Wheels and Tires for AutoX

cruzthepug

Since I'm now hooked after taking the Evo class, I've been thinking about some dedicated cross wheels and tires so not to chew up my DD tires. I've been looking around for a used set of wheels. Don't care if they are beat up, I'll probably powder coat whatever I end up getting, but 370 wheels seem pretty scarce, and what I can find are too expensive. I've found some 350Z 18" wheels. Will they work, or are the offsets wrong? I'm hoping to spend no more than $500 for the wheels.

Any suggestions of getting into a set without breaking the bank? I would by both wheels and tires used if I can find someone getting rid of a old set.

Also, what tires should I be looking for? Where the local events are held is only about 3 miles from my house so I can swap wheels at home and just drive to the event site.

Thanks in advance for any info.

PharmDZ

For tires I've heard great things about the Bridgestone RE-11 (very sticky, good daily driver/summer tire), Hankook RS-3 (AWESOME traction in dry weather), and the Dunlop Direzza ZII (good dry and great wet traction). These are all extreme summer tires. I wouldn't go all nuts and get Hoosier A6 race slicks or anything until you have more seat time with AutoX.

cruzthepug

Will 350Z wheels work? Still searching and there are plenty of 350 wheels cheap.

Mike

yes, with spacers. I run a set of 4 rear track model wheels, but had them widened to 9.5". the outside face of the wheel sits at the same place. The fronts fit perfect, the rears need a 15mm spacer, which will also work with your stock wheels. If you use a front/rear set of track, or a set of touring 18s, you probably want a 10-15mm spacer up front (and 25 in rear for that offset)

btw, 18x8 +30
18x8.5 +33 on the 350z

__________________
NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z
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Mike

Its slightly higher than your price range, but I've got a set of 4 18x8.5 +38 Enkei Raijin wheels that have about 2 days of use with a set of street tires before I upgraded to Continental wets that were too stiff for the narrow rim. I think one might have a chip from the installer, but I could sell them for 600 plus shipping.

They have 2 laps at Barber, 2 sessions at VIR and 3 laps at AMP when I flat spotted the original tires I bought due to abs failure.

__________________
NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z
Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

gomer_110

Just an FYI, make sure you read and understand the rules for the class you plan to run. I know SCCA street classes are pretty restrictive on the allowable wheel sizes and widths.

__________________
'11 370Z Nismo #528 Fast Intentions | Stillen | Motordyne | Uprev | CSF | Zspeed | Z1 Motorsports | AST | Swift | SPC | SPL | Whiteline | Hotchkis | Bride | Schroth | Robispec | Cusco | Nismo | Volk | Forgestar | Hoosier | RJM
'17 Titan Bone Stock

Read T

I'm using Forgestar F14 18x10 all around with Kumho XS. Not the best wheels or the best tires, but both are great bargains and I can rotate all 4 wheels. May knock you out of whatever class you want to be in though.

__________________
2011 Nissan 370z Black Cherry Sport Pkg - Daily Driver, , 1960 Morgan +4 fun car, 1986 BMW 325ES, 1998 M3 and 1996 Spec Miata - Race Cars
SUPPORT TEAM WINSOME RACING - WRL, CHUMP, LEMONS

PharmDZ

Ended up using my road course enkeis with toyo r888 yesterday because my hankook rs3's aren't on my stock rims yet. Didn't do too bad considering it was extremely cold for that tire. Took 1st in My class and definitely was towards one of the quicker times for the day. Gotta love the course they set up in south jersey too.... Mile long and average times were 75-100 seconds! Huge AutoX course hah

cruzthepug

Would I need spacers to run these wheels? I'm in North Alabama, would you consider meeting somewhere?

cruzthepug

Ended up getting a deal on a set of 18" 370 base wheels. They are coming with tires, not race tires, but some all season performance tires. I'm planning on just using these tires for the races I do this season and if things work out, get a set of race tires for next year.

Wheels should arrive today and I'm planning to Plastidip them flat black. I hope to have everything ready for the next event this coming Sunday.

cruzthepug

The base wheels I bought came with 225 front and 245 rear tires and after doing 2 events I decided I needed something a bit wider. Not wanting to spend a bunch of money I hit all the used tire places in town and ended up buying a pair of Michelin Pilot Sport, 255's, for the front and a pair of 265 Conti's pro contact for the rear. I've got my 3rd event tomorrow, so we'll see how the wider tires do.

mball19

Mixing tires may give you unpredictable handling. What class are you running in?

cruzthepug

I running C street novice

cruzthepug

5th out of 22 in novice today. Not too bad, would like to have had a couple more runs. They did 3 runs in the morning and then we ran the course the opposite direction in the afternoon, 3 runs. Total of your best morning time and your best afternoon was your total time.

AM - 46.199 dnf (missed a gate), 47.938, 46.735
PM - 46.178, 45.719, 44.657

stuy486

Guy - I emailed Forgestar, they are not able to make an 18" C-Street legal wheel for the front. The maximum they said they can go for our car is +35 to still clear the brakes.