Just because most folks runs too narrow of a wheel doesn't mean its just as good - just means most people haven't tested all of the many wheel and tire permutations.

I'm a BIG believer in running as wide of a wheel as possible, especially when tire width is limited but the wheel isn't. Especially when the tires being used are sloppy and gross. SCCA Stock class is exactly the opposite - tire width is unlimited and wheel width has to be stock (which is fubar, but them's the rules). Plenty of National Champions have won in Stock on much narrower tires than majority of others in the same car. STU has unlimited wheel width but max tire width limits - which makes for a much more level playing field (with respect to tires) than Stock, IMHO.

For a 245mm width tire I'd recommend at least a 9" wheel, maybe even a 9.5", especially if its one of the "sloppier" tire models (ie: most of the ST offerings). This will stretch a 245 tire out to make the carcass more stable (and responsive) than when squeezed on to an itty bitty 7.5" or 8" wheel. The best I've ever done in STU at Nats (2nd) was when we ran a 255mm tire on a 9.5" wide wheel (when everyone else was running that tire width on 8.5" or 9" wheels). I wish now we had tried 10" width that year. Its just one setup variable of many, but over the past 20 years its always worked better for me to go wider on wheels than most folks do. I usually look at the "recommended wheel width range" for a given tire width and start with the widest one listed.

note: The Yokohama AD07 is not nearly as sensitive to wheel width as most others in ST. I suspect the AD08 is the same.

Max Hayter used to run the 245's on 10" wide wheels on his STU Subaru. Plenty of folks use 9" or 9.5". We're going wide on our EVO X when our ST tires finally arrive. Responsiveness and effective tire width on the ground goes up when stretched out onto a wider wheels. Our current 265mm track tires on 10.5" wheels work great. We've also raced with 275's stretched out onto 11"s and responsiveness was incredible (but ultimately we had more rear traction with 315s on that wheel - we were not limited on tire width in that situation).


L: Our current TTA setup using 18x10.5" wheel and 265mm tire.

Running wider wheels (only) to add performance has little to do with the car's track width, BTW. A narrower track is generally better for autocrossing than a wider one, given the same tire width used. Our EVO X is a full 6" wider than our STU E36 M3 (also on 18x10s), but the much narrower E36 can still out slalom this or anything we've ever built or raced in STU form on the same tire widths.

Just my $.02.

 

Warren, so what's the story with the IX? Why a trailer?[/QUOTE]

Have to get it home some how. Can't walk down. Hope to get it registered next week. Give me a ring and we can get together at an event. Warren

 

Fair your argument makes complete sense and if I was going all out for STU I would run a 9-9.5" wheel. My problem is I'm trying to focus on TT (different set of tires & wheels) and yet keep the car STU legal for the weekends and maybe a few Tour events.

 

Brand spanking new car?

 

ix with 39,000.

 

WTB: 6" 2.5" ID 600lb (or 550lb) springs.

Anybody have a set they want to get rid of? Send me a PM. (I'd post in the FS section but you guys are more likely to have what I'm looking for)

I'm going to try have a more "street-able" car this year (~600lb front / 700lb rear) possibly going more hard core before Nats. 700lb front / 800lb rear last year combined with stiff motor mounts, bushings, etc made the car a bit unfriendly on the street.

Not to mention the exhaust got my co-driver Pat pulled over 3 times within a week.

 

You could also try 10kg/mm (roughly 560 lb/in) x 65mm ID x 150mm length to broaden your search. I've got nothing for sale in that size right now though.

 

10k ~= 560lb, 11k ~=620lb and 12k ~=670lbs ...

 

You know..I just came back in here to edit my post. You beat me to it.

 

What TT class do you run? Its tough to do both STU and TTA on the same wheels & tires. We tried and the fat @ss EVO X just boils little 245mm tires on track so we use a set of wheels with 265mm tires (AD07) for TT and little 245s for STU (AD08). Otherwise the mods for both classes are pretty complimentary.

Now try to schedule going to both the SCCA and NASA National championships this year - got a teleporter? They are both on the same DAY, and 12 hours apart.

 

AD08s are here, now all we need is wheels. Looking for Enkei 18x9.5" RPF-01 in 15 and 38mm offsets (2 of each). Of course Enkei is out of stock - none in America - and more sets are delayed for many weeks.

Anyone got any laying around that they care to sell to a fellow STU racer?

 

Time to run some mixed wheels Terry.

P.S. I'll be emailing you guys about some AST's for my 135i shortly.

 

Problem solved. Mark Berry FTW. 18x10 CCWs with black centers should do the trick.

 

AD08s - do want!

I've been happy with the RE11 so far, but I can't help but be curious about the AD08. The AD07 was one of the best tires ever, so I would imagine the AD08 would take that a bit further. Then again, the RE11 doesn't feel a whole lot different from the RE01R to me, so who knows - the Yokohamas may follow the same pattern?

 

TTB for now, trying not to spill over to TTA. I'll be using different tires and wheels as well.