What wheel size is ideal? What's the mininum width wheel I could use safely? I'm trying to figure out if I can use my stock SE-R wheels.

Thanks.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Yellow Dragon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What wheel size is ideal?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Around 7-7.5".

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What's the mininum width wheel I could use safely? I'm trying to figure out if I can use my stock SE-R wheels.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Your stock SE-R wheels (I think 5.5", right?) will work fine. Not ideal, but it will work.

 

you can squeeze it onto a 5.5" rim, but the 195/55/14 V700 would be better I think. Less distortion of the tire.

Also, the 195/55/14 is 0.2" smaller diameter and a pound lighter. All good.

I'd say the ideal rim for the 205/55/14 would be 6.5" to 7". Certainly no need for anything larger than 7.5"

 

I found a set used very cheap. Thanks for help.

 

You seem to have it backwards a bit. It looks like you already purchased the tires, but I wouldn't let your tires dictate which wheels you buy. Remember, your wheels will FAR outlast any tire.

So if I were you (I'm not, I know) I would buy the wheels that you want to race with, and then look for the proper tire for that wheel. You can always run these tires on borrowed wheels in the meantime. If you're an aggressive driver, you'll be lucky to get a full season from a set of V700s, and they last about twice as long as the Hoosiers!

And even if you do get a full season (which I doubt since they're used), R-compound tires definitely have a shelf life. They age just standing still. (They're sticky, in part, because the rubber is still curing. In time, that rubber cures and they become stones.) You may want to look at the DOT stamping on the side wall and learn how to decode this to determine the age. In fact, why don't you post up those numbers and someone here will do it for you.

And I definitely would NOT use these tires at a high speed track event until you know how good they are. Inexpensive used tires, unless from a buddy, are usually inexpensive for a reason. I remember reading on H-T a post from a guy who said his RACING tires were completely shot, but in the next sentence he was bragging about selling them to someone else. What a nice guy. So, if you buy used tires, know the source - there are people out there who will sell anything for a buck, even if it puts someone else's life in danger.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Yellow Dragon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What wheel size is ideal? What's the mininum width wheel I could use safely? I'm trying to figure out if I can use my stock SE-R wheels.

Thanks. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Depending upon where you live and if you have a good tire shop near you, you should be able to have those 205/55s mounted onto your 5.5 inch wide wheels.

To answer your quesition about the idea size, it really depends on where you're running. If you're running in a stock-class, then stock width is your ONLY choice. If you're running in a class that allows different wheel sizes then find out what the widest you can run is. Most likely 7" wide would fit within STS/STX/CSP, etc.

If classes aren't a consideration, then money and weight is. Most 14" rims that are available now are around 6" wide. It becomes more expensive and more difficult to find 7" rims, however 7" wide rims have more material and most likely are more weighty.

Here are some options...
14x6 Kosei K-1: (under 10 lbs.) $120

http://www.tirerack.com/servle...icing

14x7 Team Dynamics (11.5 lbs.) $135

http://www.opmautosports.com/

 

Kumho's specs say that that size is approved for mounting on rims that are 5.5-7.0 inches wide.

However, I agree with crr's advice:

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by crr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You seem to have it backwards a bit. It looks like you already purchased the tires, but I wouldn't let your tires dictate which wheels you buy. Remember, your wheels will FAR outlast any tire.

So if I were you (I'm not, I know) I would buy the wheels that you want to race with, and then look for the proper tire for that wheel.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I would also add that, in choosing a wheel, I would look at the availability of track tires for that size wheel. There are a lot more R comps available in 15" sizes than 14". (But if you need to stick with 14" to stay in your class according to the rules, that's something to consider as well.)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There are a lot more R comps available in 15" sizes than 14". </TD></TR></TABLE>

Is that true, or an assumption?

RA1: I see 2 14" sized, 3 15" sizes.
Z214: I see 2 14" and 2 15" sizes
Z211: 2 14", 6 15"
A6 or R6: 3 14", 7 15"
V700: 4 14", 2 15"
V710: 3 14", 2 15"
A032R: 2 14", 2 15"
TechR: 1 14", 2 15"

There are 19 14" and 26 15" tire sizes in this sample, with the majority of the delta coming in Z211 and A6/R6 sizes. Almost a toss up, but 15" definitely has an edge with some manufacturers.

-Chris

 

Hey Chris, you left out:

A048: 0 14", 3 15"
Pilot Sport Cup: 0 14", 2 15"
NT01: 1 14", 1 15"
PZero Corsa: 0 14", 0 15"

But thanks for proving my point!