Looking to get new wheels - please advise

[ThaDonJsuan]

Hi all,


Im currently running 17x7.5 wheels, but I'm looking to get 18x9 for style and also more grip on the track (my car is only for the track but I also want to have nice looking wheels).



Can anyone suggest some 18x9 wheels that are good for the BRZ on the track?



Thanks!

[CrowsFeast]

I would recommend going with 17x9 and something lightweight.

Enkei RPF1's are a very typical choice.
Gram Lights are decent but not acutally that light.
I went with Konig Ultraforms to be a bit different.

there's lots of others out there; check out https://www.ft86motorsports.com/wheelitfit/ for fitment of whatever you find.

[HaXx]

Enkei wheel catalog 2020

http://enkei.com/wp-content/uploads/...talog-2020.pdf

when you decide what you want, find them on vividracing for a price check

https://www.vividracing.com/enkei-c-4906.html

[DarkPira7e]

Apex ARC-8 IN 17x9!!!!

[TommyW]

It depends on your budget. You can spend a ton of money and with our cars that aren't really high dollar it's usually best to stick with middle of the road stuff. Enkei has always been good to me. Apex is awesome.

[Capt Spaulding]

when I upgraded mine a couple of years ago I narrowed it to 949 ULs and Konig Ultraforms. The Ultraforms won out because discount tire made me a tire/wheel/mounting deal I was unable to turn down.

Looking back, my choice would be down to those two again.

[ThaDonJsuan]

Thanks for the recocmendations, but why 17x9 rather than 18x9? Is the smaller diameter faster?

[Pat]

Apex

[Grady]

Wheels will not give you more grip. What other mods have you done? Anything past 225 on a stock car will slow you down.

[TommyW]

18’s look better. Either is fine really. I went from 17x8 with 235 NT01 to 18x8 1/2 with 245 NT01 and they are both great. I had Yokohama 225 AD08R on the 17’s and that was a great setup also. You can’t go wrong with any decent setup really.

[Racenut]

Don't get Apex ARC-8's. I just got some and I don't want them to end up being "What all the cool kids have"

[Dirty Harry]

I went with TSW Interlagos, 18x8 +45. Rotary forged, only 18lbs (lighter than stock) and Michelin Pilot Super Sports 225/40/R18. Pretty cheap for what they are and I’ve been happy with them. Agree with what others have said I wouldn’t go wider than 225 with stock power. Biggest thing with upsizing is to go lighter than stock if you can.

https://www.performanceplustire.com/...-face/ws:18x8/

[ZDan]

I vote 17x9 with 245/40-17. Or 17x8 with 225/45-17. But if you want the big-wheel look 18s are fine, just not a performance or handling advantage, and generally a smidge heavier, with the weight further out radially (higher rotational inertia). But honestly not that big a deal...

I'm on 17x9 +35 WedsSport TC105n, better to run a lot of camber with that offset (-3.5 for me). Without camber, 17x9 +40 6UL, or maybe Arc-8 at 17x9 +42 IIRC.

Other wheel options out there, but more limited if you have the Brembos...
list of wheels that fit/don't fit here:
https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=135328

[Baldeagle]

Originally Posted by ThaDonJsuan

Thanks for the recocmendations, but why 17x9 rather than 18x9? Is the smaller diameter faster?

If by the term “faster” you refer to acceleration, probably not. If you want more info on the subject of rotational inertia and mass equivalence, here is a good website for the math:

http://hpwizard.com/rotational-inertia.html

In short, if you assume 65% of the wheel’s weight is at its edge, an 18” wheel has a mass equivalence ratio of about 1.45:1 and a 17” wheel has a mass equivalence ratio of about 1.40:1.

In terms of application (keeping the tire’s weight equal), that means four 25 lbs, 18” wheels have a mass equivalence of about 145 lbs (25lbs X 4 X 1.45= 145bs). And four 22 lbs., 17” wheels have a mass equivalence of about 123 lbs (22lbs X 4 X 1.40 = 123lbs). In terms of straight-line acceleration, the car with 22 pound, 17” wheels will accelerate as if it were about 22 pounds lighter than the car with 25 pound 18” wheels, (again, with equal weight tires).

In terms of a car's weight-to-power ratio: If a stock BRZ weighs 2,800 pounds, the BRZ with lighter wheels will accelerate as if it weighed 22 pounds less or 2,778 pounds. If a car weighs 2,778 pounds and has a 205 hp engine, it has a weight-to-power ratio of 13.55:1. For that stock 2,800 pound BRZ have the same weight-to-power ratio, it must have 206.6 hp. You’ll never feel that “equivalent” 1.6 hp gain.

If you compared 18 pound 17” wheels to 25 pound 18” wheels, it might feel like you gained 4 HP. Still probably below the threshold you can feel.