15" to 13" rims or just a new setup?
Discussion
Hi
I've just bought an R400D that I'm going to run until later this year or next spring when I've got a build slot booked for an R500. I want to balance the fact that I want the car to be representative of a well-set-up track-biased Seven (before deciding to spank a lot of money of a new R500), whilst bearing in mind that I won't be keeping the car that long.
The car's currently got 15" rims with nearly new CR500 tyres, and I was going to change to 13" rims and CR500s as everyone seems to say this makes a *massive* difference to handling.
-First option is swap to a new set of 13"/CR500s, and sell my current wheels.
-Second option is to get a 2nd set of 13" rims/tyres with a similar rolling circumference to the 15"s and put some alternative track-focused rubber on.
Costs for both options will work out around £700 (assuming I sell on my current wheels), but obviously the 2nd option I'll have an additional set of wheels/rubber to sell-on or use on my next car, albeit with heavier 15" wheels still for road-use.
Car's booked in for a 2yr service with Caterham Midlands tomorrow. Another question is if I leave it on 15"s is it worth getting a flat-floor set-up (hasn't been set-up since new 2yrs ago), with more track-bias geo?
Cheers
Rich
I've just bought an R400D that I'm going to run until later this year or next spring when I've got a build slot booked for an R500. I want to balance the fact that I want the car to be representative of a well-set-up track-biased Seven (before deciding to spank a lot of money of a new R500), whilst bearing in mind that I won't be keeping the car that long.
The car's currently got 15" rims with nearly new CR500 tyres, and I was going to change to 13" rims and CR500s as everyone seems to say this makes a *massive* difference to handling.
-First option is swap to a new set of 13"/CR500s, and sell my current wheels.
-Second option is to get a 2nd set of 13" rims/tyres with a similar rolling circumference to the 15"s and put some alternative track-focused rubber on.
Costs for both options will work out around £700 (assuming I sell on my current wheels), but obviously the 2nd option I'll have an additional set of wheels/rubber to sell-on or use on my next car, albeit with heavier 15" wheels still for road-use.
Car's booked in for a 2yr service with Caterham Midlands tomorrow. Another question is if I leave it on 15"s is it worth getting a flat-floor set-up (hasn't been set-up since new 2yrs ago), with more track-bias geo?
Cheers
Rich
Edited by Walton on Monday 3rd May 11:42
Rich, I would recommended a second set of wheels. I've just bought a set of Compomotive CXRs for my R500 to use on the track, and some part-worn slicks to go on them.
Looking at my track usage tyres work out as the second biggest cost after fuel, and they are not massively far off fuel either. So whereas a full set of CR500s costs ~£500 from Caterham (a bit less elsewhere) you can get a set of worn slicks for £50. The cost element was the main thing for me, but they give you a bit more grip when up to temperature and have the bonus of Michelin/Dunlop/whateve written in colour on the sidewall, which I think looks cool.
Obviously you can part-ex the R400 with the old 15" wheels and use your new wheels for the R500 when it arrives.
Looking at my track usage tyres work out as the second biggest cost after fuel, and they are not massively far off fuel either. So whereas a full set of CR500s costs ~£500 from Caterham (a bit less elsewhere) you can get a set of worn slicks for £50. The cost element was the main thing for me, but they give you a bit more grip when up to temperature and have the bonus of Michelin/Dunlop/whateve written in colour on the sidewall, which I think looks cool.
Obviously you can part-ex the R400 with the old 15" wheels and use your new wheels for the R500 when it arrives.
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