should I get for autocrossing? I have 16x8 with 235's on there now for street use but I want to get some 17x? or possibly 18 in. rims if I can afford it. Since I will only be using them for autocrossing I don't really care what they look like, so... what would everybody recommend for cheap good rims, and very nice autocross tires?

 

You can do what I did. I bought (from two different places) some ZR-1 replica wheels, 17x11 and put some 315 Hoosier tires on.
See thread


BUT...

Do you have a particular class you want to run? Will you be autocrossing with the SCCA or some other club or group?

 

I autocross with the scca washington dc region. Currently I run stock but I want to move up to ESP sometime next year and I am trying to get the whole picture figured out, ie what to do, what to do first, etc.

 

Did you look at what I did? Mine went from stock to what you see now all at once and it's ESP legal. I haven't touched the engine yet and since I'm down 50-60hp to a stock LS1 and who knows (Sam?) how much power to a fully prepared ESP car. So I have a lot of hp to make up and there isn't THAT much you can do to get it.

Actually, mine went from stock to Eibach Sportlines with 1LE deCarbons and 32.5 and 21.5 sway bars first. Then, it all got ripped out and totally re-done plus some. But other than wheels and tires, mine is just suspension right now. And it's still quick (oh, it's an A4), ran 9th fastest time out of 210 drivers the first time out in it! My car out drove me though, I PAX'd 13th

 

Would I regret it if I went with a real cheap set of 18x9's? Or would I be better off with 17s? Also, do I want to get the widest possible tire that will fit my rim, or is there some intricacy to this subject? Mine is an M6 by the way.

Sorry to hear about the tranny man, sucks

 

Thanks, it DOES suck!!
If you want the maximum, 11" wheel is going to just about be it. I would use a 17" because, all things equal, the smaller wheel should be lighter, plus, it's a whole lot cheaper. Plus, for an 18" rim, Hoosier is the only one I know of that makes a "race" DOT tire. The V700 Kumho is only 17" or smaller. The Hoosier would come in a 305/30 at $283 or a 335/30 at $310. Doesn't sound worth it to me.

 

Also, before choosing a wheel size, you might want to check what sizes are available from various tire manufacturers before you make a purchase decision...

 

V700 Victoracers or Ecstas? And how much do you think I get a set of those (315) plus 17" rims for?

 

I can tell you tire prices just because I go to TireRack and price them. The V700's heat cycled, 315/35-17 is $186 per tire. Much cheaper than my Hoosiers at $268 each.

As far as wheels, just depends. You've got a lot of choices and a big spread in money. MY wheels were bought off eBay and another web site I'll have to look up, but the rears were $370 plus $40 shipping from AFS and the rears were $510. So about $920 or so.

 

I have read mixed reviews on the Kumhos but have heard nothing but good things about the Yokohama ES-100's. What do y'all think?

 

The v700's are sticky autocross tires, not really street tires (even though they're DOT approved)