Front Skinnies

[AWDGT2]

I did a search but came up with no threads that discuss front skinnies. I'm talking 4" 5" rims for us RWD guys. I know I've seen folks use them but now..... I'd like to know what combo worked. 17x4.5" , 18x5" , offset, ect????

 

[Thomby]

for us RWD guys

I have nothing helpful to add but pls explain

 

[Snicklefritz]

He wants to look under-wheeled like a south of the border cruiser. I see them every so often, a big-assed boat of a car on absolutely skinny, undersized wheels. It looks stupid, if actual utility in your vehicle matters to you. If you just want to slip along at under 40 MPH and tinker around corners, and wear out your tires in a couple thousand miles, go for it.

I have nothing helpful to add but pls explain

 

[socalvn]

He wants to look under-wheeled like a south of the border cruiser. I see them every so often, a big-assed boat of a car on absolutely skinny, undersized wheels. It looks stupid, if actual utility in your vehicle matters to you. If you just want to slip along at under 40 MPH and tinker around corners, and wear out your tires in a couple thousand miles, go for it.

The Gasers from the '50s and 60s used to do this pizza Cutters on the front if you want to drag straight down the strip that's okay, don't turn any corners

 

[NS_Stinger]

He wants to look under-wheeled like a south of the border cruiser. I see them every so often, a big-assed boat of a car on absolutely skinny, undersized wheels. It looks stupid, if actual utility in your vehicle matters to you. If you just want to slip along at under 40 MPH and tinker around corners, and wear out your tires in a couple thousand miles, go for it.

I dont think that's what he wants at all, I think he wants to run skinny tires up front to help improve drag times, but maybe I'm wrong...

 

[Thomby]

Yeah I figured it was more for a drag setup, but was confused by the "us RWD guys" part since I thought he was...an AWDGT2.

 

[Volfy]

Biggest problem would be finding skinny tires that are load rated for the Stinger. Easiest way is probably to get a couple of spares off ebay. IIRC, they are alloy 18x4 wheels and 135/80R18. You might save some 10-15 lbs per side, vs. a good lightweight 18x8. Not insignificant, but not sure it's worth the trouble.

With the Brembos, I doubt you'd find any 17" rims that would clear the front Brembos. Rears, maybe, but not the front.

 

[AWDGT2]

I have two stingers. 3.3 AWD and a 2.5 RWD Thank you for the dissertation Snicker but this is for front, and track use only. Because I have two stingers I do have two skinny spares but the MPH rating on them scares me.. 50mph.

 

[Volfy]

The 50mph rating has more to do with the heat capacity of the donut tires at sustained high speeds. That is the case for ALL tires. High speed runs cause the tire to flex, which produces a tremendous amount of heat. Assuming these are strictly for the dragstrip, A 10-12 sec run isn't going to get those spares tires hot enough to be of any consequence. But... not sure if the track requires any tech inspections. I'm not into 1/4 mile, so I dunno if you might get flagged for that.

Realistically, it might be better for you to get a set of Enkei RPF1's. RPF1 | Enkei Wheels My 18x8.5's weighs in at 18.4 lbs. 18x7.5 is 16.9 lbs. Hard to beat that for the price. Combine with some lightweight tires, maybe 215/45R18, or even 205/40R18, you can get close to 35 lbs per corner.

 

[AWDGT2]

Thanks, I do have RPF1s in a square setup now. As we speak the car is getting dynod Map 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, then Map6, then Meth Map6 all running E-30. To get the 2.5 in the 11.9' 1/4 mile range I have to lose a bit of weight. Lighter rims in the front is one of the easiest things. Non Brembo because it's a GT line, I was hoping someone with a RWD, even the 3.3 has tried skinnies and knew what offset worked.

 

[Volfy]

K. Now I remember your Fuel-It sensor kit install thread on the 2.5T.

On a non-Brembo front, 17x7 would be even lighter, right at 15 lbs. At that width, even ET45 should bolt right on with no clearance issues. Not sure if anybody makes a flow-formed 17x6.5 or narrower.

 

[Volfy]

Also, some of the 205/40R17 are 18 lbs, so you'd be down to 33 lbs per corner. Not only that, the smaller diameter front tires would drop the front ride height and give the car a forward rake angle. I don't play in that sandbox, but I see a lot of 1/4mile guys set up their cars/bikes that way.

 

[NS_Stinger]

I can't see most dragstrips allowing you to do a run with any spare tires on the car. Kind of a liability.