New 15x8 wheel coming!

[Emre]

if a manufacturer seriously told me that their wheel could not and would not stand up to street use, I would not trust their product on track.

That's exactly what the manufacturers of some of the most trusted track wheels will tell you. I guess you should avoid Compomotive, Jongbloed, Fikse, and many, many others.

Keep in mind that superlight track wheels aren't meant to last 10 years. Unlike street wheels, they're not exposed to road salt, rubbed against curbs, or driven over 2" deep potholes regularly. Most importantly, they get inspected regularly and turned-over very rapidly...just like all race parts. Do you have any idea how often a team will replace the barrels of their 3-piece race wheels? The forged center is the only part they keep.

Race parts aren't meant for the street...but that doesn't make them bad. The 4-piston calipers on my track car need to be serviced, cleaned, lubed, and rebuilt regularly. If I drove my car in the snow and ice, the brakes would probably be seized up solid in one winter. The OEM calipers on my mom's E46 sedan can go 10 years without so much as a fluid change and never need to be rebuilt for the life of the car. I guess her brakes are better than mine

[Brian D]

That's exactly what the manufacturers of some of the most trusted track wheels will tell you. I guess you should avoid Compomotive, Jongbloed, Fikse, and many, many others.

Not that I've seriously shopped any of those manufacturers, but no, I wouldn't use a track only wheel on my dual purpose car. They've sacrificed strangth and safety for lightness, which brings us to:

Keep in mind that superlight track wheels aren't meant to last 10 years. Unlike street wheels, they're not exposed to road salt, rubbed against curbs, or driven over 2" deep potholes regularly. Most importantly, they get inspected regularly and turned-over very rapidly...just like all race parts. Do you have any idea how often a team will replace the barrels of their 3-piece race wheels? The forged center is the only part they keep.

Come on now. You're calling a 13 pound 15x7 a "superlight" wheel? Enkei makes a 9.5 pound 15x7 and I don't see them saying they're for track use only! I'd also hazard a guess that most people that buy TD 1.3's aren't planning on chucking them at the end of the year. And what the hell does road salt have to do with this? ANY aluminum wheel is going to have problems with that!

Race parts aren't meant for the street...but that doesn't make them bad. The 4-piston calipers on my track car need to be serviced, cleaned, lubed, and rebuilt regularly. If I drove my car in the snow and ice, the brakes would probably be seized up solid in one winter. The OEM calipers on my mom's E46 sedan can go 10 years without so much as a fluid change and never need to be rebuilt for the life of the car. I guess her brakes are better than mine

I guess Lee should stop selling brakes to dual purpose users then.

My beef with all this isn't you Emre, although now you're making some pretty big jumps to justify your point. If Bimmerworld really feels the TD 1.3 wheel is a "track only" wheel, then they should state that clearly on their website, right in the copy of the ad. And they should state that it has a finite life, and needs to be tossed after a certain period of time, because you can't rehoop a cast, one piece wheel.

You're comparing a Compomotive track wheel to a 99 dollar 15x7? Come on.

Edit: Poking around Compomotives site, it appears that their current track wheels are also "suitable for road use". http://www.comp.co.uk/wheels/wheels.asp?range=CXR_0001 I tried to find the most spindly looking example. I don't doubt that they've made wheels that are "track use only", but perhaps that statement isn't needed with the current technology? Or maybe it's simply a legal disclaimer?

This whole argument is kind of silly. I think the TD 1.3 is suitable for a dual purpose car, you don't. You seem to think that a 13 pound 15x7 is ultralight and made of silly putty, and I don't. The 12.6 pound 15x8 949racing wheel must give you a heart attack.

[z31maniac]

I have found another 15 x 8, I will check back in next week after I find out if they will clear a Massive Sport Kit.

[Massive Lee]

We tested Paintpro's 5 x 120mm et20 version with Massive's 332mm x 32mm and thick SL6R calipers as well as the narrower SL6R14. The outcome is very positive. The 4 x 100mm wheel should fit exactly the same. That wheel was really designed for BBK clearance as I remember seeing the various designs until this final version and consulted with Paintpro many times over the past year.

Pictures start at post# 296

http://www.s14.net/forums/showthread.php?t=32138&page=20

[Knockenwelle]

That last pic...

Droooooolllllllll-

Dammit Lee, I keep trying to convince myself that stock brakes are good enough for now...

[Massive Lee]

Dammit Lee, I keep trying to convince myself that stock brakes are good enough for now...

Hey. That's what the Spec_e30 guys also say. Until the rules change... one day.

The kit pictured above is 332mm x 32mm, and in conjunction with the rear 310mm x 32mm, I was told by racers it is even too much brake for most tracks. But, they do allow to keep with the big cars (rear Porsche GT3).

[Brian D]

Sexy stuff, Lee! That sure is a good looking ultimate setup.

[Dyno4mance]

We tested Paintpro's 5 x 120mm et20 version with Massive's 332mm x 32mm and thick SL6R calipers as well as the narrower SL6R14. The outcome is very positive. The 4 x 100mm wheel should fit exactly the same. That wheel was really designed for BBK clearance as I remember seeing the various designs until this final version and consulted with Paintpro many times over the past year.

Pictures start at post# 296

http://www.s14.net/forums/showthread.php?t=32138&page=20

Do they make this wheel in a 4x100 fitment?

[Massive Lee]

Do they make this wheel in a 4x100 fitment?

You bet. There's a GB on this on this forum. Paintpro has been working for a whole year (if not more) on the 5 x 120mm fitment. He's also offering a 4 x 100mm 17" x 8" version.

[z31maniac]

The guys at Bimmerworld warn that these are track-only wheels that are very prone to bending if driven on the street.

Well, I went ahead and shot an email over to Bimmerworld. I paraphrased what was being said and sent them a link to this thread.

Here is their verbatim replies from my gmail acoount:

From: Kyle Cooper [mailto:Kyle@bimmerworld.com]
Sent: Friday, April 03, 2009 10:29 AM
To: james@bimmerworld.com
Subject: FW: Team Dynamics 1.3 and D-Force ????

It starts on this page.

http://r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=104599&page=36

I checked with Jay and Brian and no one here made the comment that these are a track only wheel.

Kyle Cooper
http://www.bimmerworld.com
http://www.bimmerworldracing.com
http://www.powerflexusa.com
Race Proven BMW Performance
877.639.9648

-------------------------------------------------
This was James reply back to me:

That’s a head scratcher for us… A track wheel is lightweight and super strong. If anything, there are plenty of street wheels that aren’t track wheels, but not the other way around…


James Clay
http://www.bimmerworld.com
http://www.bimmerworldracing.com
http://www.powerflexusa.com
Race Proven BMW Performance
877.639.9648

----------------------------------------------------

This is exactly as I suspected.

So everyone does not need to worry about using the TD's or D-Force as street wheels.

[Brian D]

Thanks for contacting them, restores my faith in Bimmerworld.

[renfield90]

+1, thanks for the email.

[z31maniac]

VT, did you get a chance to test the TRM wheel fitment this weekend like you hoped?

If not, I have been talking to Paul @ Team Illuminata on a GB possibility for 15 x 8 ET20 Pro Race 1.3s. Direct fit, no spacers/hub rings, 5% off if three sets + are ordered.

If the TRM's don't clear I may go that route anyway as I want the extra width, but don't want to buy spacers to get the right offset for the others, that easily adds $150-300 depending on the size of spacer needed and going ahead and converting to studs.

[SkinnyVT]

VT, did you get a chance to test the TRM wheel fitment this weekend like you hoped?

If not, I have been talking to Paul @ Team Illuminata on a GB possibility for 15 x 8 ET20 Pro Race 1.3s. Direct fit, no spacers/hub rings, 5% off if three sets + are ordered.

If the TRM's don't clear I may go that route anyway as I want the extra width, but don't want to buy spacers to get the right offset for the others, that easily adds $150-300 depending on the size of spacer needed and going ahead and converting to studs.

Yes I did a quick test fit, they would require significant grinding of the corner of the caliper for them to clear the barrel. Didn't get them seated on the hub to test the spoke clearance but the barrel interference was enough for me to decide that I won't be getting a set.

I would definitely be interested in 15x8 TD's depending on how quick it happens.

You should get studs anyway, bolts are a pain in the ass.

[z31maniac]

I'm waiting on an email from Paul right now for a lead time on getting the wheels.

Too bad about the TRMs, you'd think they would have been designed with BBKs in mind.