Anyone Running OEM 18s as Track Wheels?

[M3 Esq.]

I am shopping for a dedicated track set for the upcoming season. I was considering an 18x10 square setup (probably Apex or a used set of Volks).

I recently bought a 3rd car and am now considering repurposing my winter set (OEM 219s) as a track set to keep my costs down. However the obvious drawbacks are this is a staggered setup which limits my ability to rotate and the stockers are heavy. I would also likely sacrifice some grip as i would not be able to run as wide of a tire in the front. I was thinking I could upsize to 255 in the front and 275 in the rear to get close to the contact patch I could achieve with the 18x10s.

I only track a few times a year so I am not sure I want/need to invest a whole lot in new wheels when i already have a usable set in the garage. I know i am being cheap but tracking gets expensive quickly as you all know. Thoughts on running the OEM 18's?

[ThunderMoose]

I ran OEM 18's for a while. The real problem that you'll run into is that they under steer quite a bit and you'll you need more negative camber to avoid cording. If you only track 2-3 times a year, then you can probably live with these problems, but if you plan to track more, then sell rims and buy some ARC-8's and some adjustable camber plates.

[STi_traitor]

Originally Posted by ThunderMoose

I ran OEM 18's for a while. The real problem that you'll run into is that they under steer quite a bit and you'll you need more negative camber to avoid cording. If you only track 2-3 times a year, then you can probably live with these problems, but if you plan to track more, then sell rims and buy some ARC-8's and some adjustable camber plates.

How does the "wheel" cause understeer?

[STi_traitor]

Originally Posted by M3 Esq.

I am shopping for a dedicated track set for the upcoming season. I was considering an 18x10 square setup (probably Apex or a used set of Volks).

I recently bought a 3rd car and am now considering repurposing my winter set (OEM 219s) as a track set to keep my costs down. However the obvious drawbacks are this is a staggered setup which limits my ability to rotate and the stockers are heavy. I would also likely sacrifice some grip as i would not be able to run as wide of a tire in the front. I was thinking I could upsize to 255 in the front and 275 in the rear to get close to the contact patch I could achieve with the 18x10s.

I only track a few times a year so I am not sure I want/need to invest a whole lot in new wheels when i already have a usable set in the garage. I know i am being cheap but tracking gets expensive quickly as you all know. Thoughts on running the OEM 18's?

I say stick with the stocks but buy two more rears for the front.

[ThunderMoose]

Originally Posted by STi_traitor

How does the "wheel" cause understeer?

An implied aspect of his question was about going to square set up which then puts a 265/275 in the front versus 245 IIRC. My experience is that when I went to wider tires in front, I got a lot more bite and had to adjust some of my turn in points as the car was much more neutral. Turn 14 at TWS was a prime example, where I used to chop it hard with smaller front tires, but once I had the wider tires I almost ran over the curb with same input.

[STi_traitor]

Originally Posted by ThunderMoose

An implied aspect of his question was about going to square set up which then puts a 265/275 in the front versus 245 IIRC. My experience is that when I went to wider tires in front, I got a lot more bite and had to adjust some of my turn in points as the car was much more neutral. Turn 14 at TWS was a prime example, where I used to chop it hard with smaller front tires, but once I had the wider tires I almost ran over the curb with same input.

I agree on this, thats why I recommended him to do the OEM setup square. Just the way you said it originally made no sense what so ever.

[ThunderMoose]

Yeah I jumped a couple of steps in my explanation.

[larryn]

Originally Posted by ThunderMoose

Yeah I jumped a couple of steps in my explanation.

FWIW, I thought it was exceedingly obvious what you meant.

[bigjae1976]

I've run square OEM 18" rears on the track...I think that's the way to go.

I bought Thundermoose's OEM 18s, combined them with my 18s and then sold off the 4 front wheels to someone that wanted a set of snows. Came out about even minus $150 for shipping.

Originally Posted by larryn

FWIW, I thought it was exceedingly obvious what you meant.

[adc]

I could take 2 OEM 219 gunmetal fronts off someone's hands, if it comes to that. I managed to curb both my fronts.

[M3 Esq.]

Thanks for all of the feedback. You all confirmed what I suspected - I'd be better off selling the OEMs and picking up a square set.

[bigjae1976]

If you want track wheels...I have one Apex ARC8 18x10 et 25 in anthracite for sale. You can just buy 3 new ones.

Sounds retarded but I figured I'd try

[M3 Esq.]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

If you want track wheels...I have one Apex ARC8 18x10 et 25 in anthracite for sale. You can just buy 3 new ones.

Sounds retarded but I figured I'd try

It looks like Apex is having a group buy this month so I may just hook on to that.

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by M3 Esq.

It looks like Apex is having a group buy this month so I may just hook on to that.

It's cancelled, buy my wheel!

kidding

[sensi09]

You could try putting 265s on the stock fronts. Granted it's a 8.5" wheel, but it should be fine.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

If you want track wheels...I have one Apex ARC8 18x10 et 25 in anthracite for sale. You can just buy 3 new ones.

Sounds retarded but I figured I'd try

cant you just use it as a spare?

[bigjae1976]

I could but if a track tire got ruined I'd just use my street tires.

[M3 Esq.]

Originally Posted by sensi09

You could try putting 265s on the stock fronts. Granted it's a 8.5" wheel, but it should be fine.

Based on researching manufacturer specs on tire rack, the largest recommended size is usually 255 on an 8.5 wheel. Not sure I would be comfortable going to 265 unless it was within the manufacturer spec.

[M3 Esq.]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

It's cancelled, buy my wheel!

kidding

:

[paradocs98]

Here's what a square set of rear 18" OEMs looks like. Sweet 'n' meaty! It's TUNEDM3's car:

[M3 Esq.]

^

[sensi09]

Originally Posted by M3 Esq.

Based on researching manufacturer specs on tire rack, the largest recommended size is usually 255 on an 8.5 wheel. Not sure I would be comfortable going to 265 unless it was within the manufacturer spec.

255 is the largest recommended for an 8.5, but seems like many people with other cars have run 265s without any problem.

Try a google search....lots of pics and info on the subject.