steel wheels for the track?

[asifnyc]

after a recent thrash with my Javelin (see video in the "g-machine action video" thread in the open discussion forum) I realize I really need a track only set of wheels/tires. I don't want to spend a lot of money. so, is the following idea crazy or is it an acceptable (albeit super cheap) way to go...

I have 16x8 Vintage Wheel Works V45's on the car now. The have Kumho Victoracer V700 tires on them 265/40 16 rears, 245/40 16 fronts. I put a hole in one of the rear's on my last outing (see video). I also went back and read the fine print on these tires. they are supposed to be SHAVED before getting any real dry track time.



My current plan is to buy BF Goodrich g-force sport street tires. 255/50zr16 rears, and either 245/50zr16 OR 225/50zr16 on the front. these are $100 tires. I figure I really don't need crazy rubber on the street because I don't speed and I'm not trying to pull 1.0g on the street...

For the track I'm thinking uber cheap Cragar D windows $50ea from summit. for tires, my friend says he can hook me up with all the used DIRT MODIFIED tires I want (he's a racer and has a mountain of these tires at his place). they're hoosiers G60-r15 which translates into 245/60s I believe. so, is that crazy? steel wheels, used tires? I know it's a far cry from the discussion of fiske and boze and forgeline that usually goes on around here.

one more question. he has a tire mounting machine at his house (awesome). so I can mount the race tires for free. but, he doesn't have a balancer. he doesn't balance his tires for dirt racing and doesn't think I need to balance mine for the track. opinions?

[ProBell]

I ran 17" steel Cragar rims with my track tires for a few years for the same reason. My only advice is use steel valve stems. I got the rims so hot one time it melted the rubber valve stems. They are cheap and strong. Good luck. Randy

[Nessumsar]

I would think your plan is pretty sound. The used dirt modified tires should be pretty sticky (as long as they're not old), and the tread blocks should be worn down nice and short so that they won't fold over under cornering.

As far as balancing you can use these: http://www.innovativebalancing.com/

[oestek]

I think the Summit brand versions are even less, like $36 / wheel.

[asifnyc]

awesome, thanks Kevin. $36.95 to be exact. only bummer is for some reason says they won't ship until 5/3/2010... that may be fine though. got to figure out if I really need them sooner.

[asifnyc]

just had a doh?! moment... I CAN'T run 15" wheels because of my front disc setup... there goes the free tire angle...

[alowerlevel]

[asifnyc]

I've been going back and forth between summit racing and tire rack trying to figure out my el - cheapo wheel / tire solution. I think I'm going to go with steel wheels for the STREET and make the Vintage Wheel Works V45s the track wheels. Might as well use the lighter wheels on the track.

For the street I'm going with the crager d-windows but in 17x8 front, 17x9 rear. I'd like to put nitto nt555s on. can anyone answer this question. summit says the nt555 285/40 17 will fit on a 9" rim. Nitto's website says that tire needs a 9.5" minimum rim width. whose right?

[69stang]

I was thinking on going 17x8 or 17x9 Crager D windows or soft 8s on my mustang for a few reasons. I wanted, a cheap set up till I made a final decision on which alloy wheels I want, a set up to gauge fender flaring or fender widening to, and the potential exists I may order a set of alloys with a non-standard backspacing. I also recently started looking at locating some Crown Vic police wheels (17 x 8) to use.

[AMC Racer]

How big are your discs and calipers? You may get lucky with a stock car wheel as they usually have good clearance. A lot of these steel wheels are lighter than many of the fancy aluminum ones. Check Bassett, Aero, Bart, etc. Bassett even has DOT wheels.
http://www.bassettwheel.com/steel.html

[asifnyc]

those bassets do look good... here are the brake specs:

Rotor
Wilwood Brakes ROTOR 12.19 X 1.25 8 ON 7.0
Wilwood #950-160-2526

Caliper
Forged Billet*Superlite (FSL4)
WILWOOD 120-7429R

[ProBell]

I've been going back and forth between summit racing and tire rack trying to figure out my el - cheapo wheel / tire solution. I think I'm going to go with steel wheels for the STREET and make the Vintage Wheel Works V45s the track wheels. Might as well use the lighter wheels on the track.

For the street I'm going with the crager d-windows but in 17x8 front, 17x9 rear. I'd like to put nitto nt555s on. can anyone answer this question. summit says the nt555 285/40 17 will fit on a 9" rim. Nitto's website says that tire needs a 9.5" minimum rim width. whose right?

If you are going to run the Vintage Wheel Works on the track make shire they are track rated. I found that not many of the wheels for are cars are. I have seen a few wheel failures at the track and it usually does not end up well. Randy

[AMC Racer]

12.19" with Superlites should fit a stock car wheel. I've got 15" stock car wheels and was hoping to go with 12.19" front with Superlites or GNIII and 11.75" rear with smaller piston forged Superlites. The stock car sites generally list up to 12.72" rotors, but depends on calipers. Lots of good 15" track tires, just not many for the street, so 15" track and keep your 16" for the street sounds like a good plan. With 12.19" rotors, the caliper outside radius is only 6.85" (13.7" dia.). Best to check with the wheel guys before ordering.
http://www.wilwood.com/images/Calipe...perlite-ds.pdf

[ho428]

I run steel 15" Pontiac rims with Goodyear Bluestreaks for HSR events, switching to 17" and Hoosier R-6's for NASA events.
I have a hard time getting more than an 11" rotor in my 15's using the original 4 piston calipers.
I may make up another set of front spindles with 13" brakes in the 17's for NASA. Probably keep my 11" disc in the rear though.

Dual purpose cars, or in my case dual sanctions, are a PITA, but a lot of fun.

[John Wright]

Soft 8's got my rust bucket off the jackstands and they clear my C5 brakes....very heavy wheels though, but they are CHEAP.

[Steeevooo]

man I dont know what it is but those wheels look so nice on that thing lol

[hangten]

they look great!

[stealth71]

^^^^^^ Rust bucket. LOL I see no rust.

I'm also running Soft 8's, 39# each ouch. 17x9

[go-fish]

I'm running Soft 8's as well. I think they are awesome looking wheels but they are so fuggin' heavy I wish I never would've bought them. When is a wheel manufacturer going to wake up and build us a steel wheel like the Soft 8's that aren't 40 lbs a wheel?

[stealth71]

Unfortunately there aren't many options under $100 per wheel.