Opinions on "Real Racing" rims.

John Hannaford · #1 (**permalink**) 10-29-2002, 09:53 AM

I'm looking for some lightweight rims to run AP maximum slicks (16" X 12") for Solo 2 next season, and the "Real Racing" products seem to be a good value, especially if I use a wide five hub adapter.

Does anyone have any pro/con experience to relate?

TIA,
John

Fred Douglass · #2 (**permalink**) 10-29-2002, 11:50 AM

Lynn(?) Pardy at Trigo---any widths---he "welds", (if that's the right term) fillets or spanner sections and can go out to ANY width your fenders will accept. As you already know, he'll have to have your required offsets. I'm also pretty sure that 15" and 16" diameter rims are going to go begging soon------the trend's toward 17" (in Cobras) and 18-22"(!) in everyone else. I rode around in an SPF with 17/335x45s ("Viper Rubber") on it. Awesome grip---but pretty risky on New England's pot-hole collections ("roads" to you lucky normal people). Alloys with low-profile rubber don't like deep road-surface imperfections. I assume you're using these on a drag strip. "Mag-Lite" (Halibrand sub?) used to make a REALLY lightweight rim--a name something like "Salt-Flat Special". In any case it was ridiculous--both for its weight (none) and the price (opposite of "none"!----sort of the opposite of fine beef)! Increidbly, feather-weight (but thick-section MAGNESIUM) Hali's used to take "chunking" into potholes with ease(?)---I have no idea why. A friend's c. 1998 Porsche 911T go over some "speed bumps" in Newport (RI) and he was complaining about "shimmy" all the way back to Hingham. Of course, he'd put $2300 worth of BBRs (or something) out of round.

Good luck. I'll step aside for the experts now---they abound on this site.

Fred Douglass · #3 (**permalink**) 10-29-2002, 11:55 AM

Should read: "WENT over some 'speed bumps'...". Sorry, English is my third language (TeenAGE! and College-alcoholicism being the first two)....

John Hannaford · #4 (**permalink**) 10-29-2002, 12:50 PM

Thanks Fred, but this is for use in a Solo 2 (autocross) class where 16" is the max allowed rim diameter and 12" tread width is the max. for cars in our weight range. The RR rims are only 16.5 lbs in the 16 X 12 size, which is pretty darn slim (and definitely not for street pounding). After you get the hub adapters at $90 each the wide five rims are only about $140 each, so they seem like a good bet for keeping several sets of race tires mounted.

Homewrecker · #5 (**permalink**) 10-29-2002, 01:26 PM

What tires are you planning on running? 16" tires are hard to find in the 10-12" widths. Right now my only choice is BFG's, that I can find. Maybe you're talking about race only tires. I haven't checked for those.

John Hannaford · #6 (**permalink**) 10-29-2002, 01:37 PM

Dave,

Goodyear or Hoosier road race slicks. Sorry if I got your hopes up!

a427sc · #7 (**permalink**) 10-29-2002, 04:31 PM

John

Can you get wide-5 hubs to fit the FFR? Definately better bearings, and the wheels have no center thus the 16.5# in steel. But what about back spacing for the rotor, and caliper alignment? The circle track guys around here use custom racing spindles to accept the larger bearing (more cost, and what spec do you want them made to?) Don't forget the drive hub, the bearings/seals/studs/lugnuts, usually ala-cart. Check out Duralite or Weld aluminum widefive wheels (for sprinters/modifieds @ 11.5-14#) for even less weight, as well as Wilwood, Howe, Afco and any number of other suppliers for hubs. Oh, and don't forget the weld on spindles to adapt the rear, too.

I guess what I'm saying is a lot more $ than it looks on the surface. Try to find a circle track speed shop or supplier, rather than the standard street/drag race shop and ask about lite-weight steel wheels like Bassett or Bart or any of several others. 15x10 @ 19#. and cheap at about $60 ea.

You can get 8, 10, or 12" slicks in 15 too, but compounds in these sizes tend toward the hard side. I haven't found much available in 10/12" softer tires, but if you have a lead, I'd like to know about it too.

Good luck
Don

Fred; it's Lynn Park

Excaliber · #8 (**permalink**) 10-29-2002, 06:09 PM

Homewrecker,

I was running 16" Yokohamas (AO32R's) on 10" rims (255X50X16)on the back of my Cobra. 245X45X16's on the front (that lowered the front about an inch).

The Comp T/A's I had before are worthless for traction! The Yoko's are DOT approved for the street but MADE for autocross. MAN do they stick! What really surprised me was how much easier the steering wheel effort was! I have manual steering and could DEFINITLY feel the difference, it was like I had power steering. The traction dropped my auto cross times a BUNCH, and made me feel WAY safer driving on the street!

Ernie

MistressMotorsports · #9 (**permalink**) 10-29-2002, 09:38 PM

For reasonably priced, very high quality custom wheels, you might want to try Complete Custom Wheel (CCW) in Fla. John, the owner, makes each rim to order, so you are guaranteed to get the right fit. His standard wheels are a three piece, BBS mesh style in all polished or with black centers. The 17 by 12's that some of the Vette guys run are under $500 per, which is way better than an HRE, BBS race, etc. The last email I have for them is JP8493@aol.com, I'm sure you can find them on the web if you search. I don't have any of their wheels, but I have several friends who run them on Vettes and Vipers and they all love them. Many Grand Am and World Challenge teams also run those wheels.

David Borden · #10 (**permalink**) 10-29-2002, 10:24 PM

John,

A number of our friends have them and they are very happy with them. That is the wheel I plan to buy. They are a great value!!!

Will be ordering them in the next month or two. Gonna figure out a way to run 12's up front too

Im going to stick with the standard 5 x4.5 lug pattern though.

What is the advantage of the wide5?

David

Excaliber · #11 (**permalink**) 10-30-2002, 08:56 AM

As I contemplate my next Cobra purchase I have decided that pin drive wheels are out, for me. I want to be able to easily purchase addtional wheels for track use, drags, what ever. The cost of pin drive is to high to have additional sets laying around.
Does Super Performance offer an option on wheels or are they pin drive only?

Ernie

John Hannaford · #12 (**permalink**) 10-30-2002, 11:38 AM

Don,

We can use small five to wide five wheel adapters and keep the Ford hubs and spindles. The back spacing is then easily modifiied on the rim and they offer 2"-9" on the 16 X 12. The RR weight is 16.2 lbs for a full small five 16 X 12 wheel in aluminum. I figured that the adapter plus the wide five rim combo would be a little more. The wide five rims alone are only 11.4 lbs in aluminum. I've also looked at the Bogart, Circle, CCW as well as the steel wheels from Bart and the others, but they're either more than twice the cost of the RR wheels in aluminum or not available in 16" in steel. We really need that specific 16X12 size to max the rules on this one.

David,

No performance advantage since we'd keep the Ford hubs, and the combo is probably a tiny bit heavier than the lug mount small five wheel. However the wide five wheels are only $140 as opposed to the small five at $225, so you start saving as soon as you get a second set since you only need the one $90 adapter to use with all of your wide five rims. I'm glad to hear they've worked! It makes this switch down to 16" easier to bear. I've got a not-so-secret solution for the front fitment - I'll try to call you tonight, if you'll be around.

David Borden · #13 (**permalink**) 10-30-2002, 01:57 PM

John,

I should be around... after 6:30

David