NoradIV

Hello Guys,
I am looking at replacing my 19x9.5/20x10.5 Cray Scorpion ultra-heavy-chrome-atrocities with something that is lightweight and less expensive to run on the track. After spending 6k in tires for a single season, I am looking at a budget minded set of wheels that are suitable for the weekend lapping event. I am also wanting a square setup to reduce understeer and rotate tires to reduce costs.

Apparently, our bolt pattern and offset is not quite common and not many brands make wheels for our cars, and even less of them are available in canada. I found 2 wheels that are within my budget. I have not found factory 18x10.5 wheels on the used market around here.

FlowOne F4 Race Spec
Reproduction wheels

My top priorities are durability (I don't want a wheel cracking on me at 120mph and end up in a wall), price and weight. Appearance is only going to matter if I have 2 equivalent sets of wheels. I have a preference for the flow one due to the fact that I have the spec for the weight and they appear to have been designed for track usage.

So, I have two questions here; I am currently doing lapping on street tires. Michelins PS4S, perhaps eventually Nitto NT05 eventually, but no full on slicks.

I would like to know how I can check if these wheels are safe for my usage, and I would love to know how I can verify if a big brake kit will fit in them; it would suck to buy these and have to spend big dollars to buy another set when I get a big brake kit.

Thanks for your time!

crimlwC6

Forgestars built for the Spec Corvette series are 18x11, light and about 1600 bucks for the entire set.
http://trackspecmotorsports.com/forg...ette-f14-wheel

kflee

Forgestar is a good option. Also look at TSW Interlogos or TSW NURBURGRING in 18X10.5 + 65mm offset. TSW's will be less expensive than the Forgestars. All of these will clear most big brake kits. I have these https://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Whee...02&autoModClar but looks like they only have 3 left in stock.

Kirk

NoradIV

That is not bad (much less than CCW), but I haven't found a canadian distributor. Delivered, these will be 2420$, which is about twice the amount of the FlowOne.

NoradIV

I looked at the TSW option already as well, but these wheels will cost me somewhere around 2200CAD delivered. The FlowOne are 1000$ below that with same size and same weight, and if they do the job, I'll happily take that money and put it in a coilover.

The Enkei are closeout, I suspect they are discontinued.

Edit: I found a TSW canadian distributor. They are 465$ each.

NoradIV

Also, is there a way to know before buying a wheel if it will fit with big brakes?

kflee

Are you looking at the Flow One F4 18x10.5 +54mm Offset for front and rear? If so, I think the offset is a little too low for the front. The stock C5 Z06 rears are +58 and they stick out just a tad. The 9.5 front, 10.5 rear would work well, but then you won't be able to rotate. At this price, may be worth it.

You could send the brake template on essex website to tirerack (or other dealer) and have them check. Just make sure they will accept return if they mess up.

Kirk

Quickshift_C5

Are you only interested in aftermarket wheels?

It's hard to beat the availability and price of the OEM C5Z 18x10.5 wheels. They do clear a lot of big brake packages.

NoradIV

I am interested in spending as little money as possible on such a boring upgrade. I just want something that work for my application. I am buying wheels because my current setup is heavy, doesn't let me rotate tires and makes for expensive and limited rubber options. I also don't want to be stuck buying another set of wheels in 2 months because upgraded brakes don't fit.

I have been on the used market for C5Z wheels for 6 months with no availability in my area.

KNSBrakes

Can you rotate tires on a C5? I think the stagger is pretty important for sure to AH but also ABS not to mention how the car drives?

Quickshift_C5

Doesn't affect it. Tons of us are running 315 square with no issues with Active Handling (I have it defeated now though, along with many others) and has no affect at all on ABS. Car drives FANTASTIC with a square setup. Extremely balanced and got rid of the understeer.

NoradIV

Researched on the subject. Most people who have ABS problems seems to end up having a faulty sensor anyway.

Current setup is 275 front and 295 rear and the car still understeer, but not as bad as when I had 265. I expect a slight oversteer at 295 square, but that can be solved with improvement on the steering gasket (driver).

KNSBrakes

Yeah I like the sound of that.

I have lots of C5Z rear speedlines and they clear the small Wilwood kit.