Track Wheels and Tyres
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 292
Likes: 8
From: Sydney
C63
Track Wheels and Tyres
Hey all, basically I wanted to post up my current wheel/tyre set up. I've taken off the stock 19s with contis for now and am currently running these E63 reps.
Specs -
F: 18 x 8.5 et35 w/ 235/40
R: 18 x 9.5 et35 w/ 255/35
Tyres are Toyo R888. I am yet to fully test them out but first impressions are that they will be fan-bloody-tastic. You can go WOT in first and have minimal or no TC kick in. Race Start function operated much better than ever before and kickdown to 2nd from 4th/5th has no wheelspin whatsoever.
However, the rear fitment pokes quite a bit. With just me in the car it only rubs over big dips or speed bumps. With four people in the car it starts to rub over slightly smaller undulations on the road. I am considering rolling the rear guards but have been told that there is actually not much to be able to roll on C63 guards. Has anyone had success rolling their guards? I figure that on a track I will be rubbing a lot more especially if I mount any ripple strips etc...
My only other option now is to just buy a couple of rear wheels. What size and specs should I be looking at? Obviously I want to be able to use the new Toyos and would prefer something in a 9 or 9.5in width. I don't really care if the wheels match the fronts for style.
On to the pics.. (no professional here)
Specs -
F: 18 x 8.5 et35 w/ 235/40
R: 18 x 9.5 et35 w/ 255/35
Tyres are Toyo R888. I am yet to fully test them out but first impressions are that they will be fan-bloody-tastic. You can go WOT in first and have minimal or no TC kick in. Race Start function operated much better than ever before and kickdown to 2nd from 4th/5th has no wheelspin whatsoever.
However, the rear fitment pokes quite a bit. With just me in the car it only rubs over big dips or speed bumps. With four people in the car it starts to rub over slightly smaller undulations on the road. I am considering rolling the rear guards but have been told that there is actually not much to be able to roll on C63 guards. Has anyone had success rolling their guards? I figure that on a track I will be rubbing a lot more especially if I mount any ripple strips etc...
My only other option now is to just buy a couple of rear wheels. What size and specs should I be looking at? Obviously I want to be able to use the new Toyos and would prefer something in a 9 or 9.5in width. I don't really care if the wheels match the fronts for style.
On to the pics.. (no professional here)
Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa
2010 C63, 2003 C230 coupe
I would get a set of forgestars for your track setup. They are great wheels and a full setup will cost you what you were probably going to spend on 2 wheels. Im running cf-5 and NT01 for the track and couldnt be happier.
18x8.5 et 40 w 245/40
18x9.5 et 54 w 275/35
Talk to the guys here at ACG, they are great. The only draw back is sometimes the wheels take a few weeks to manufacture but they sometimes have sets in stock so I would call them up asap.
18x8.5 et 40 w 245/40
18x9.5 et 54 w 275/35
Talk to the guys here at ACG, they are great. The only draw back is sometimes the wheels take a few weeks to manufacture but they sometimes have sets in stock so I would call them up asap.
Last edited by blackc230benzo; Apr 8, 2012 at 09:16 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 499
Likes: 2
From: Sydney & the NSW Central Coast, Australia
C63 AMG, BMW 135i
Rolling the guards won’t fix your problems with those offsets.
If there is enough metal available and its safe to do so, shaving the base plate may be your answer.
It will bring the rim inwards allowing better clearance.
You’d need to take away at least 10mm, maybe 15 and that could be a big ask if the rims are cheap Chinese Replicas. You would also need to check how much caliper clearance you have so as not to foul them.
Are replicas good track rims anyway? I would have thought they’d be heavy and poorly made.
.
If there is enough metal available and its safe to do so, shaving the base plate may be your answer.
It will bring the rim inwards allowing better clearance.
You’d need to take away at least 10mm, maybe 15 and that could be a big ask if the rims are cheap Chinese Replicas. You would also need to check how much caliper clearance you have so as not to foul them.
Are replicas good track rims anyway? I would have thought they’d be heavy and poorly made.
.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 1
2012 C63 coupe
I would get a set of forgestars for your track setup. They are great wheels and a full setup will cost you what you were probably going to spend on 2 wheels. Im running cf-5 and NT01 for the track and couldnt be happier.
18x8.5 et 40 w 245/40
18x9.5 et 54 w 275/35
Talk to the guys here at ACG, they are great. The only draw back is sometimes the wheels take a few weeks to manufacture but they sometimes have sets in stock so I would call them up asap.
18x8.5 et 40 w 245/40
18x9.5 et 54 w 275/35
Talk to the guys here at ACG, they are great. The only draw back is sometimes the wheels take a few weeks to manufacture but they sometimes have sets in stock so I would call them up asap.
Besides, a plastic centering ring may have issues with the heat and an alluminum ring will be a pain to get off the hub if you leave it on for too long. For the street, I think it wouldn't matter.A quote from Tirerack...
Make certain that the wheel's installation hardware is correct for the vehicle and in good condition. Since almost all of today's cars are designed with hub centric wheels which transfer the vehicle's load from the center of the wheel to the car's hub (and allow the lug nuts/bolts to just hold the wheel against the hub), it is important that track wheels continue to be hub centric to help distribute the forces encountered on the track.
Last edited by gthal; Apr 8, 2012 at 09:59 AM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 292
Likes: 8
From: Sydney
C63
I would get a set of forgestars for your track setup. They are great wheels and a full setup will cost you what you were probably going to spend on 2 wheels. Im running cf-5 and NT01 for the track and couldnt be happier.
18x8.5 et 40 w 245/40
18x9.5 et 54 w 275/35
Talk to the guys here at ACG, they are great. The only draw back is sometimes the wheels take a few weeks to manufacture but they sometimes have sets in stock so I would call them up asap.
18x8.5 et 40 w 245/40
18x9.5 et 54 w 275/35
Talk to the guys here at ACG, they are great. The only draw back is sometimes the wheels take a few weeks to manufacture but they sometimes have sets in stock so I would call them up asap.
Rolling the guards won’t fix your problems with those offsets.
If there is enough metal available and its safe to do so, shaving the base plate may be your answer.
It will bring the rim inwards allowing better clearance.
You’d need to take away at least 10mm, maybe 15 and that could be a big ask if the rims are cheap Chinese Replicas. You would also need to check how much caliper clearance you have so as not to foul them.
Are replicas good track rims anyway? I would have thought they’d be heavy and poorly made.
.
If there is enough metal available and its safe to do so, shaving the base plate may be your answer.
It will bring the rim inwards allowing better clearance.
You’d need to take away at least 10mm, maybe 15 and that could be a big ask if the rims are cheap Chinese Replicas. You would also need to check how much caliper clearance you have so as not to foul them.
Are replicas good track rims anyway? I would have thought they’d be heavy and poorly made.
.
edit - I see you're in Sydney too? Do you still have your OEM wheels or would consider selling them?
Last edited by sbce90; Apr 8, 2012 at 10:03 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 3
From: Central Florida
2013 Chevy 427 Torch Red
You might try 17mm spring pads. They will make the gap between tire and fender just a little bit higher which might give you the clearance you need without looking like a 4x4. I would not under any circumstance shave the wheels not knowing how much structural integrity would be lost.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 292
Likes: 8
From: Sydney
C63
You might try 17mm spring pads. They will make the gap between tire and fender just a little bit higher which might give you the clearance you need without looking like a 4x4. I would not under any circumstance shave the wheels not knowing how much structural integrity would be lost.
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Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 499
Likes: 2
From: Sydney & the NSW Central Coast, Australia
C63 AMG, BMW 135i
Sounds like too much work which can be simply avoided by buying something that actually fits. Obviously ideal track rims would be something like an Advan RS and light, but I haven't paid anything for these as they're from a mate who had them on his W210. No doubt they are heavy and most likely cast, but if a mate gives you wheels to mess around with then I really don't care. They will be rarely used anyway as I'll be running the OEM multispoke 19s as daily wheel.
Check out their website anyway, you may find some cheap track wheels that might suit.
http://www.nealewheels.com.au/
More important to me is I wouldn’t run cheap rims on the track even if they were free. Shatter one while cornering hard and you have a lot more damage than just a rim to deal with.
.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 3
From: Central Florida
2013 Chevy 427 Torch Red
17 mm spring pads: A 210 325 04 84
About $20USD for the pair and yes they are the opposite of going thinner. I believe stock is 13mm. I use these to avoid rubbing when I have 9.5" rears on for the track. I also have H&R springs on as well and the front and rear drop looks level.
About $20USD for the pair and yes they are the opposite of going thinner. I believe stock is 13mm. I use these to avoid rubbing when I have 9.5" rears on for the track. I also have H&R springs on as well and the front and rear drop looks level.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 292
Likes: 8
From: Sydney
C63
Yeah you’re probably right. I had 2 rears machined at Neale Wheels, $30/rim and job done in less than an hour.
Check out their website anyway, you may find some cheap track wheels that might suit.
http://www.nealewheels.com.au/
More important to me is I wouldn’t run cheap rims on the track even if they were free. Shatter one while cornering hard and you have a lot more damage than just a rim to deal with.
.
Check out their website anyway, you may find some cheap track wheels that might suit.
http://www.nealewheels.com.au/
More important to me is I wouldn’t run cheap rims on the track even if they were free. Shatter one while cornering hard and you have a lot more damage than just a rim to deal with.
.
Edit - just bought some wheels for the rear - 18x9.5 et 44 no issues.
Last edited by sbce90; Apr 10, 2012 at 10:29 AM.
