Silvia Club of NSW

I noticed the vast majority of fast S13 track cars (circuit not drift) run 17 inch wheels around 8 or 9 inches wide with semis. Does anyone run 16 inch wheels on their S13?

I was thinking that in theory, there are a few advantages to running 16's.
(Assuming we're comparing a set of 16*8s to a set of 17*8s with the same semis)

- less unsprung weight - handling and acceleration benefits
- in a light car like an S13, tyres would get up to temp a little quicker?
- i assume the tyres would also be cheaper? (unless 16*8 is uncommon)

Is it generally down to getting wider tyres (and traction) at the rear?

I know they won't look as good, but i'm not really interested in that.
Functionally, would there be a noticeable difference?

my 17's weigh less than the tyre, so I wouldnt assume that a smaller rim+bigger tyre would be lighter.

Less sidewall flex on 17s too

There's nothing wrong with a set of 16x8 32gtr rims and 225/50 tyres all round.

Wheels and tyres are cheaper
Bigger side wall means they are more forgiving with stiff suspension but the higher side wall stiffness of a semi negates the flex issue some what.

There are a few quick s cars that are still running 16's.

I had to go 17's to clear the front brakes initially, and i had a spare set of 17's when it came time to get semis and 235/45-17 re55's were silly cheap at the time so thats what i ended up with. Same this time around.

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meh

I have 16" P1s and they have look good, are heaps light, and clear S14 calipers easily.

Get them, but they are hard to find in a decent width and offset (I think mine were custom ordered).

I've always used 17s purely due to the fact they are easier to get in the widths and offsets I want. If you can find decent width and offset 16's, then grab them

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On my 180sx, I used to run 16x8's +26/+36 offset (Watanabe) and now after a 5 stud upgrade 16x8.5 +17 offset (P1's) on the track with RE55's.

Both using 225/50/R16 as they were always cheaper than 17's @ $280 a tyre and then $320 earlier this year.