On a more positive note... lets talk tires.

#21

cheapthrills wrote:

Wheels are a consumable item on a track car. If you think about the age of original bottlecaps and weaves, then consider the stresses put on those wheels in a road racing environment with R compound tires…

I would never track original wheels except as rain wheels where the side-load forces are greatly diminished.

But to answer your question, from a performance standpoint they won’t make or break you. Unless they break. Then they will break you.

#22

I didn’t know that the 14" size got discontinued. I guess this will be another area that I will be spending more than I expected.

Steve D, thanks for the advice. I was thinking of picking up a set of 15x7 basketweaves from an ix, but you’ve convinced me to just buy a new set of wheels.

#23

Steve D wrote:

[quote]cheapthrills wrote:

Wheels are a consumable item on a track car. If you think about the age of original bottlecaps and weaves, then consider the stresses put on those wheels in a road racing environment with R compound tires…

I would never track original wheels except as rain wheels where the side-load forces are greatly diminished.

But to answer your question, from a performance standpoint they won’t make or break you. Unless they break. Then they will break you.[/quote]

respectfully disagree, i have more confidence in oem wheels than any aftermarket piece. certainly i don’t recall ever seeing one break from anything other than a massive impact.

#24

cheapthrills wrote:

[quote]I didn’t know that the 14" size got discontinued. I guess this will be another area that I will be spending more than I expected.

Steve D, thanks for the advice. I was thinking of picking up a set of 15x7 basketweaves from an ix, but you’ve convinced me to just buy a new set of wheels.[/quote]
I dimly recall reading somewhere that the ix uses a different offset, no?

#25

jtower wrote:

Fair point, but I would still put oem wheels in then same category as any used wheel. Too much unknown abuse could have occurred.

Very, very remote probability of anything catastrophic happening, but the chance is there IMHO.

#26

Ranger wrote:

Roger that. Euro weaves are the right offset but more expensive.

#27

Steve D wrote:

[quote]Ranger wrote:

Roger that. Euro weaves are the right offset but more expensive.[/quote]

and when you can buy brand new 15" wheels for under $100 there’s little point in getting used unless they’re practically free. the only reason i even have 14" weaves is to run cheap tires, and if i could do it over again i wouldn’t even bother with that.

#28

discontinuance of 14" is news to me as well …
The offset on the stock iX wheels is way wrong for us anyway (about 40mm instead of the 15 - 25mm that we want). The iX are basically the same as the Mini size, but watch brake clearance … an interference fit makes for a very effective parking brake… :dry:
bruce

cheapthrills wrote:

[quote]I didn’t know that the 14" size got discontinued. I guess this will be another area that I will be spending more than I expected.

Steve D, thanks for the advice. I was thinking of picking up a set of 15x7 basketweaves from an ix, but you’ve convinced me to just buy a new set of wheels.[/quote]

#29

Well, I called several tire dealers and was told 14s are on a national backorder. Finally one guy told me that often means Toyo pulled them. Than Phil confirmed that as well.

#30

Since there’s talk of 14" wheels/tires here, I’ll offer up a set that I’m trying to unload… (4) 14x6 1/2 wheels (5-rounded spokes, not pretty) with 225/45/14 Kumho Ecsta V700’s with about 85% tread. I got them in '08 as rains for BMWCCA and ran them in a couple wet races (including a KP win at O’Fest '08). That’s it. They’re good for autocross or track, but they’re a kinda heavy. Hey, if someone will cough up $250 plus shipping, the set is theirs. I’ll take pictures upon request.

Here’s one that won’t do you much good. [file name=20080927_WGI_RA2_3957.jpg size=479621]http://spece30.com/media/kunena/attachments/legacy/files/20080927_WGI_RA2_3957.jpg[/file]

#31

I was running an iX wheel on the front and team dynamics on the rear when I hit the concrete at Charlotte last year, the TD broke, the BBS iX bent like hell…I really trust German made wheels, but they do need to be checked for curb damage, corrosion etc. I have seen many Brit and Itailian made wheels fail…“made in Phillipines” does not really give me much confidence either. Take a look sometime at how thick the center of the BBS is compared to anything else. Of course you have to get the really expensive mag center motorsport wheels to get close to the 13lbs…

Al