• trekkor
  • trekkor
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  • From: Napa, Ca
  • Registered: 2009-08-26
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Topic: wheels- are there limits on what we can use?

We don't have to use the stock wheels that came with the car, right?.

What is the spirit of the rules?



KT

TH 2009- 40th ~ SP 2010- 13th Class Bad win!! TH 2010- 17th ~TH 2010- 16th  SP 2011- 20th ~ RF 2011- 13th Least Horrible Yank Tank ~ TH 2011- 79th
SP 2011- 105th ~ SP 2012- 119th ~ SP 2013- 139th ~ BW 2013- 17th
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  • From: san gabriel
  • Registered: 2009-05-01
  • Posts: 325

Re: wheels- are there limits on what we can use?

wheels or tires? i believe the only requirement is that the tires do not ware excessively.

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  • Serj
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Re: wheels- are there limits on what we can use?

treadwear minimum = 190
wheels are considered safety equipment, and afaik there's no limits. probably a bad idea to roll those dubs through BS though.

  • ronman
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  • From: Orlando, FL
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Re: wheels- are there limits on what we can use?

Oh, c'mon, we know Judge Murilee wants to see a Lemons donk...

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  • From: Safety Harbor, FL (Tampa)
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 668

Re: wheels- are there limits on what we can use?

No limits on wheels.  I've seen car go through judging with nice wheels... the judges honestly don't even appear to notice them.  They know they're "free", and they don't give you crap for them any more than they would give you crap for having a really nice roll cage.

That said, they DO affect the overall appearance of the car and EVERYONE ELSE will notice.  I've seen a lot of teams go through tech and judging with stock wheels, and then change them for the race.  Which is perfectly legal.

I'd say that if purple wheels fit your theme and  you don't want to paint your "nice" wheels, use some cheap stockers for your theme, and use the good wheels for the race.  But, any way you slice it, wheels are considered safety and nobody really cares.  (not to say we won't comment on the fact that your wheels are worth more than the car, of course)

Lemons South 2008 - Fail, Lemons South Spring 2009 - Fail, Lemons Detroit(ish) 2008 - Fail, Lemons South Fall 2009 - Fail, Lamest Day 2009 - Fail, Miami 2010 (Chump) - 2nd!, Sebring 2010 (Chump) - Fail, Cuba 2010 - Crew Chief, Roebling 2011 (Chump) - 8th!, Sebring 2011(Chump) - 19th!
  • From: Detroit, MI
  • Registered: 2009-05-16
  • Posts: 1,594

Re: wheels- are there limits on what we can use?

Good point Loren.  Wheels on Lemons cars are just like wheels on street cars.  They can transform a shitbox into a decent looking car.  You will sail through tech, but if your car is a borderline bad cheater and you have $2000 worth of wheels on it, you will likely get some curse votes.  Just look at the dragon car from the Lamest Day.  They weren't asshats and their car wasn't fast, but they got the curse because some thought their 944 was too nice (it was a great theme on a shitty old 944).  They probably didn't get many votes overall, but due to low voter turnout, they got the curse anyway.  Put nice wheels on a Gremlin and nobody will care, but put 18" 3-piece BBW wheels on a Miata or E30 and you might raise some eyebrows.

I wouldn't vote based on wheels, but some might.  In your case, you can put damn near anything on your Excort and nobody will even notice.

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  • From: Highland, MI
  • Registered: 2009-08-30
  • Posts: 93

Re: wheels- are there limits on what we can use?

Since I'm now knee-deep in Mazda MX-3s, we went with alumunum Saturn 15x6s for a couple of reasons
1) The tires that we wanted to use required a minumum 15" wheel
2) They were cheaper & easy to get replacements than Mazda 15" wheels
3) They're a legal size for ITC in SCCA (we built another car to test at the Nelson 12hrs & it's now our SCCA enduro car)
4) They'll meet the wheel rule for Chumpcar

That was my criteria when I went searching for wheels, but the rules allow you to spend way more money than is completely necessary, if you should elect to do so!

Eric

  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 287

Re: wheels- are there limits on what we can use?

# Beside the items and processes listed in Section 3, the following are considered safety-related and therefore exempt:

    * Wheels, tires, and brake components

READ THE RULES, is it REALLY that hard

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  • trekkor
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Re: wheels- are there limits on what we can use?

I ask, because high quality 15" steel rims of any width, bolt circle and backspace can be made and delivered in a week for about $450 for a set of four.


A 225/50/15 on an 8"rim will do quite bit better than a 195 or 205/50/15 on a 5.5" wide rim.


KT

TH 2009- 40th ~ SP 2010- 13th Class Bad win!! TH 2010- 17th ~TH 2010- 16th  SP 2011- 20th ~ RF 2011- 13th Least Horrible Yank Tank ~ TH 2011- 79th
SP 2011- 105th ~ SP 2012- 119th ~ SP 2013- 139th ~ BW 2013- 17th
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  • From: Detroit, MI
  • Registered: 2009-05-16
  • Posts: 1,594

Re: wheels- are there limits on what we can use?

Don't overthink it.  Remember that keeping the car running is far more important than going 2 seconds faster per lap.  Also, what happens if you have a puncture or wear tires out?  Are you going to have two sets made?  Now you are at $900 for wheels!  You'd be better off fitting OE wheels from another car that you can get for $100 per set.  I remember fitting four bolt Mustang wheels on a ZX2 once.  They were 17x8, I think.  If those fit, any old Mustang wheels will fit.  It was a long time ago so check to be sure, but I think they are the same bolt circle.

BRE Datsun (Broke Racing Effluence) formerly Dawn of the Zed Racing
'74 260Z
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  • trekkor
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Re: wheels- are there limits on what we can use?

Thanks for the Mustang wheel tip and the 'keep it running' reminder.


KT

TH 2009- 40th ~ SP 2010- 13th Class Bad win!! TH 2010- 17th ~TH 2010- 16th  SP 2011- 20th ~ RF 2011- 13th Least Horrible Yank Tank ~ TH 2011- 79th
SP 2011- 105th ~ SP 2012- 119th ~ SP 2013- 139th ~ BW 2013- 17th
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  • From: Highland, MI
  • Registered: 2009-08-30
  • Posts: 93

Re: wheels- are there limits on what we can use?

trekkor wrote:

I ask, because high quality 15" steel rims of any width, bolt circle and backspace can be made and delivered in a week for about $450 for a set of four.


A 225/50/15 on an 8"rim will do quite bit better than a 195 or 205/50/15 on a 5.5" wide rim.


KT

Only if you have the hp to spin those fatties.  Our car ran 195/55/15s with an 88hp sohc I4 & I'd put it up against any other car in the corners.  If you're hp-limited, don't kill yourself with rolling resistance!

  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 287

Re: wheels- are there limits on what we can use?

trekkor wrote:

I ask, because high quality 15" steel rims of any width, bolt circle and backspace can be made and delivered in a week for about $450 for a set of four.


A 225/50/15 on an 8"rim will do quite bit better than a 195 or 205/50/15 on a 5.5" wide rim.


KT

Is this for the Escort in your sig?  If so, you are overthinking it indeed.

We ran lowly, FREE, BMW Bottle caps, 14x5.5.  OHhhh the horror.  Tires did fine and we never had a problem passing most cars on track.

Fall South 09- 23rd place
Southern Discomfort '10 Magnum PU- 5th place
Spring South '10- 1st...... LOSER!

14 Reply by trekkor (edited by trekkor 2009-10-24 07:52 PM)

  • trekkor
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Re: wheels- are there limits on what we can use?

We'll stick with the 205's on the stock 5.5" rims.

Let's say we were to build another car, how wide of a rim may we use.
Do they have to stay under the fenders?

The pic in my avatar is the mock-up, photo chop, of a picture of the Escort with 11" Goodyear cantilevered slicks on 8" wide rims.
http://www.endlessmotorsports.net/Photoshops/GT.jpg

KT

TH 2009- 40th ~ SP 2010- 13th Class Bad win!! TH 2010- 17th ~TH 2010- 16th  SP 2011- 20th ~ RF 2011- 13th Least Horrible Yank Tank ~ TH 2011- 79th
SP 2011- 105th ~ SP 2012- 119th ~ SP 2013- 139th ~ BW 2013- 17th
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15 Reply by BoB

  • BoB
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  • From: Elmhurst, IL
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Re: wheels- are there limits on what we can use?

There isn't a limit to the width, and there have been several cars that wheels go outside the fenders.  Of course you want to keep it within reason.  Out too far and someone might start bumping into them and breaking things.

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