182 track day wheel size - are 15s or 16s better?

[Stevetrackclio]

Does anyone have any experience of which is best on 182s, 15 or 16 inch wheels for track days? My 182 came with 16s road wheels , but a lot of track cars seem to use 15s? Anyone have any views on this?

 

[DaveDreads]

Much better choice of road legal semi slicks on 15s, plus lighter wheels and bigger side walls.

 

[Coops Mk1]

15's no contest really

 

[Stevetrackclio]

15's no contest reall

 

[Stevetrackclio]

15's no contest really

Why’s that mate?

 

[imprezaworks]

19's

 

[Coops Mk1]

Why’s that mate?

Cheaper tyres, prettier wheels and most importantly less unsprung weight in the car

 

[Sir_Dave]

Cheaper tyres, prettier wheels and most importantly less unsprung weight in the car

But most people fit 2118's, which weigh more than a small elephant 🤣
I had 16" Rota R Spec on my R53, 6.5kgs each vs 15" 2118's at 9kgs iirc.
Most people fit 15's as the tyres are cheaper imho.

 

[Coops Mk1]

But most people fit 2118's, which weigh more than a small elephant 🤣
I had 16" Rota R Spec on my R53, 6.5kgs each vs 15" 2118's at 9kgs iirc.
Most people fit 15's as the tyres are cheaper imho.

Only the scene idiots, clever people like me run superleggeras at 4.9kg a corner

 

[leeds2592]

Only the scene idiots, clever people like me run superleggeras at 4.9kg a corner

@Louis

 

[Bluebeard]

I use 15’s because track tyres are almost half the price of the same in 16’s.

 

[Louis]

@Louis

View attachment 1598750

Having a shite before the trackday removes more weight

 

[Mr Squashie]

Having a shite before the trackday removes more weight

I dunno man, I saved 4.7Kg per corner when I went from standard 16" 182 wheels to some 15" Ultraleggeras. That'd be a pretty big s**t, almost Bono levels of poop

 

[Louis]

I dunno man, I saved 4.7Kg per corner when I went from standard 16" 182 wheels to some 15" Ultraleggeras. That'd be a pretty big s**t, almost Bono levels of poop

I'm talking 2118s 😶

Tyres weigh a fair bit too from 15 to 16

 

[leeds2592]

I dunno man, I saved 4.7Kg per corner when I went from standard 16" 182 wheels to some 15" Ultraleggeras. That'd be a pretty big s**t, almost Bono levels of poop

@Louis can just dump it out of his pockets so he has more to deposit than the average person.

 

[Mr Squashie]

I'm talking 2118s 😶

Tyres weigh a fair bit too from 15 to 16

Oh god yeah, those 2118s are made of lead 😂

 

[Louis]

Oh god yeah, those 2118s are made of lead 😂

Made of dreams

 

[Coops Mk1]

Think they're about 8kg aren't they a corner, so 12kg saved overall with supers, that's one big poo

Constipated Man Has 12 Kilos of Feces Surgically Removed

The feces had been collecting there since.... wait for it.... birth.

www.vice.com

 

[Nojjer]

Weight between 16s and 15s is minimal, 16s will be heaver but the tyres on 15s will also be heaver due to the increased tyre wall. The circular circumstance between the two is also minimal again due to the increase tyre wall on the 15s.
15s tyres are much cheaper that's about it IMO.

 

[Coops Mk1]

Depends how clever you are, my old setup with 15" superleggeras and Dunlop slicks was 10.8kg per corner, most 16" wheels come in at nearly 9kg..... Just saying

 

[Ph1 Tom]

For out and out grip you can get wider tyres with the same rolling radius in 16"

 

[Simon1975]

For out and out grip you can get wider tyres with the same rolling radius

I thought width was same for both 15 and 16 195 or 205 whatever your preference. I find the car just feels better on 15s plus the seriously cheaper tyres over 16s. And personal for me I think 15s looks better. No technical answer from me which is best its a personal preference.
Pic of mine on coilovers and 15s. Think 16 would rub

 

[Ph1 Tom]

Width the right offset, and maybe a little bit of trimming. You could do 225/45/15 or 215/45/16.

Also with track tyres the tyre can be wider than the advertised profile and varies between manufacturers.

 

[Rickymiller]

I use 15's on my sprint car. IMO 15's have the following advantages:

Based on Team dynamics pro-race 1.2 fitted with Nankang AR-1 tyres

Weight (wheel only): 15x7= 6.2kg, 16x7 =7.4kg therefore lower unspring weight when using equivalent size tyres
Lower overall weight = easier for the engine to spin the wheel up, easier for the brakes to slow the wheel down
Cost: 4 x 15x7 wheels = £436.80, 4 x 16x7 wheels = £499.20 (PRS Racing)
Tyre cost: Nankang 195/50/15 = £105.00, Nankang 195/50/16 = £147.00 (Demon Tweeks)
Rolling radius: Nankang 195/50/15 circumference = 1812.7mm, Nankang 195/50/16 circumference = 1891.2mm
Smaller circumference = better acceleration but lower top speed
Nankang technical data confirms that the section width for 195/50/15 and 195/50/16 is identical (201mm), therefore depending on what tyre pressure is used, the contact patch of either size tyre will be equivalent, meaning no loss in grip using the smaller tyre.

One negative is, if you drive your car to whatever events you do, then the reduced gearing of the smaller wheel/tyre combination means your engine rpms will be higher at motorway speeds.

A loud stereo....................or earplugs, are recommended

 

[Krarl]

Happy medium

205/50/15 AR1 on a TD 1.2 with 20mm spacers. Slight bit of scrubbing but nothing horrendous

 

[MattJackson82]

My 182 is track only & I run 15’s, I buy second hand tyres that have hardly been used cheap as chips, been using full slicks this summer which came from a chap who runs in the mini challenge race series £120 for a set of 4 that have done 1 race, once you get them hot the grip is unbelievable.