i dont get why all these hard core time attack, road racers and touge S2000 are running super wide 18" wheels when all they care about is performance. Then i read on these forums everyone laughing at 18" wheels for track use and even favor 16" or as small as possible to fit over their brakes. Are amateurs on this forum that much smarter than the pros?

Apparently they think the smaller side wall and wider tires on the 18" are more of a performance advantage than the rotational mass debate. Are they wrong?

 

Mostly internet racers lauch at 18" wheels since they dont know much. You want as much grip as possible and to do that you must get wiiide tires. Larger diameter wheels allow larger tires. Only on smaller cars do small wheels benefit the most like the Miata, civic hatch, mini cooper, and sometimes the Elise. But I have seen the Elise run 17" on the track by high end tuners too.