Wheel Choices and Top Speed?

[Removed user as requested]

Hi guys, my 68 Charger is almost gone and a new-exotic car is on the way in. Hopefully in another 2 years I will be able to get my GT40 for some serious 'handling' capabilities.

What are the best wheels money can buy? To me this means strength/lightness. Magnesium/Carbon wheels, whatever is out there that supercars like the Aventador, Mclaren F1 etc would be using.

I cant seem to find an actual company, I know theres forgeline, Boze, Fiske etc, but what is the 'top dollar' light/strong made wheel that can not be beat even though it may cost extra 5000 for 5% better.

My GT40 will have a Carbon fiber body and a carbon fiber monocoque chasis built for it. Alluminium small block engine, 351ci probbably with around 450-500hp in a 750kg car. Will be running ceramic brakes unless there is a better option for stopping power? and so, I want wheels that will be up there exotic to match the car. Not trying to save on $, just want top notch F1 technology. I remember seeing some cold forged wheels which are like rated as 'the best' due to the process it goes through, but cant seem to find anything on that anymore... either way, I am simply after serious wheels. 17-18" x 10-12" size for the rear so I can run 335's in the rear for serious traction.

Lastly since it came to mind... does HP = top speed or does weight have something to do with it?

EG: A 750kg (1900lbs) car with 500hp would be a rocket off the line, while a 2600-2800 lbs car (1300kg like Enzo) would need like 1000hp to accelerate just as hard due to power-weight ratio. However, would the 1000hp Enzo hit 400+ km/h top end due to 1000 horses while the 500hp car would only reach perhaps 340kmh due to 500hp, or because its such a light car it also would get to 400kmh with less HP because it weighs near half as much?
Thanks!
G-

[ace_xp2]

Dymag makes a carbon magnesium rim, can't seem to find many links though:
http://www.360autodesign.co.uk/Alloy_wheel_packages/Carbon_Magnesium_780.aspx

[79-TA]

Top speed will simply be drag or gearing limited (or ECU limited in some cases.) It's a matter of having enough power to overcome the drag. More accurately, top speed is when the net force on the car becomes zero. Fnet = 0 The torque, as transferred into linear force equals the force applied by all sources of friction.

Weight, or mass really, primarily affects acceleration and has no real bearing on top speed. F=MA. This affects how quickly you get there. Of course, there is also rolling resistance which is affected by weight, but it is much smaller than wind resistance. Consider it negligible. If Bonneville style top speed is your concern, you need to make sure your power and torque curves in top gear correlate with the wind resistance at whatever speeds they'll be experiencing.

Why the need for such superfluous wheels? Are you just trying to buy a talking point for your car? I think you'd get better stories (and lap times) from driving schools or track days with that money.

[cheapthrillz]

Sounds like a cool car. What is the plan for it though? Road race? Bonneville? Showroom?

Speed is definitely limited by drag. If you're looking for top speed, I don't think a GT40 is the correct starting point. You're talking about a body that was designed when nobody knew/understood anything about aerodynamics....

[Matt@BOS]

Sounds like a cool car. What is the plan for it though? Road race? Bonneville? Showroom?

Speed is definitely limited by drag. If you're looking for top speed, I don't think a GT40 is the correct starting point. You're talking about a body that was designed when nobody knew/understood anything about aerodynamics....

There are probably better starting points out there, but GT40s are 200mph cars. The front end just gets "light" at those speeds. With a few simple modifications like a front spoiler and more aero dynamic rockers, a la the new Ford GT, driving an old GT40 at 200 is supposed to be less scary.

Carbon ceramic brakes and ultra high dollar light weight wheels are cool. I can see wanting the best wheels money can buy if you're chasing every little incremental gain. However. Carbon ceramic brakes just add complexity. First off, you might need ABS. Second, a 1900 lb car might just be faster with smaller brakes, and wheels. GT40s definitely don't need 14" brakes to stop.

Matt

[cheapthrillz]

There are probably better starting points out there, but GT40s are 200mph cars. The front end just gets "light" at those speeds. With a few simple modifications like a front spoiler and more aero dynamic rockers, a la the new Ford GT, driving an old GT40 at 200 is supposed to be less scary.

Carbon ceramic brakes and ultra high dollar light weight wheels are cool. I can see wanting the best wheels money can buy if you're chasing every little incremental gain. However. Carbon ceramic brakes just add complexity. First off, you might need ABS. Second, a 1900 lb car might just be faster with smaller brakes, and wheels. GT40s definitely don't need 14" brakes to stop.

Matt

But the original ones weren't completely carbon fiber either.... I can see the car getting VERY "light" before it ever reaches 200 mph

[Removed user as requested]

Hi,

The reason I thought what I did was, not because I am going to ever go to such a high top speed but because 'it' can. If I was rich and bought a Veyron, it does all that irrespective of the fact I would never drive it like that. In fact far as I know, most people with high end exotics like Aventador's and so forth, would not risk taking the car to the track to ever even utilize its handling capabilities, and the handful of people that do take it out would not even see the cars max potential as they are not dedicated F1 drivers to utilize it. However, once a car like that is bought, the car does what it does whether the driver uses it or not. Since I need to get this car built, I figured I would get it built to do what these cars do, so I feel as though I got a car equivalent to 'super-cars' irrelevant of the fact I wont use such a thing just like If I went and bought a Lambo today and it did more than I would ever use.

Well what wheels do you guys suggest and what sizes given its so light and wont need huge brakes to send you out the screen?

Just to clarify on top speed, the weight of car more or less changes how hard it can accelerate not the top speed, so really 1000+ HP is what is needed to hit 400kmh whether the car weighed 750kg or 1500kg?

Is there such thing as 'too light'. I can option my car with a carbon body/chassis or I can go the alloy Chassis to increase the weight up to 1000kg. What do you recommend and why?

Is there such thing as 'too light' where performance is actually hindered?

Thanks
George