XXR 527_ Good or bad wheels for autocross

[random hero]

my 18" XXR 527 weighed a shade over 19 pounds... just fyi

[Vanguard]

As already mentioned, I just have to say that you need to figure out what your priorities are. If its to get better at the track or autocross, stick with 17s and invest in lighter wheels and stickier rubber. If its to look hella-flush and make the show car crowd turn their head, go with 18s. Or, if you can afford it, go for both. Or just keep your stock wheels and put some star specs on them, drive to the events with them in the back and change wheels at the events.

[GT-R]

I know a few Evo's and STI's that have them with no problems.

[karma003]

Originally Posted by random hero

Just my 2 cents.... If your not a high level driver on the track or auto-x, these will serve you just fine, can't really beat them for the price... People get so caught up on weight, and rotational mass, when reality is 95% of us on this forum will never push the car to the limit of needing $4000 lightweight wheels, or will ever feel the "ill" affects of a wheel that weighs 19.5 pounds, compared to a 17.5 pound wheel...

Think about it, spend the $550 on the wheels, and use the $3000+ you saved on safety equipment, proper suspension, most importantly.... TRACK TIME!!! You could do trackdays every other weekend for the entire year with the savings.

The same people who are caught up about weight, are likely the same people who don't track their cars.... they buy the $4000 wheels because the car won't see the track, or so they can tell everyone their car has "sick rims that weigh 14 pounds"... It's hype at your level of driving. Looks at the track builds on this forum.... Most guys that actually use the cars on track are running Rota (the same wheels w/different name as XXR), or other cheaper/heavier wheels. You're going to damage wheels on track, you're going to change tires very often, and your new to closed course driving... the smartest route, get inexpensive, strong wheels and save your $$ for other aspects that are much more important!!!!

I personally own the 527's, the have a dual ring on the lip that appears to add some serious strength to the exposed area of these rims, I never noticed it in photos... They look great on the car, don't let anyone tell you their not "safe" or "good" for auto-x or trackdays, total bs.

edit: and as mentioned above, you're better off sticking w/17" rim, the wheels/tires are cheaper, and more options for good sticky tires, and R compound tires that won't cost an arm-n-leg

Great advice & that's exactly what I was thinking of all day yesterday. Maybe ill just buy them anyways just to look clean w some normal treadwear tires & keep the stock rims but try fitting some sticky 225's or 235's for the track so I don't mess up my good rims. Idk.

[ABQautoxer]

I would buy and use them and not think twice about it.

[spiller]

I have 527s 18x9.75 for my track supra. they weigh about 21lbs per wheel. not what id call "heavy".

[karma003]

My friend made a good point yesterday. He said, think about it. It's the autocross.. u don't win anything & ur not competeing w anyone else, but urself. So does it really matter if they're heavy or not?

[random hero]

Exactly, wheel weights are the last thing you should be worried about until you hold a pro license and are running in pro-level events, even then you'll see a lot of people using "cheap/heavy/crappy/poorly constructed" wheels on real race cars, w/good results.

Unless your pockets are very deep, it's a really bad idea to buy the latest/greatest super lightweight wheel to use on a track, because they are going to get dinged, scratched, damaged eventually... Another thing that is hilarious to me, these wheels must go through mandated testing to be DOT approved, you really think those rigorous tests aren't as hard on the wheel as auto-x'ing a car in a parking lot? A car that weighs 2800 pounds, and isn't exactly a rocket ship.. There is nothing unsafe about it!

[jstn]

Originally Posted by karma003

I want them cuz they r beautiful wheels on this car, so yea they'd be for both DD & auto x. Butim worried about the performance aspect of these wheels. As far as weight goes. Know what I mean? Forgot to mention I WANTER 18's

Do not run 18's in autocross. You will easily lose at least a half second on a 60 second course. People on this forum slap 18's on it all the time because it looks nice, but the fact is that the FR-S is demonstrably slower with 18" wheels. If you really just want to fill in the fender gap, lower the car. Down the road if you mod the car and add a lot more torque, sure put 18's on it then if you still want to.

Autocross = little wheels, lots of tire, doesn't matter what it looks like.

[jstn]

Originally Posted by karma003

My friend made a good point yesterday. He said, think about it. It's the autocross.. u don't win anything & ur not competeing w anyone else, but urself. So does it really matter if they're heavy or not?

That's exactly what I said until I went out and drove a couple of events nearby.
Everybody's just there for fun, but when you see your times and start comparing them to the rest of your class you start to get the itch to be faster than everybody.

[celica73]

Originally Posted by jstn

Everybody's just there for fun, but when you see your times and start comparing them to the rest of your class you start to get the itch to be faster than everybody.

Exactly, and when you lose by 0.05 to someone you will want to spend money to make up that difference. Sure, you could have driven better, but the 15 lb wheels would have gotten you there vs the 20 lb wheels.

Let's see, $250 each for 15.5 lbs, or $150 each for 19 lbs. Difference? $400. At resale, you should be able to get $200 of that difference back.

ONE set of good autocross tires >$600 and that is a wear item, residual value is Zero. In the long run, the better wheels cost about $200 more. Actually, after you buy the heavy wheels and start to care and then buy the light wheels, the heavy ones cost you an extra $600.

[karma003]

Yea I know lol my comp was a heavily modified ss cobalt so far. & that's w a completely stock frs. Times r posted on stbrscca.com

[Turbowned]

Jussayinnn'



They aren't ideal because they are heavy, but I can't afford my dream wheels yet (Volk TE37V). They cost less than the tires, however.

[karma003]

Reassurance of my golden idea [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_IWa_qlt3g&feature=youtube_gdata_player"]2013 Scion FR-S - YouTube[/ame]