Is it worth swapping wheels and tires ?

[Paraman1]

Is it worth swapping out wheels and tires to gain a 1/2 inch of rotor size ? I ask this because I can run the 325 MM Corvette brakes under my current wheel setup or if I switch my wheels out to 18's I can run the 340 MM setup . It will cost about 1400 for the wheels and tires I would like to change to and my neighbor is willing to buy my current setup for 1000 bucks . This car will be daily driven for the most part with 3-4 AutoX weekends during the summer .

[Twentyover]

Unless you WANT to change the wheels and tires, I'd say no, based on your comments about usage. You'd be trading big ass brakes for Khardashian ass brakes, and for autocrossing, I don't think you need the additional heat capacity. Prople have been autocrossing on 11 inch brakes for years, so unless you're fading (a condition i think unlikely) no NEED.

Wants, on the other hand...

[Boxjohn]

Yeah I doubt you're gonna be cooking what you have. I don't even push the limits of my 10.5 inch single piston stock junk autocrossing.

[Apogee]

"Worth" is the subjective term...to some it might be, to most, probably not. The additional thermal mass really only benefits you if you're pushing the current pad/rotor combo up to and beyond their limits. At that point you could step up to a pad with a higher temp rating or a larger rotor with a higher thermal mass. The fact that you have someone willing to buy your wheels/tires for a pretty penny changes the landscape somewhat...if you also want to change wheels and tires, then now would be the time to do it. Nothing says you need to even upgrade the brakes with the larger wheels right away, but then at least you'll have the option.

Tobin
KORE3

[TheJDMan]

Tobin makes a good point about upgrading wheels now since you have a buyer lined up. Going to an 18" wheel has a number of benefits not the least of which is a slightly shorter tire sidewall which will improve your handling now and opens up your selection of brake upgrades in the future.