solomonschris

I'm swear I'm not obsessing about this, but I'd love an answer as to why some of the Porsches are using Centerlock wheels, while others are using lug nuts. I just saw the Brumos #59 with it's ultra trick disconnect brake lines get brake pads and the wheel was held on with lug nuts. This is a 2012 car. The announcer said a bit later that previous gen cars are allowed to upgrade to current gen specs. Many other Porsche teams, and all of the prototypes, are using Centerlock wheels. Is there a problem with the Centerlock wheels....they sure look cool. It can't be money because I have seen no evidence of penny pinching out there. Anybody know the appeal of going with slower lug nuts? Just curious.......Chris

DM993tt

No centerlocks in Grand am GT class.

I have no clue why porsche even offers these on street cars. Worse, I have no reason why anyone would put them on their street car. Why would you want to have to go to a dealer to take your wheel off. What if you get a flat tire? You're stranded without a flatbed.

No HTwo O

To your point:

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...al-wheels.html

Felix

I'm going to venture an opinion that in a pit stop where wheel change time is super critical (like F1) centerlocks are used for speed and hundreds of thousands have been spent on a system that is both quick and secure. At least most of the time. When the wheel change time isn't the long pole in the tent a less exotic centerlock system can be used or even conventional lug nuts.

BIG 928

we use 5 lug nuts as sometimes the centre lock wheel nuts wont come off when the brakes/wheels are red hot. something heats up faster than something else and your stuck with a very long pitstop and headache. sounds crazy but it happens. i remember seeing a ford rs500 at bathurst in 1988 that they couldnt get the wheel off during the bathurst 1000{think it was a texaco car}

regards mark

BIG 928

on the other hand some teams never have a problem with the centre locks so ???????????????

Forgeline

The current rule in Grand-Am on C/L wheels is:

With 5-Lug wheels you are allowed 2 pit guns over the wall

With C/L wheels you are allowed 1 pit gun over the wall.

Teams are allowed to decide which method they prefer.

This rule is new for this year, so most people stayed with 5-lug wheels (Brumos) so they did not have to buy new wheels. Most new teams go with center lock wheels.

solomonschris

Thanks for the enlightenment from both sides of the pond....What a place this is! They look so cool that if I can retro fit them to my tt without selling my house I just might do so. Wouldn't be the first time I went for appearance over good sense.....Cheers......Chris

AOW162435

Chris,
I think Forgeline makes conversion kits...


Andreas

Turn3 Autosport

What was stated above. A team needs to choose weather or not the go 5 lug or centerlock based on pit logistics, current spares, cost to convert etc.

We ran 5 lug beacuase we already had multiple sets of wheels and both grand-am cars Bullet has are 5 lug cars already.

Cheers

TT Surgeon

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the porsche oem CLs are not the same as one sees on race cars.

Forgeline

You are correct, they are completely different. Much larger in diameter and have self locking features the race cars do not have.