Wheel weight, what counts!?!?!

[lilred]

I hate running on my steelies/all season. I have a couple options in front of me but as always money is the problem. I would love to have some Konig Heliums because weight/price ratio rocks, less than $100 a piece for a 10 lbs wheel. But I have a friend wanting to sell me his 15's unknown konig wheels that I think weighs 15-16 lbs ($300 w/tires). Someone else has a set of old colt/mirage/summit alumin 14's that weigh around 15-16 lbs as well and for very cheap (<$100). Hell I could take some 13's steelies and they fit over the brakes!!

So really is 3 lbs - 6 lbs worth it? Granted tire weight is not factored and should be less for smaller wheels. These used wheels would be very cheap, so idealy i could focus on getting better tires. So what should I do?
Is it worth saving for the -5 lbs the Heliums offer?

Thanks in advance.

[SentraWV]

What tires are on the Konigs and how much life do they have left in them? What tires would you buy for the 14 inch wheels? Do you want 14 inch or 15 inch wheels - what are the tire markets like for those diameters? What's the difference in widths?

Less than $100 looks tempting, but make sure it's what you need and you won't end up paying more in the long run.

[gtfour77]

Mike, weight is very important but cost is too....It really depends on your goals....if you just need something to get you by untill you save up for some real wheels....perfect. Hey we all do that... :wink: It is also class dependent.... If you want to stick with SM class then go wide, really wide.... If you plan on a different class then you'll have to go by the rules.
I think you might be better off going with the 15's for now as you can get wider tires for those. 14's are very limited tire-wise. Let us know what you decide... :wink:

PS: There are also some really, really nice tires for 13 inch wheels that honda guys like....something to think about. (225-45-13)

[lilred]

The konig with tires have the Falken ze-512 I believe, maybe 6 months old. Not 100% sure about life, but it would be better than what I have currently. Another thing is I dont know the width of the wheels, alot are 6.5.

13's were really more of a joke, their 5 in wide i believe, no more that 5.5. Tire selection is very limited and expensive for "autox" type.

14's are 5.5 wide, but I could run hankooks rs-2 or azenis, tires are much cheaper and bigger selection

Heliums are 6.5 wide

Falken Hanabi 15's are 7 in wide, very light 11 lbs, and affordable

Now Marteen, wouldnt a 225-45-13 tire require a 8 inch wide wheel!?!?! 13x8, sounds alot like our delsol friend, honestly I dont know if I have the clearence or suspension for that!! Also wouldnt running that small of od wheel perhapes hurt my final gear ratio, I get close to peaking second almost every event!! But maybe just not close enought right !!! :D

[gtfour77]

I would say the 15's might be the way to go....the 13's would change the final drive ratio by some, giving you less speed and more RPM's for torque.... This might not be good for your auto as you indicated above.....
It is ultimatelly your choice but I'd personally go with the 15's for now....with at least 225 width tires.... Trust me, you'll need something wide, I know Davis and I are going wider next year... :poke: :lol:
And yes, for the 13's you'll need at least a 13x8 wheels....

[SeanB]

Depends on your end goal...

An SM Civic should be equipped with 17x10s or something similar with 275 series stickies.

Thats gonna cost $$$.

[lilred]

Depends on your end goal...

An SM Civic should be equipped with 17x10s or something similar with 275 series stickies.

Thats gonna cost $$$.

That simply would not be an option, shes still my DD.

I think I need a good stepping stone setup

So whats the primary investment for a tire?
Compound or width? Go stickier(talkn R comp) or wider?

[SeanB]

Compound... much more important than size. I could get 225/45/15 Ziex ZE 512s and still be painfully slower than if I got 195/60/14 Azenis.

How much are you willing to pay for used stickies? I know of a few people that have 15s available.

[gtfour77]

Mike,
Wheels and tires are going to be the best bang for the buck....then you'll have to look at suspension and weight of your car.... Our friend Josh Matta at BeaveRun beat me this summer 3 times with his 89 civic with really nice suspension and some 15 inch 225 series tires. (I think they were advan or something decently sticky, but not 710's or hoosiers) He won SM in 2005 on hoosiers.... Light weight shell with swapped engine with tons of torque as soon as you tap the throttle....that's the key ... I had the pleasure of driving his car this season and it was fun to say the least.
Bottom line? You want at least 225 width tires with some light weight wheels (7 inch or wider)....if you do get stickies, you WILL have to change wheels at events just like the rest of us crazies...
Ebay has tons of hoosier tires in that size (225 50 15) as well as wheels.... Definitelly would not get a street tire if you plan on sticking with SM...or even street prepared class...

[SeanB]

No SP unless Mike takes over the super charger.

[lilred]

Mike,....
You want at least 225 width tires with some light weight wheels (7 inch or wider)....if you do get stickies, you WILL have to change wheels at events just like the rest of us crazies......

Well prob with that Marteen is that none of the wheels I listed for cheap are wide enough for a 225 wide tire. Unfortunitly I guess im looking for a cheap solution.

I noticed Tirerack still had some advan A032R 185/60/14s left in stock for a very attractive price of $98 a piece. Granted not very wide, but definitly a cheap sticky that I could put on some cheap wheels that I can easly obtain. Less than $600 I could have a nice sticky setup, in my mind atleast.
Itll take 1K to get almost any other setup.

[gtfour77]

I understand your concern Mike. I would still search and try to find something wider though. IMHO 185 is just not wide enough, I don't care how sticky it is....;) (It will be much better than what you are running now but still...)

How about something like this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-15-Wheel-tire-Sentra-Civic-ect-205-50-15-205-50-15_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ66481QQihZ009QQitemZ 190049279971QQrdZ1

There are other sets and also check different honda forums...I am sure you can find a decent set for under $200 and get some used race tires....like these...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/117-4-USDRRT-TOYO-RA1-Road-race-tires-205-x-50-15-inch_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ66473QQihZ013QQite mZ230046982115QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

You wouldn't even have $400 in the entire deal... :wink:

[crobin4]

How much are you willing to pay for used stickies? I know of a few people that have 15s available.

You do? :shock: I'm interested again if Mike is not. :P

[lilred]

Ok I wont give in ........ ill research further :D

[SeanB]

You can fit a 225 series tire on a 5" wheel.

Lot of us stock class CRX guys run 225s up front on the 14x5 wheel.

Here is my suggestion:

Get any sort of 15" wheel, most are typically 5.5+ inches wide. With the ARRC this weekend and most other race series done for the year you can find plenty of used race rubber. Typically road racers get rid of their old tires for $40-$60 a piece depending on the number of heat cycles.

My friend has an assortment of 15" Hankooks and Kumhos for sale. Send me a PM and I can give you more details.

[SentraWV]

Yeah, don't necessarily believe the tire outlet folks on how wide a tire can fit on what wheel. There are "recommendations," but those are fudgeable. I have 215s on my 6.5 inch wheels. They were a bitch to put on (so I'm told), but they fit. And somebody has run 225s on that width on another EP3,

NP: Glass Hammer, Lex Rex

[gtfour77]

It's always better to run wider wheel (it streches the tire and offers bigger contact patch) but if you get the pressure just right you will be able to utilize the tires really well... heck I ran 245's on my 7 inch wheels....
I know Jason V. has some stories to tell.... :lol:

[administerturbo]

You can fit a 225 series tire on a 5" wheel.

just a note... while this might be possible, it's certainly not optimal as the carcass will be forced to pull up off of the ground on the shoulders.

[gtfour77]

You can fit a 225 series tire on a 5" wheel.

just a note... while this might be possible, it's certainly not optimal as the carcass will be forced to pull up off of the ground on the shoulders.

Very true, although this might be solved by carefully adjusting pressures....but def. agree with Nate, it's NOT optimal....just possible... :wink:

[Jason V]

Try Diamond Racing wheels... they are on the web... relatively light steel wheels..... they have 13x7 or by 8s... and 15s in 7 and 8 inch width... I would take a proper size wheel over a light narrow one.. yes crazy fitments are done.. in stock when no other option will work...

Personaly I would opt for 13x7 diamonds or 8s for a few extra bucks.. and a 215 or 225 wide 13" tire from the maker of your choice... I bet the one starting with K is alot cheaper!!! the 13s will give you the greatest help with gearing.. yeah the big budget national types are going 17 and 18 diameter with HUGE tires trying to catch the bimmers.. but for us low budget peeps 13s are the way to go...

[SentraWV]

Try Diamond Racing wheels

I think that when Scott was still a Neon owner and pondering DSP he looked into those and was warned away by some folks in the Neon community, but I may be getting company names mixed up.

Bro'?

NP: Adrian Belew, "Motor Bungalow"

[Jason V]

Try Diamond Racing wheels

I think that when Scott was still a Neon owner and pondering DSP he looked into those and was warned away by some folks in the Neon community, but I may be getting company names mixed up.

Bro'?

NP: Adrian Belew, "Motor Bungalow"

Some don't like the fact they are cheap... some think everything must be top dollar... some hate it when the wheel bends during mounting...!! no worries though they are soft enough to reform with a mallett.... all joking aside for what they cost they are great... would I do an endurance race at VIR with them... probably not.. street use NO WAY!! autocross... I would and have used them with no problems...

[lilred]

...... I have seen the light ........

[SentraWV]

...... I have seen the light ........

You're putting the band back together?

:P

NP: Genesis, Live at Wembley (not, amazingly enough, The Blues Brothers)

[lilred]

...... I have seen the light ........

You're putting the band back together?

:P

NP: Genesis, Live at Wembley (not, amazingly enough, The Blues Brothers)

No ....... im out like Axel Rose !!! :D

Everything everyone has been telling me is finally makeing sense. :twisted:

[gtfour77]

Everything everyone has been telling me is finally makeing sense. :twisted:

:thumbs: Looking forward to see you on some serious rubber soon Mike... :wink:

[ShortysTRM]

I think Diamond racing wheels were in Sports Car in a Wheel Construction article this past issue.

[Brucey]

You're not on a mission from god?

[Jason V]

FYI here are some 13x8 Diamonds for sale but I forget what bolt pattern your car has..... don't worry about hub size they are not hub centric wheels....

http://sccaforums.com/forums/1/221723/ShowThread.aspx#221723

EDIT: They will not fit a honda as far as I know.. but they will fit old Datsuns and many RWD Toyotas like a Starlet!!!