Wheels

#1

I need to throw in the towel on bimmerworld’s ltw5 wheels (been on “pre-order” since eisenhower was in office). Looking at Tire Rack, I see they have a wheel by TR motorsports 15X7 4/100 with a +25 offset. The price is right at $99 each, but there’s a catch - according to the site they weigh 12.9 lbs and the rulebook stipulates a minimum of 13. Obviously a very nominal difference; thoughts?

#2

mougl1 wrote:

12.9 is less than 13, I wouldn’t buy them. Rules are rules.

#3

Maybe someone could buy a single just to check the weight on a properly calibrated set of scales…

#4

Elephant4 wrote:

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t the test to weigh the wheel as raced after dismounting the tire? Add 1.6 oz of wheel weights, tire boogers and/or brake dust and it’s a legal 13 lb wheel.

IMHO, YMMV, WTHDIKIANH*

Steve D.

*what the hell do i know i am new here

#5

Simon -

I thought I remembered someone from Elephant mentioning these wheels as the replacement for the Kazera wheels. I also thought they were being designed with Tire Rack specifically for Spec e30… did I dream all that?

#6

shifter11 wrote:

[quote]Simon -

I thought I remembered someone from Elephant mentioning these wheels as the replacement for the Kazera wheels. I also thought they were being designed with Tire Rack specifically for Spec e30… did I dream all that?[/quote]

I don’t think you dreamed that, I know Jack asked tirerack to make the 15*7 13lbs so it was legal for Spec E30 I just don’t know if that became a reality, I’ll see if Jack can comment further.

#7

Yeah, I’ve been working with Tire Rack on these and the 13lb thing came up a while ago. I asked them to make sure they came in t 13lbs because that is the rule and since the Kazera’s went away that left us with little offerings. They assured me that is the case. I am checking into it again.

I can tell you one thing, there is a delay right now with the wheels so, without looking at the expected date on Tire Rack website, I won’t be surprised if it’s much closer to the end of this year…just an FYI.

Cheers.

#8

Elephant4 wrote:

Just for giggles, let me throw out this section of the CCR for discussion:

28.1.11 Tolerances
All published measurements infer a tolerance of +/- one-half of the last specified decimal place. All rounding will be done to the nearest decimal place that is specified by the manufacture or these rules. In a case where a measurement falls exactly on the halfway mark, it shall be rounded up or down in favor of the competitor. This section does not apply whenever the manufacturer, or these rules, specifies a tolerance.

My reading of this (since 9.3.9.3. reads “shall weigh a
minimum of thirteen (13) pounds” ) is that you would get bounced if your wheels weight <12.5 pounds (i.e. one-half of the last specified decimal place).

If we want to tighten up the rules, it should read “a minimum of thirteen (13.0) pounds.”

Steve D.

#9

wow.
classic spec miata right there :stuck_out_tongue:

#10

allenr wrote:

[quote]wow.
classic spec miata right there :P[/quote]

Ouch!:huh:

I’m just anal retentive. Not pushing the rules.:laugh:

Steve D. << running Team Dynamics Pro Race 2’s that weigh something like 14-15 lbs., I think. Not very Racer X-ish, eh?

#11

.1 lb = 1.6 oz

Does the definition of the “wheel” include the valve stems? I would have to assume that after putting two valve stems in the wheel (what it shows in the picture) you would be over 13 lbs.

I know we’re really splitting hairs here, but a nice $99 wheel is somewhat worth figuring out!!!

Matt
ALSO running TDs that weigh 14 or 15 lbs and cost more than the wheels in question!!!

#12

I’m not sure what my Konigs weigh, but I think the mini-lite design has always looked cool.

John

#13

drumbeater wrote:

[quote]I’m not sure what my Konigs weigh, but I think the mini-lite design has always looked cool.

John[/quote]

I think the Konig rewinds are listed as weighing 13lbs, but I think they actualy tip the scales at about 15lbs.

Someone just needs to buy one, and weight it. I bet they weigh in more than 13lbs.

#14

The Konig wheel program is 75.00/wheel. At that price, does it really matter what the weigh?

#15

seems this all may be window dressing, i just called the rack to order them and they told me there is a problem with the mold and would not be available for at least two months. :angry:

#16

Again, I don’t understand why you would pay $100.00 more for four wheels when all you stand to save is less than half of one pound.

#17

Konigs website says 13.5 lbs. But I’ve never weighed mine. Not a big concern doing DE’s.

John

#18

Rob @ Bimmerworld advised me that a container load of DForce LTW5 wheels is due in on October 1.

Not another delay, not a drama with wheel order guy or production date.

Wheels have been made, boxed, freighted and due to arrive in less than 1 week - I can’t wait!

#19

Gasman wrote:

So you’re NOT ‘Racer X’?:laugh:

I don’t disagree, Gasman. But racing at the pointy end of the grid is all about taking advantage of hundreds of little tweaks that are insignificant by themselves but add up to top-shelf prep. But that ain’t me. I’m not that dedicated. I’d rather sit around bs-ing with the guys.

I will look at some data between sessions and tweak setup a little, but I’m not the guy scaling and stringing the car all day long.

Besides, wheel weight is a red herring. A 15 lb wheel with the mass concentrated at the hub has lower moment of inertia than a 13 lb wheel with a heavy rim.

And we all know that the ones that look cool are really the fastest.:wink:

Steve D.

#20

Steve D wrote:

And we all know that the ones that look cool are really the fastest.:wink:

Steve D.[/quote]

Ha, Ha, :stuck_out_tongue: I was waiting on someone to make a comment on that. I’m surprised it took that long.

John