Wheels for stock-class auto-x...?

[Skimmer]

I'm planning to run my Fit Sport in my local region's H Stock autocross class. I have some experience in autocross and want to be competitive. So I plan to run R-compound tires, so I need a spare set of wheels to mount them on.

My question is, has anybody yet found a reasonably priced lightweight wheel that will satisfy the stock-class rules AND work on the Fit?

I've been searching around quite a bit and the options are limited due to the deep offset on the stock rims. The rules say the wheels must be the same dimensions as stock with no more than 1/4" of additional offset compared to stock (or no more than about +49mm total offset, since the stock offset is +55).

And I'm on a budget.

So basically I'm looking for a wheel that meets the following criteria:
-- 15x6
-- 4x100
-- light weight (i.e. less than the ~15# Fit Sport alloys)
-- Offset 49-55mm
-- Less than $150 per wheel (OEM alloys by any manufacturer are OK by me).

Help...?!

[MINI-Fit]

Originally Posted by Skimmer

I'm planning to run my Fit Sport in my local region's H Stock autocross class. I have some experience in autocross and want to be competitive. So I plan to run R-compound tires, so I need a spare set of wheels to mount them on.

My question is, has anybody yet found a reasonably priced lightweight wheel that will satisfy the stock-class rules AND work on the Fit?

I've been searching around quite a bit and the options are limited due to the deep offset on the stock rims. The rules say the wheels must be the same dimensions as stock with no more than 1/4" of additional offset compared to stock (or no more than about +49mm total offset, since the stock offset is +55).

And I'm on a budget.

So basically I'm looking for a wheel that meets the following criteria:
-- 15x6
-- 4x100
-- light weight (i.e. less than the ~15# Fit Sport alloys)
-- Offset 49-55mm
-- Less than $150 per wheel (OEM alloys by any manufacturer are OK by me).

Help...?!

The easiest thing to do is run the stock Fit Sport rims and put R compound tires on them- either Kumho V710 or Hoosier A6

Rota wheels only go down to 15x6.5 as do many popular rims.

Tirerack.com has same limitation except for a few Sport Edition wheels
In 15x6 4x100
Sport Edition D4 Silver painted (closeout pricing)
$84 with +47mm offset 14.8 lbs
$59 with +50mm offset 14 lbs


Sport Edition E3 Bright Satin Silver Paint $84
+45 mm offset 15.6 lbs


Sport Edition E3 Machined with Anthracite accents $84
+45 mm offset 15.2 lbs


By comparison stock 15x6 rims are about 17.5 lbs each

[MINI-Fit]

Sport Edition D4 Silver painted no longer available at tirerack.com
$59 with +50mm offset 14 lbs

It's possible you could find it from another source-

Sport Edition - D4 15 x 6 4x100 50mm (Silver)
Canadian $ 119.95 for each wheel= $121.59 US ! Yikes
C$ 26.00 for each wheel shipping to US
C$ 583.80 for set of four rims shipped to US
Sport Edition D4 Wheels | TireTrends : Save on Sport Edition D4 wheels!

[Popeye]

What about Enkei ?

Enkei Racing Series JS-M Bright Silver Paint

[Skimmer]

Nope. Too wide (6.5") and the offset isn't within specs. The rules require stock width of 6" and no more than about 6mm of additional offset, which means about 49mm. These wheels are 43mm.

[MINI-Fit]

I tried out the Sport Edition D4 in 15x6 with +50 offset.

Seems like it's more than 14 lbs each. More like 16 or very close to stock weight. Kumho V710 205/50-15 tire and rim was 34.4 lbs and tire is supposed to be about 18 lbs.

I ran stock rim with stock Passenger All Season tire then with 15x7 Kosei rim with 195/50-15 Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R tires. The All Season tires were about 32.2 seconds per run, RE-01Rs were 30.7 (1.5 sec difference).

Next day on another/longer course, best run with RE-01R was 35.99 and best on V710s was 35.81 for less than 0.2 difference.

This leads me to think that autocross or track with RE-01R on stock wheels is good enough using 195/50-15. R compounds will cost more and not really deliver that much more performance given the stock power and suspension.

I was running -0.8 camber in front with help of crash bolts x 2 each side and -1.6 degrees in the rear, 1/8" toe out in front which is the limit of stock settings with 1/8" toe in for the rear.

Handling was fine, power was lacking due to automatic transmission and gears that seemed too low (first) or too tall (2nd) with not enough torque down low.

[Skimmer]

Yeah, that's one option I've thought about, too: run "street" autocross tires all the time -- in daily use and on the track. It won't work in some climates, but it might be the most affordable option for some people in the long run. You do give up a little bit, as you noted, compared to an R-comp tire, and in a competitive region that could make the difference.

It's worth noting you could probably get a 205 tire on the stock rims, which would be a further advantage.

I decided to go with the Saturn 'sawtooth' 15x6 wheel and Kumho V710 R-comp tires in 205/50/15. I got the sawtooths for $100 at the junkyard, they are about 2lb. lighter than the stock Fit Sport wheels and have a 5mm better offset. I got the Kumho's barely used for $200 from another autocrosser off his Miata, and he got them mounted for me for free. So the whole setup cost me $300. Scrounge around and you can probably do the same.

[mahout]

[quote=Skimmer;183228]I'm planning to run my Fit Sport in my local region's H Stock autocross class. I have some experience in autocross and want to be competitive. So I plan to run R-compound tires, so I need a spare set of wheels to mount them on.

My question is, has anybody yet found a reasonably priced lightweight wheel that will satisfy the stock-class rules AND work on the Fit?


I've been searching around quite a bit and the options are limited due to the deep offset on the stock rims. The rules say the wheels must be the same dimensions as stock with no more than 1/4" of additional offset compared to stock (or no more than about +49mm total offset, since the stock offset is +55).

And I'm on a budget.


My recommendation is
1. use 1/4" spacers; they are really 6 mm so you're fine.Make sure you still have 1/2" thread length useable on the lugnuts tho. You don't need new wheels if you have to keep same wheel width as stock but are allowed 1/4" offset improvement.
2. Check Grassroots Motorsports mag for wheels; their TireRack wheel ads include wheel weights
3. Use 205/50x15 Hoosier, Falken, or Kumho comp type tires.
4. Disengage front antisway bar to reduce understeer. If you need to practice Fit rotation in corners find a vacant lot. Rotation is the key to fast times.
Thats a cheap budget.
And you should reserve R tires for the A/X's. Get an inexpensive set of aftermarket wheels/tires 15, 16, or 17's from DiscountTireDirect, TireRack, or EdgeRacing, among others, who mount, balance, and ship for free, for the street. About $500-600 will do it nicely. Count on 42 mm offset minimum and 205 section tires.
Good luck.

[eddy123]

Thanks for the information. I have noticed the engine braking that you had mentioned.