Whats the deal here? What are the differences in these wheels (besides the race ones are DOT apporved)? Panasport wouldn't tell me.
Thanks
Joey

 

Joey,
If you are using the wheels for street use only then choose the street style but if you are using them for track or autocross only then choose the race version. If you are using them for both then choose the street style.

From http://www.racing-stuff.com/panasport.htm
"Street Style, is for highway use (supplied with center caps), while Racing* Style is for racing only and should never be used for the street. Often, there may be two styles or versions, that will generally look similar, and have only slight differences in their appearance. Racing wheels, with their purpose manufactured properties,should never be used for anything other than what they were designed for, racing ."
"All of the Panasport racing wheels that utilize lug bolts/nuts to retain them, have, as with their street versions, the Panasport tapered-face steel insert pressed into them. Special lug fasteners are not required and like a standard type steel wheel, they self-center quickly upon installation."

------------
In a nutshell, in track and racing applications you want a very strong and very light wheel that can stand high temperatures and is designed for competition tires and race surfaces. They are not built with normal streets and road hazards like potholes in mind. Lightness comes at a price- usually durability.

 

It seems to me that wheels sold for street use must meet certain regulatory test. I suspect their race wheel probably are not certified. The certification probably rate the max load on each wheel. My SSR Comp has ~800kg stamped on the rim.

 

go through a pot hole with the race version and you'll know why you should have opted for the street version.
the race versions are not designed to withstand that kind of abuses AFAIK.

 

You're saying that they build "weaker" versions for the track

 

well I am not sure how different, but that is what I heard. that the race versions have a thinner lip and it till bend if you use it on the street.

 

Thanks. Very sensible and clearly stated.

 

I spent nearly a month in back to forth conversation with a panasport rep about this issue. I really was interested in the race wheels the offered(street ones seemed to weigh too much for a 15" wheel)

It all boiled down to the decision that if you were going to be doing any kind of regular street driving, it would be a good idea to steer clear of the race wheel

 

The question of track vs street wheels is a good one.

Many times we don't have a separate set of wheels for track vs street use so we try to make one set do double work.

Track wheels endure a high stress environment and need to be kept in excellent condition (something that would be difficult to maintain if driven on the street). Once a wheel is damaged even slightly, it is "taken" out of service with respect to track use. It's simply too dangerous to run a flawed or compromised wheel on the track.

For more on this please read:
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/racewheels.jsp