Im thinking of getting a set of 18in Z06 rims. Just curious as to how much it would affect my 1/4 mile times. Anyone??

 

2 tenths is my guess
mostly off the launch
your not going to have ANY traction

 

I say get some cheap salad shooters and mount some DR's or slicks just for the track. Thats what i did and are gonna to do..

good luck

 

I ran a 14.3 when I had my 18x9.5 Thick spoke c5's 14.1 after I got my 10 spoke ss rims, like trey said, NO TRACTION. was lighting them up into 3rd

 

I agree with KillerJello.That is if the tire is taller if the tires are the same height then it depends on the traction of each tire.

 

sidewall flex is what you want because 18 inch wheels still have to have a 26" tire they are lower profile equaling less sidewall...no sidewall flew, no traction...almost like running a solid rubber tire...the taller the tire is off the rim the more flex and traction you will have...obviously an 18x11" wheels would get better traction that a 14x6" but a 15x10 would beat them both....with the same quality tire but thats why so many folks are switching to 15" wheels...jsut plain out better traction, if you dont believe my theory here jsut think...how many prostreet (not pro-touring theres a difference) 10 sec street cars have you seen with huge wheels?

 

exactly right....Heck I can notice a difference going from 16 in to my 17 in rims, But I bought myself a set of used nascar tires for like 20 bucks off ebay to put on some 15 inchers to go to the track for cheap.

 

when I sold my 16" wheels and bought my 17 x 9.5" GM ZR1's I went from consistent 13.9's to 14.1's.. sucked...

i've since bought 16" wheels for nitto's and 15" skinnies for the front... gonna be getting 15" prostars eventually as well

18" wheels will have no flex in the sidewall.. welcome to spinworld and a heavier wheel which = more rotational mass...

 

The bigger the rim the less sidewall flex. You would have to get like a 335 size tire to get those babies to hook. Why do you think real drag racers go with 15'' rims. Smaller rims = more flexible sidewall. Also, I dont think they make a drag radial for 18's.

 

This is exactly why I hate reading C&D.

"Upon acceleration, the 350Z's displays moderate wheelspin before the monstrous 18 inch rims bite.."

What's stupid is those 18" rims are hindering traction, not aiding it.

In regards to wheel size for Auto X, wider is definetly better. But is taller? I can't remember which magazine it was, but they ran a test with varying wheel sizes and handling on a first gen Camaro. They found that as wheel size increased, road holding got better but less consistant. There was far more variance with the low profile tires than in the tires with a taller sidewall.