoham Advan Sport V105 (240TW)
Michilin Pilot Super Sport (300TW)

Pentalab · Oct 28, 2016

Boone said:
Create a list like the one below that I did for 11" wide rims. Check availability of tires in appropriate sizes and with features you're wanting. I've decided to go 19" because I want 200TW or more to compete in CAM and Optima. More tires available in my size, but more money for the rims, and more money every time I replace the tires. I'm willing to accept this because at 200TW I won't wear out rubber at the rate of R comps. I can always get a third set of rims at 18x10 if I want to put on 285 slicks, but that's not my focus right now.

Is that 52mm offset for both front + back ?

Boone · Oct 28, 2016

Is that 52mm offset for both front + back ?

Yes. I'm expecting to need an 8mm spacer on the front. There is a tire and wheel thread that documents the 11" square setup, but they used 18" wheels and Nitto NT01's.

I havent' measured them, but I would guess that Vorshlag's 11" setup likely uses 52mm rear and 44mm front for their non-rotatable setup.

stevbd · Oct 30, 2016

Strengthrehab, I don't think it's correct that Apex discontinued the 18x10 EC7. They were backordered for a long time but I think a new shipment came in and they now show as being available on their website.

I have the ec7 in 18x9.5 and like them. I would've got the 18x10 but didn't want to wait.

oldVOR · Oct 31, 2016

Under the 18x10 EC-7 wheel section, click on the individual colors and you'll see what the current stock levels are: anthracite-0, silver-1 and black-1

Not even enough to buy a full set.

Strengthrehab · Oct 31, 2016

oldVOR said:
Under the 18x10 EC-7 wheel section, click on the individual colors and you'll see what the current stock levels are: anthracite-0, silver-1 and black-1

Not even enough to buy a full set.

Yeah. What he said.

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stevbd · Nov 2, 2016

Sorry for the bad info, I stand corrected. For the longest time they just said unavailable and then I was tricked into thinking you could get them again. Carry on.

18's vs 19's for street/track

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