LVDell

racewheel....

that is a general rule of thumb and not entirely accurate anyway. He BEST way to figure out what size wheel/tire combo works best, start with your tire choice and then get the TIRE specs as to what is optimal for the size you are interested in. A 305 in one tire is not always the same as a 305 in another tire.

mdrums

He makes the wheels to order. I told him I wanted Toyo RA1 tires because they seem to be the only tire that keeps my outside diameter right around the same as stock...he totally agreed with that and the Michelin cups only come in a 235 front that will fit and the Toyo's give me a 245. He has to make the wheels and gave me choices on finishes, caps or no caps and so forth.

I need to decide if I want to go with center caps or not. They add a little weight with the extra material in the center of the wheels but the wheels look nicer though.

If someone feels strongly about center caps PLEASE call me...I will not be able to check back here until late tonight. I'd super appreciate it!

If I go to sell these wheels in a few years what would sell easier, caps or no cap wheels?
813-335-2937 Mike

mdrums

others....CCW come HIGHLY recomended to me and I see there wheels at a lot of my track events. I'm sure he knows what he is doing with sizing plus he said if they do not work/fit he will take them back no problem.

LVDell

I realize that which is why I asked. You said you ordered them yesterday but will have them on next week. I was under the assumption that it takes a few weeks to make them. That's awesome if he can get them cranked out in less than a week! I still don't agree with the 12" choice in rear wheel.

mdrums

12x18 is what I have seen on some of the faster guys GT3 at Sebring and they are said to fit my 997S too. That is what is suggested and what everyone wants so me being at this only a year figures that is the way to go. 11-12" is the recomended range for the 305 tire and from talking to those in the know say to get the widest wheel for the recomended tire size range.

I ended up with going with the C14 with no center cap. This is the lighter wheel and what the race teams use and all the other track guys so if I sell this car and wheels in the next few years resale will be greater than the heavier wheel built to accept center caps.

LVDell

no, no , no! not correct. You would want the OPTIMAL rim width, not the high end of the range. You are adding unsprung weight and pairing a wheel with a tire not made for it.

A 305 tire is made for a rim range of 10.5-11.5 with an OPTIMAL rim size of 11". I run 315's on a 11"wheel and they are perfect as the 315 range is 10.5-11.5 as well with the OPTIMAL size of 11".

Still have no idea why you were sold a 12" wheel. Regardless, I am sure they will be sweet and you will enjoy them which is all that matters.

ps. If you ever decide to squeeze 345's back there, then the 12" rim is perfect.

Crazy Canuck

Peter, you need some H&R lowering springs now.

How did you like the Cups? Got enough camber on the car?

RonCT

I have to agree with Dell -- 11" for 295 PSC and 305 RA1 and variants. I remember seeing a diagram somewhere (maybe tire rack) that shows the impact of using a rim either on the narrow or wide side of optimal.

mdrums

OK you all are confusing me....so CCW Wheels does not know what they are doing? I think not. They have done alot of these sizes for these tires! Don't GT3RS come with 12" wide on 305's (I know 19" but around same width)? See!

RonCT

I think the thing that is confusing is that I have a 997S and had John at CCW quote a set of C14s for me. I explained I would be running either 235/295 PSCs or 245/305 RA1s. CCW emailed back that the correct sizes for my proposed us was 8.5" wide fronts and 11" wide rears. That's also the exact same sizes that Forgeline, Fikse, Tire Rack (BBS & Volk) all said were the correct sizes.

Just because the RS comes with 12" wheels with 305s doesn't make it right. Also consider the RS is a wide body and our 997S is a narrowbody (though that really doesn't matter -- it's an offset change not a wheel width one unless you are going to much wider rubber).

It's your call as they will be your wheels... If you were planning on much wider slicks, then 9x18 and 12x18 might be fine...

LVDell

Not trying to confuse you, just trying to help you get the CORRECT wheels. Like I said, I think (and I am just assuming) that CCW either a) had 12" in stock that needed to be unloaded; or b)misunderstood what it is you want.

No wheel dealer should be selling a 12" wheel to a car owner that is running 305's. 12" wheels are not something you grow into. You either run the proper size on them or you don't.

mdrums

These 12x18 ccw's are the same size mooty on this board and 2 guys at my de's are running.

LVDell

Rationalize it all you want. We are trying to help by telling you what the PROPER size is for your application. It's a decision you make based upon EVIDENCE not ANECDOTAL and go from there. Sorry, but that's the scientist in me talking. Nothing chaps my *** more than when my students use anecdotal evidence to accept a claim rather than find EMPIRICAL evidence that will SUPPORT your inquiry. You have been presented the facts, go from there.

racewheel

have been building packages using the 305 35 18 ra1 on corvettes (and other cars)for many years now and can say from experience, that the tire runs cooler and wears much better on a 12" wide wheel than on an 11" wide wheel.
john

LVDell

Of course you are going to say that John, you're the one selling him the wheels to begin with. So you have hard empirical evidence that will allow you to refute EVERY SINGLE tire company's claim that they are in fact wrong in their sizing and you are right?

There is NOT a single company on this earth that states the PROPER/OPTIMAL wheel size for a 305 is a 12" wheel. If there is, please show me. I have done my research and EVERY ONE states 11" is the optimal/proper size wheel and range of "acceptable" sizes are 10.5"-11.5" and some with as large of a range as 10"-12".

ps. just how hot do you think he is running his tires? Is it worth the extra weight?