So full disclosure...I bought a set of used TD ProRace 1's on CL. Bad idea, knew they were a bit beat up, but bought 'em cheap. Then had them repaired. Now the whole set is not so cheap anymore. The more I thought about it, the more I decided I did not want to put those wheels on the car (with tires mounted on them of course) and use them on the track. So I am out $500.

I would like for the wheels to be very strong, as light as possible and if the looked good on the car, that is a bonus. I know that Mini's are really hard on the front wheel/tire with a lot of force/heat, so something that has a reputation for not cracking is really important.

So now the question is what is a good track wheel. I have some ideas and thought I would get folks to chime in. Looking at $225 per wheel max.

TD Pro Race 1.2 ($204 at Outmotoring.com)
Kosei K5R ($169 at TR)
Kosei K1 TS ($165 at TR)
Kosei K8R (least expensive at $139 on TR)
Enkei RPF1 ($220 at TR)
OZ Italia 150 ($229 at TR)

As always, thanks for the input!

 

Bump

 

I have both Kosei K1 TS and Enkei RPF1 in 17x7, mostly street/autocross miles so can't comment too much on sustained heat, but I did badly dent a K1 TS on a pothole shortly after getting them. It was a hard hit but I think other wheels would have taken it, and a wheel shop couldn't repair it because of the dent location, so had to replace it (tire was ok and it didn't even lose pressure).

Don't have as much mileage on the RPF1s but I don't think you can go wrong with them. Good reviews, see them all over, and visually they just appear to have a stronger construction. They're not as open (brakes look tiny in the K1 TS, but totally fill out the Enkeis).

With any really lightweight wheel though, you probably can't expect it to be bulletproof.

 

Motegi Traklite/II? Forged, under 15 lbs. in 17x7 size.


Regards,
Jerry

 

I run Konig Dial In for both autocross and track days, 15 x 7 and under 11 pounds. They are only available in 15" diameter, so it may not work for you if you have a GP. But Konig makes several other flow formed wheels in larger diameters that are inexpensive very light, and I think look great.

Konig Dial In


Konig Hypergram

 

surprised 949racing are not on your list, what size are you looking for? I have 15x8 949racing and 16x7 rpf1's I prefer the 8's but I cant run them in autocross it'll bump me to STX

total corner weight on 15x8 vs 16x7 is basically the same

 

Sorry should have said:

17" x 7"

Reason? I expect to add bigger brakes at some point.

 

7 is really narrow for track isn't it? I run jcw brakes under 15x8 I might go 15x9 up front

 

I am not sure. On a GP the stock size is 18". Was planning on going down to 17". I could go 8" wide i guess. Not sure how the ride height would be impaced by moving to a 15" or 16" wheel. Currently have JCW brakes, but was thinking of the future when I move to big brake kits.

 

Eh I have a set of 235/40-17s on 17x7's, granted that's pushing fitment a bit, but they already rub (in other words, no room to go wider) and I'm not lowered at all.

 

With wheel fitment, it all depends on offset, tire size, ride height and the amount of negative camber dialed in. If you want a good, conservative package, 7x17 with 215/40x17 or 215/45x17 will work on wheels in the low 40mm offset range. The Enkei RPF1 is a good choice....Good looking, strong, well made and light.

 

why would you want to be conservative with a dinky 7" wide tire for TRACK wheels?

 

The wheels are 7" wide, not the tires. 215 tires have a tread width of about 8.5". The bigger the wheel, the more it weighs. The bigger the tire, the more it weighs. Bigger is more expensive. Keeping the tire width closer to wheel width yields quicker steering response. For a given tire tread & compound, a wider tire in the wet will not handle as well as a narrower one.

 

I'm going 9" wide I think so I can fit wider, 205 pretty narrow for track isn't it? It's stock width

 

On the TD ProRace 1's I bought, I put 225/45/17 on them and they fit with about 4-5 mm space between the edge of tire and the strut. They are stock JCW struts with Vorshlag camber plates. So I know that the 225's will fit on the 17" x 7" wheels (not sure about the offset though). I just need better wheels..

 

From this list, I'm thinking the Enkei has the best strength/weight ratio.