Best lightweight racing wheels?

[Fly-n-Z]

Could you guys help me out figuring which wheels in the 15x7 size including make, style and offset would be the lightest for my SCCA ITS 260Z?

I know the Panasport ultralights are made to fit but I don't know which others would fit the bill.

Thanks!!

Rick

[v12horse]

I am not sure on what wheels to get, but Panasport has a lot of light wieght wheels for racing applications. I personally like the 14 by 7J panasports with a zero offset.

check here:

http://www.zparts.com/ads/wheels/ads/wfs-33.html

They may be a little expensive with the shipping, but if they had no cracks and were refinished they would be a great buy.

Welcome to the forum! The people here are great. They know everything about Z's. I would like to be sick like many of them someday.

-Ben

[Fly-n-Z]

Thanks for the input Ben!

I am currently using some 15x7 Hayashi lightweight racing wheels with Hoosier DOT racing tires. They are beautiful wheels but not as light as the Panasport Ultralights. There are other even lighter wheels out there but I want to be careful about trading off too much and losing strength. Eventually I want to have three sets of wheels; 1 for my rain tires and 2 for dry racing tires.

PS. Nice picture gallery!

[2ManyZs]

Sorry, but 15 inch wheels aren't legal in ITS on a 240-280Z.

The Panasport UL's are just about the only lightweight wheels you will find in 14 inch that are still being made.

I've heard that this guy has the lowest prices on them....

http://www.daveturner.com/

I don't know if Keizer makes a 14 inch wheel, but a lot of the Production racers use their 15 inch wheels.

[Fly-n-Z]

2ManyZs,

Well... now I had to go back and look. In fact the Hayashi's are 14's. Guess I've got the onset of CRS (can't remember "stuff"). Thanks for setting me straight. While I've got your expertise online have you got a source for lightweight alloy lug nuts for the Z?

Thanks for the input!

Rick

[2ManyZs]

Well, you'd probably need the advice of someone who is still racing for the lug nuts, they didn't have such a thing back in the early 90's when I was racing.....

FWIW, most of the guys I know who are still racing just use the stock steel lugs with new studs (usually just a little longer than stock) with all the wheels that allow them to use the conical lug nuts. I guess it's a two-fold reasoning, the strength of the steel lugs is a known quantity, and the weight savings would be so miniscule that the expense doesn't make sense.

[Fly-n-Z]

You are the second guy that has said that so I guess that I'll spend my time and money on other necessary items. I have a baffled cast aluminum oil pan coming from Dave at Arizona Z and I have done some underhood temp reduction work. I've also cleaned the carbs and I'm going to adjust the valves when I get back home. Lastly, I have watched Z Therapy's SU video and I am going to tune/balance the carbs when I get done with all of that.

My next race is coming the end of this month and I'm anxious to see how much my efforts have helped.

Rick:D

[2ManyZs]

Well, glad someone agrees with me...

I wish I had a set of Panasport UL's, if your Hayashi's are the ones I think they are, I'd trade you in a minute.....always liked the looks of them.:cheeky:

[Fly-n-Z]

The Hayashi`s are the ones you are thinking about, but I am holding on to those!! I just wnat some more wheels that I wouldn't have a fit if they got nailed while racing. When I get back home and have a little time I'll post some pictues of the car.

Rick

[260DET]

None of you use 8" wide wheels in a 15" or the classes don't allow them? Pretty universal here with 225 tyres, they sit flatter on the rim and don't round the shoulders as much.

[2ManyZs]

The IT class rules say you have to run the original diameter wheels.

You can run the 15x7's or 15x8's if you move up one class to EP, but that jump is a costly one to be competitive in a Z.:disappoin