Given that I want to use Toyo RA1's for track days, and DavePK recommended the 17" 235 (F) and 275

 

I know you are looking for wide set up in rim offset to accomendate big tires for track set up. For the width you are looking for, only companies like HRE, Kinesis and Fiske can make wheels that wide in the high 70+ offset range. Keep in mind this will increase the weight of the wheel also.

For a 235 F and 275 rear. You can run the Volk CE28N wheels. Its a popular wheel on this forum. Offset is 17x7.5 +50 front and 17x9 +63 rear. This size wheel can fit the tires no problem. The front weights 12.6 lbs and rear weights 12.9 lbs. Its really hard to find other wheels on the market that can compare in the weight and strength of the Rays Engineering wheels. The Volk CE28N is a Forged Monoblock wheel. Only Rays and BBS have the machine to make 1 piece forged wheels in the world.

 

Here's a thread and you can learn a little bit more abou this wheel. They come in many colors and finishes.

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showt...178524&hl=CE28N

 

I'm going to concur with Jeff (Evo S2000). If you are looking to get those tires on those wide of wheels on a S2000. You most certainly are looking at a custom Job. Fikse and Kinesis would be my recommendations. These wheels are the best money buys. You will not find a finer wheel anywhere. You will be amongst the elitist Porsche, Ferrari club. However your wheel choice and fitment choice will be limited with Fikse to the classic line. They do not offer the Profil (Pro'Feel) Line in a fitment conducive to the S2000. Now comes the bad parts. The Cost. Expect the Spend at least $3000 for just the wheels, nevermind a special color if you choose and tires. Now you might be saying to yourself. Do I really want to beat up $3000 wheels? My answer was no. I couldn't justify putting $3600 Kinesis K58s on the track, maybe not at this point in my life. So I picked up a set of 17" Work Emotion Forged to track on. Which brings me to my next point - Weight. Fikse and Kinesis wheels are both very light for a 3 pc custom wheel (19-21lbs depending on which wheel and manu.), but no where near 12lbs the Volk CE28ns will weight. Let's face it, the S2000 is not really meant to lug around heavy shoes on the track - you are just killing your times and turns.

What you really need a nice forged 1pc tuner wheel (Volk, Work, BBS, Velox) to kick around on the track. My suggestion, a nice set of 17" Volk CEs/LEs in the offsets recommend by Jeff. I've even seen many people with 18" CEs because they like the *feel* that the larger wheels give them. It's a personal choice.

As for tire sizes.. 235 and 275 are absurd. I track my car regularly, and even with the OE spec MY04 setup the car is more than impressive. I think you are over doing it. Putting a 275 in the rear is going to change how the car drives dramatically. If you are hell bent on going wider, 225 and 255 - Front/Rear would be the largest I'd go. Don't forget tires add lots of weight too, and all of it is as far as it gets from the point of rotation increasing your unsprun mass dramatically slowing you down even more.

In conclusion here is what you should buy.

17" Volk CE28ns (recommend you buy them from Evolution)
225/255 Toyo RA-1s (personally i'd go with whatever tire is going to get you just over the OE spec contact Patch)

Hope that helps
Luke

 

I run 235/275 RAs w/ 17" Volk CE28s and the setup is perfect for the track (though I'd really prefer a 255/315 setup ). The only thing absurd about running 235/275 is the increased grip. It's not so ideal for the street due to the higher gearing of the 275/40 tires, but on just about any track, the extra width will give you more than enough speed through the turns to offset the taller gearing. (a 4.44 gear swap will solve that problem)

Here's a pic of 275 MXs vs. Stock S02s to give you an idea of the massive size difference:


With the Volks, you will have to roll your fenders to get 'em to fit.

 

I appreciate all the info. Very helpful. One question, however. I'm looking at ~$1800+ for some Volk CE28N's. Jim of the TireRack mentioned Shuk WR-1's to somebody. They would be about $1100 for a set, and they don't seem to be overly heavy (19 - 20 lbs). What is the drawback with these, compared to the Volk (other than the weight)? Are they up to track use?

 

Well the 8lbs a corner will dramatically improve acceleration of the car. I would spend the money on the volks.

 

Stuart,

I know we've met a couple times at the track before but i don't remember how much track experience you have. If your looking for a good street and track tire/wheel combo then the 225 255 RA1 / Volk CE28N combo is a very good choice. If you want to push as hard as you can at the track and can live with the needed aggressive alignment and occasional rubbing then the 235 275 RA1 / CE28N combo is the way to go, without question. As Nobody says, the extra grip and corner speed will more than make up for the extra tire weight. One thing to consider is wether your suspension is upto the task of handling the extra lateral Gs you'll generate. Expect alot of body roll if your on stock springs / shocks along with the associated rear inside wheel lift. You'll also need dedicated track pads if your going to take advantage of the extra stopping power of the wider front tires. I'd recommend the Cobalt GTR/VR pads from the marketplace.

 

Thanks, Dave. That puts it in perspective. I've done about 8 track days so far. I reached the point where I realized I couldn't put my autocross tires (Victoracers)on the track without destroying them for autocross. (One track day recently heat cycled a new set to hardness.) Since I'm trying to be competitive at autocross, I decided to get a third set of wheels with some dedicated track tires, which hopefully won't harden so quickly. Which brought me to this forum.

I do have the stock suspension, except for a Saner bar in front. I've had the alignment tweaked to the recommended autocross settings. I am running Cobalt GT Sport pads, which I leave on all the time. Also, I put in a Kirkey racing seat, but primarily to give my long body more room in the car. That seat keeps me out of B-stock, so I'm not too concerned with staying "pure."

I could see slowly modifying the car more and more, but right now, I'm not at that point. It sounds like the 225/255 tires are the way to go on my new CE28N's (which I ordered today ). I can always try the larger ones later, along with the stiffer springs, race pads, roll bar, competition harness, et al.

Thanks, all. So now I need to find Jim for the tires.

 

Investigated RA1's today. There is indeed a 255/40R17. But I see no 225 width. Have to go with either the 235/45R17 or the 205/40R17. Per the Roger Kraus site, the 235 will go on a 7.5 - 9.0" rim, but it's at the bottom end of the range. The 205 will go on 7.0 - 8.0" rim, so the 7.5 is right in the middle.

However, the 255 has a diameter of 25.0". The 205 is 23.0", and the 235 is 25.2". I don't think it would be wise to put tires on the front that are 2" smaller in diameter than the rears. Wouldn't that upset the balance, increase oversteer? (Any comment?)

For reference, the OEM tires are both ~ 25" in diameter.

So I'm thinking I need to go with:
235/45R17 front;
255/40R17 rear.

Has anyone else tried this combo?