moespeeds

Hey guys, I'm currently set up for slicks running 18x10.5 square. With the weather here in NJ being what it is (****), and about to miss my 3rd track day because of rain, I'm considering picking up a second set of wheels and keeping some type of rain tire on it. I don't necessarily need racing rain tires, I'm not racing, but I'd like to be able to get out on a wet track and do some fun laps. I may also mount them for the occasional scoot around town to test the car or run it so it doesn't sit, but the car is not a street car. I have Wilwood SL6 calipers up front (13" rotors), stock calipers on the rear. I was considering getting 18x9.5 stock rears all around because they seem readily available and will fit over the Wilwoods, and I already have a single '98 rear wheel sitting here. So in an 18x9.5 what do you guys recommend for a high performance rain tire?

TIA

argonaut

Take a look at the Continental Extreme Contact DW. I bought a set for exactly the same reasons you mention - wanted a rain tire without going to the extreme of something like Hoosier wets. I'm totally impressed with them and use them as my street tires as well as wet track tires. I've done 3 or 4 wet sessions with them and passed almost every car on track, even a few 4wd subarus. I've also run many a dry track session with them and for a 300 treadwear tire they do dang good. Roughly 2 seconds per lap slower than slicks at Pocono North last weekend (~1:03 laps vs. 1:01 laps). I have them mounted on the 17x9.5 in speedlines (front rims from C5 Z06), 275 square. The best part of all...the price. Check them out.

hungryhippo

Why not use your street wheels and tires?

moespeeds

Don't have any. Car is track only.

moespeeds

Argonaut what size are you running? I have to use 18" rims because of the front calipers, I see on tire rack they have 275/35 or 285/35. $261 each?

argonaut

My DW's are 275/40/17 on 9.5 in rims. Wont the 17in Z06 frnt rims clear those calipers? They clear my AP racing calipers. If you are going to use 18x9.5 rims then I dont think it matters much 275 vs.285, go with the cheaper.

moespeeds

I just looked on the Wilwood site, and it looks like the 17's will work, I must have misunderstood the Wilwood rep when I called them today. Doesn't matter much, since I already bought 2 of the 3 wheels I need in 18" off ebay. Oops.

MJM

The Z06 wheels you have are 56mm from the hub to the inner spoke, that is the clearance you need for those calipers.

moespeeds

In the event that they don't clear (I'm trying to find the offset on stock C5 wheels right now), can't I just run an 1/8" spacer to shim the wheel out?

argonaut

I don't know how "thick" the Wilwoods are but I can tell you the base C5 wheels do not clear my AP Calipers. Yes you can use spacers but make sure you get the good ones that don't put all the weight directly on the studs (get the ones with the lip that supports the center hole in the wheel). My 2 cents.