17" wheels..., any reasons not to? Options

[campbellcj]

Much better selection in high-quality (aftermarket) wheels, and 15-16" race rubber will probably not get any more common in the next couple years either.

I know I've seen race 914s with 17's but most were flared cars running large Kinesis, BBS or Fikse wheels with Hoosiers or slicks.

My car is unflared and so I would be looking at 17x7's with 205/40 Hoosiers. This would give me a 1.6% (just about 10mm) taller tire than the 205/50R15's I'm running now. I am thinking that would be a good thing, i.e. I could keep the slightly shorter tires for short-track or autox use and the taller ones for big road courses.

I still might end up with 16x7 fuchs due to cost, but the 17" concept is intriguing and there sure are some nice wheels in the 17-18" sizes these days.

I don't think the extra weight would be highly significant, because some of the modern forged race wheels are very light and strong. And Hoosiers are very light too.

Any thoughts/ideas?

[J P Stein]

Sure, some nice 17 forged wheels.
Have you priced them?.....it'll stop your heart.

Hoosier still makes race tires in 13 inch size.
CART runs 15 inchers (IIRC).

There's lots of go fast stuff I NEED before looking at big wheels.....trick shox, trans, more tricker suspension....yada,yada.