16x7 vs 15x6 Track only wheel/tire combo?

[CB7Nub]

What's a better track tire/wheel combo, I just can't decide.

I already own both wheels but don't have new tires for either setup.
My car is basically stock engine wise, only running I/H/E.

I'm planning to run at least summer performance tires (BFGoodriech G-Sport or Yokohama S-drive). Ideally I'd like to run semi-slicks or slicks like Toyo R888's or various Hankook slicks. Both wheels are quality name brand wheels and I have no worry of them breaking, they will be left unnamed until track season. This is for circuit track racing only and will this will combo will not be used on the street neither bad weather (rain etc).

I am not competing I'm just tracking for fun, but I'd like to pretend I'm competing.

1) Unnamed 16x7 +42 (wheel is 18lbs each wheel) 225/50/16
2) Unnamed 15x6 +46 (wheel is 13.5lbs each wheel) 205/50/15
3) Other (explain what and why if you can )

[F20A CB7]

For track I always thought wider is better to coer surface area. But they are 18 pounds.

I like the 13 pound wheels. To me it will give you a faster roatation with less strain from the engine to spin them. Idk if I'm makin sense or not.

[deevergote]

Don't forget, the 15" 13lb wheels will have more tire... and tires are heavy. The overall weight will probably be pretty close.

I'd go with the wider 16" wheels. However, I wouldn't use a 225 width. That'll be too much, and you'll end up with very squishy handling, and it may even rub. I'd stick to a 205 for a 7" width. No wider than 215.

[steelbluesleepR]

you have to take tire weight into account as well, and it is just as important, if not more so than the actual wheel weight. for track wheels (assuming auto-x/road course), i'd go with some 8" wide wheels for maximum grip, provided you put stiffer sway bars and a decent set of springs/shocks or coilovers.

edit: depending on where/what you race, you might be limited by the rules as to what you can run.

[SOHC-FTW]

As far as the tires go i'd skip the G-sports and go with the G-Force T/A or their Rival's. I've got the G-Force's for my project accord in 225/45/16 previously ran for 1000 miles on my buddy evans 420whp hatch and they are bad ass tires! I have been eyeballing toyo proxes for the rear as the set of wheel's and tires i got from him the rears have a bit of toe wear, so i might try the proxes out.

[Sordz]

Why such different tire heights? Is that the only sizes the tires you want come in?

Id probably go 15's since your not making that much power and they will be a lot lighter. Depending which transmission you have the 23" tall tire could help with acceleration also.

BTW with your rim specs and sizes it would be-

toyo r888's

16" 42lbs each wheel 24.86" tall
15" 33.3lbs each wheel 23.07" tall

[deevergote]

It'll help with acceleration, but it'll potentially lower the top end. Could be bad if it's a fast track.
And the 15s with tires that maintain the same overall diameter as the 16" setup may actually end up being heavier due to more tire, though the weight will be closer to the hub than the 16"s.

[ThrakBarts]

Fifteens, no question. The price and availability of badass rubber for fifteen inch wheels far exceeds those for sixteen inch wheels. Running wheel sizes that are popular with other grassroots racers will net you better tires for less money. I personally would go with a lightweight 15x7. For $100 a wheel, I ran some kosei k1-ts 17x7 +42 that weighed 14lbs without a tire. Buddy club makes similar lightweight cast wheels that are good on a track. Also Lightly used 205/50/15 r888's are plentiful both for sale online and free at track tire dumps. Shoot, I have been given four sets of 205/50/15 toyo ra1s from some of my friends that race miatas. Stick to 15s or 17s.

[Dirtyrice]

Like mentioned above, 15's have a better and cheaper selection than 16's. I would do 15x8+35 with sticky 205/50 tires such as Federal RSR's, Toyo R1R's, Hankook RS3, Dunlop Star Specs...etc and get hang of the car. I wouldn't suggest jumping into R-compound tires right away because you'll miss out on the learning curve that street tires will provide.

[CB7Nub]

you have to take tire weight into account as well, and it is just as important, if not more so than the actual wheel weight. for track wheels (assuming auto-x/road course), i'd go with some 8" wide wheels for maximum grip, provided you put stiffer sway bars and a decent set of springs/shocks or coilovers.

edit: depending on where/what you race, you might be limited by the rules as to what you can run.

All the tires in the range that I am looking for weight are 18lbs to 21lbs. Not really a big difference because most are 19-20lbs.

I'm running Koni Yellow's and Ground Controls at the moment, will be putting a Energy Suspension master bushing kit, Suspension Techniques sway bar kit, c-pillar bar, rear strut bar (already have front strut bar).

There are zero rules since I'm just doing circuit lapping for fun, actual league time attacks have rules.

16" 42lbs each wheel 24.86" tall
15" 33.3lbs each wheel 23.07" tall

Due to the weight savings and how it's easier to spin a 15 vs a 16 I'm going to go with the 15's.

It'll help with acceleration, but it'll potentially lower the top end. Could be bad if it's a fast track.
And the 15s with tires that maintain the same overall diameter as the 16" setup may actually end up being heavier due to more tire, though the weight will be closer to the hub than the 16"s.

Track is more technical that straights, lots or corners and elevation changes, minimal short straights. It's a track where K20 EG's run laps around R35 GT-R's (no joke lol). So top end really isn't important, plus my top end is nothing compared to a M3, GT-R, etc.

Like mentioned above, 15's have a better and cheaper selection than 16's. I would do 15x8+35 with sticky 205/50 tires such as Federal RSR's, Toyo R1R's, Hankook RS3, Dunlop Star Specs...etc and get hang of the car. I wouldn't suggest jumping into R-compound tires right away because you'll miss out on the learning curve that street tires will provide.

It's hard to find 15x8 wheels.
Understand completly on not going onto slicks, just for the learning experience right. Extreme summer street tires will do.

I've been looking at the following tires from cheapest to most expensive:
All

Kumho Ecsta XS - $102 per tire
*Dunlop Direzza ZII - $114 per tire
*BFGoodrich g-Force Rival - $117 per tire
Toyo Proxes R1R - $127 per tire
Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08 - $133 per tire
Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 - $137 per tire

Tires with " * " are new for the 2013 year.

I've been leaning towards the Dunlop Direzza ZII's due to them being the new replacements for the Z1 Star Specs. From what I have heard the Star Specs are really really good.

I'd like to see how the BFGoodrich g-Force Rival's stand up first though.

I'll be waiting till spring though to buy them when I go to the states, tires in Canada are ridiculous. The Kumho's are $144 here, and RE-11's are $184 here. The Yokohama's are even $198 here each.

[deevergote]

A smaller wheel weighs less... but a larger tire weighs more. Therefore, the 15" and 16" wheels will likely weigh about the same. Nobody seems to realize this.

[CB7Nub]

How will the 15" tires weigh more than a 16" of a larger or same size?
I don't get it lol, bigger the tire bigger the weight.....right?

[deevergote]

Correct. More tire = more weight. Tires aren't exactly light things.

[CB7Nub]

Yes exactly.
So are you saying that a 205/50/15 will weigh more than a 205/50/16?

[Sordz]

Yes exactly.
So are you saying that a 205/50/15 will weigh more than a 205/50/16?

In that case the 205/50/15 will be a lighter tire, Deev is referring to if you run the same overall tire height on either rims I believe.