Any disadvantage using 18'' racing wheels?

[longkid]

As the title said, a pretty newbie question. I plan to get a 18'' winter set and am considering using the same 18'' rims for track race next year. I know price is a big advantage, but not sure any negative impacts?

[hwalk]

Originally Posted by longkid

As the title said, a pretty newbie question. I plan to get a 18'' winter set and am considering using the same 18'' rims for track race next year. I know price is a big advantage, but not sure any negative impacts?

It just looks crappy......no, kidding...if you don't want to upgrade your brakes with bigger discs (400mm from M5) like many track junkies in Germany do there's no disadvantage with 18 on track. The tire wear out is even smaller than with bigger sizes.

Check which tires you'd want to use on track and if the winter set rims have the sufficient width.

[CanAutM3]

I don't see much negative to using 18" wheels for the track. Actually I think there are a lot of benefits to running 18".

However, I would not recommend the same wheels for winter and track duty. Primarily because you want wider wheels for the track and narrower wheels for winter. Trying to get the same wheels to do both will be a compromise. I run 18X10-18X11 as my track wheel and 18X8.5-18-9 as my winter wheels. That's a 1.5" difference in width in front and a 2" difference in the rear.

[scottn2retro]

You will need to find 18" wheels that fit over the front brakes.

I know Apex ARC-8's in 18" will not, but the EC-7's will (see our race car build thread)

Notice in this pic, I had to put some 18" EC-7's on the front for rollers, while 18" ARC-8's are on the back

[///Mobbin]

I ran 19's on my last car to fit a 380mm BBK and am now running 18's on my e92 with a smaller 355mm BBK. If you think you might upgrade to a bigger BBK than what comes with the F8x I would go 19's, but if you plan to stick it out with the stock brakes for awhile I think 18's is the more cost efficient route. There is a possibility of some larger kits fitting under 18" Apex EC-7's also (as mentioned above), just not sure which kits.

[longkid]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I don't see much negative to using 18" wheels for the track. Actually I think there are a lot of benefits to running 18".

However, I would not recommend the same wheels for winter and track duty. Primarily because you want wider wheels for the track and narrower wheels for winter. Trying to get the same wheels to do both will be a compromise. I run 18X10-18X11 as my track wheel and 18X8.5-18-9 as my winter wheels. That's a 1.5" difference in width in front and a 2" difference in the rear.

I totally agree with your points. I saw some posts saying they had traction issues with 275/35 tires. But I was thinking about doing squared setup for both winter and track use(255/40/18 for winter, 275/35 or 285/35 for track) to reduce tires replacement. Having some slides on throttle if fine for me, and is fun

[longkid]

Originally Posted by scottn2retro

You will need to find 18" wheels that fit over the front brakes.

I know Apex ARC-8's in 18" will not, but the EC-7's will (see our race car build thread)

Notice in this pic, I had to put some 18" EC-7's on the front for rollers, while 18" ARC-8's are on the back

loll then why not juz use EC-7 for all 4 wheels? Do they fit the rear?

[longkid]

Originally Posted by ///Mobbin

I ran 19's on my last car to fit a 380mm BBK and am now running 18's on my e92 with a smaller 355mm BBK. If you think you might upgrade to a bigger BBK than what comes with the F8x I would go 19's, but if you plan to stick it out with the stock brakes for awhile I think 18's is the more cost efficient route. There is a possibility of some larger kits fitting under 18" Apex EC-7's also (as mentioned above), just not sure which kits.

Yea cost is my main concern.. and not much storage space if I have 3 sets of wheels for one car(street OEM, winter, track)...

[scottn2retro]

Originally Posted by longkid

loll then why not juz use EC-7 for all 4 wheels? Do they fit the rear?

Hehe, you mean like this? Apex was low on EC-7s, so we were using those thinner wheels as rollers to go to the cage shop, etc. But if ARC-8's would have fit over the front brakes, we probably would have used them. They're a little lighter and we have a bunch of them.

[longkid]

Originally Posted by scottn2retro

Hehe, you mean like this? Apex was low on EC-7s, so we were using those thinner wheels as rollers to go to the cage shop, etc. But if ARC-8's would have fit over the front brakes, we probably would have used them. They're a little lighter and we have a bunch of them.

seems nice!

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by scottn2retro

Hehe, you mean like this? Apex was low on EC-7s, so we were using those thinner wheels as rollers to go to the cage shop, etc. But if ARC-8's would have fit over the front brakes, we probably would have used them. They're a little lighter and we have a bunch of them.

They reason the ARC-8 are lighter than the EC-7 is the same reason why they don't clear the brakes: they have a smaller barrel

[visi107]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I don't see much negative to using 18" wheels for the track. Actually I think there are a lot of benefits to running 18".

However, I would not recommend the same wheels for winter and track duty. Primarily because you want wider wheels for the track and narrower wheels for winter. Trying to get the same wheels to do both will be a compromise. I run 18X10-18X11 as my track wheel and 18X8.5-18-9 as my winter wheels. That's a 1.5" difference in width in front and a 2" difference in the rear.

I had been contemplating the same idea as the OP as well.
So do you have three sets then for your car? Also what tires are you running on the wider track wheels?

[MasterP]

stock brakes are 380mm and most 18's will clear.

I run the 380mm ST Kits in my F80 and E92 they clear 18's with no issue.

18's have all the perks for track use.

cheaper tires, more sizes, less weight (usually), less rolling resistance, on and on.

also if you transport track tires and rims in the car 4X 18's are easier than 4X 19's.