wider wheels ?

[drum3]

What is the widest wheels anyone is running and where can you get replacements ? I found plenty of links to the roadrace wheels but nothing for solo.

[DanRemmers]

The "standard" size wheel for solo vees are 13x8 front and 13x10 rear. That's with 20x7.5 front and 20x9 rear Hoosiers, R25B compound. Those tires will also fit on 13x7 and 13x9 wheels, but check the Hoosier website--it gives the wheel width range for all the tires. With the new engine rules, I haven't heard if anyone has tried wider rear tires.

Here are some links from an older post:

Keizser Wheels: http://www.keizerwheels.com/, 712-737-3053
Real Racing Wheels: http://www.realwheel.net/, 1-800-722-3847
Diamond Wheels: http://www.diamondracingwheels.com/, 800-937-4407

The Keizer wheels are expensive but very light. Real wheels are a good compromise, and Diamond makes steel wheels (cheap).

[77fmod]

Don't forget about Bogart Wheels.... I am running the 1915 and have had no reason to go to bigger rears..

Johnny B.

[Lynn]

Some of our F500 brethren feel we could be faster narrower tires and wheels because we could get more heat into them quicker. I've thought about trying that.

[RFickes]

Right now I about 2 months away from "completion" of my solo vee project. I plan on running 13 x 8 front and 13 x 10 rear and need to order wheels.
What back spacing is everybody using?

[DanRemmers]

The backspacing depends on your brakes and suspension. It's probably best to borrow some wheels and test fit. Where are you located?

[Lynn]

The backspacing on the wheels I use are 5" front and 7" rear. As Dan says, it depends on your brakes and suspension. When I converted to disc brakes, I had a lot of problems on getting the rear brakes to fit under the wheels and a smaller problem with the fronts. I spent thousands. I probably should have just bought wheels with less backspacing. Wheels with large backspacing may cause interference with the rear trailing arms.

[RFickes]

The car is a Caldwell D-13. I am using the link pin suspension and drum brakes. The tire combination I am going to use to start of with is 22 x9 x 13 front and 22 x 10 x13 rear but after a few runs I will reevaluate this set up along with the gearing.
Thanks for any help, Rich

[Lynn]

Rich, it might be helpful to calculate your speed in each gear. Remember, we launch in second and make most of the run in third. Third should be good for 65 to 70 mph.

[RFickes]

I have done some initial calculations using stock and optional gear sets. I also looked at what sets other people have run specifically the Bakker SV that was for sale. But they were running a 1600 engine and I am planning on a 1915 with a 44 IDF Weber. So I am uncertain at this time what ratio to run not knowing the power band of this set up.( the cam is another varialble) I will be installing a super diff, which Chirco was kind enough to swap for the ball joint suspension I had ordered from then that did not fit or work on my car.
I would like to order my wheel from Real Wheel. Will I be safe with a 4" back spacing?
Thanks, Rich

[Lynn]

A 4" backspacing should be good.

[drum3]

So our wheels are a standard wide 5 ? Hmmm , used to run those on some late model dirt cars .

[Lynn]

No, they're not the same. The 1937 Ford wide 5 used in circle track is 10.25 inches = 260.35 millimeters. The VW wide 5 is 205mm. As a rule of thumb, if you can stick your head through the wheel it is a Ford wide 5. If your head gets stuck in the wheel, it's a VW.

[77fmod]

If I were you I would get the most backspace that I could as it keeps the total track dimension narrower and that is one of the 500's strong points. They are about 7"-8" narrower than us and it really is a major advantage in the slaloms..

JB

[RFickes]

I agree with as narrow as possible. So I guess that I will have to wait until the build is further along and get accurate measurements. I was just hoping that someone had a car like mine, so I could order the wheels awhile. Hopefully, I will be able to post some pics as the build actually gets started and out of the machine shop.
Thanks again, Rich