Does your car have wheels? Likely yes.
And are those wheels suitable for motorsports? Are they up for hopping curbs, clearing big brakes and aiding fast pit stops?
So what exactly makes a wheel track ready? Follow along for some features to consider when shopping.
Unique Features
Shown here: BimmerWorld’s forged TE:AL TA16 features lots of brake clearance, knurled beads and pocketed center pad. Various BMW fitments. $539.99+
1. Deep, knurled, beefy beads to prevent tire slippage, a likely outcome when mixing sticky tires, aggressive pad compounds and extra downforce. Some motorsports wheel builders leave these knurled beads unpainted, too, to further increase grip.
2. Room for today’s big, big-brake kits is a must, meaning generous spoke clearance as well as a wheel barrel devoid of the dips and contours often found on street wheels. Building a wheel without a drop well or tapered barrel that’s still strong enough for motorsports use often requires starting with a thicker, heavier forged blank–and this adds to the cost.
3. Strong lips that can handle those curbs at Daytona’s chicane.
4. A modern technique to save weight while adding strength? Milled or I-beam spokes. Again, though, this adds cost.
5. A pocketed center pad–again, an extra machining process–can shed ounces.
6. Roomy lug sockets that will easily, quickly accept an impact socket while not requiring those small, tuner-style lug nuts.
7. Concave construction: Spokes that stick out can quickly become a liability during side-to-side racing.
8. Hub-centric fitment: Odds are you’re not going to find centering rings in the pro paddock.
9. Does cleanliness matter? Yes. How easy is it to clean and inspect the spokes between events?
10. While cooling fans, sadly, have fallen out of favor, an efficient motorsports wheel won’t block airflow. Gotta keep those brakes cool and happy.
11. An ideal balance of strength versus weight, likely meaning forged or flow-form construction. In addition to simply comparing weights, check out the load ratings, too.
BONUS: Thanks to modern machining techniques, we’re seeing more wheels built for specific, motorsports-friendly applications–like 15×9-inch wheels for the early Miata or 11-inch-wide wheels for the rear of an E46-chassis M3. Custom fitments? Could also be on the table.
How Much vs. How Strong
Not all aluminum wheels are created equal. As usual, there’s a relationship between price and performance.
