***SOLD***

Circle Racing Wheels

(IMG:http://home.houston.rr.com/emsquared/For_Sale/_MG_2918-01.jpg)

***More pictures here***

This is a set of four road-race-worthy aluminum rims designed to be strong and very light. They are cadmium plated, which was an expensive option. They also have extra-cost steel lug nut inserts for durability over the course of many tire changes. The rims were purchased to fit a 3rd-generation Camaro or Firebird (1982-1992), and they fit perfectly within stock, unmodified fenders. Nominal size is 16"x9.5", with front rims having 5.125" backspacing and rear rims having 5.75" backspacing. I believe they weigh about 17-18lbs - they are very light and true. The build date on them is 7/26/1999. They fit Kumho 265/45/16 tires beautifully, and Kumho makes both V700 and V710 tires in that size.

These wheels have been used strictly for autocrossing for about two seasons - they have not been used for street driving. They are in very good condition, with just a few minor blemishes on the surface and no damage to any beads or other critical areas. These are not pimpy show-car rims - they are serious equipment oriented toward racing (although they are DOT labeled and there is no reason you can't run them on the street). They are currently shod with old Kumho V700 Victoracers, which have some visible tread left but are well past their prime grip. These tires are no longer fast, but they would be good practice tires. I can leave these on or dismount and discard them at the buyer's discretion. I'm moving and need to clear these out of the garage. I am in the Houston area. Asking $450 obo.

Edited to add the cad plating.

This post has been edited by Msquared: May 31 2006, 12:43 AM

Hmmmm.... tempting, way too tempting. So tempting I'll ask for a shipping quote heading to 07011 without the tires.

:Highjack mode on:
I just finished my first autocross on R-compounds (710's) and had a blast. The tires are about halfway used I guess and don't really fit all that well on factory 16 x 8 rims, they're 265/45/16. Just like you recomend (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif)

Here is the weird part, I had my best runs with 45+/34+ psi. Another board member suggested something around 30/35 psi while an instructor (WRX) said I should leave them high. I went with the lower pressure and the car was ALL over the place. Now that I think about it, since the rims are so narrow, it would take more pressure for the tires to work well. At least in my warped mind. I'll have to check the wear tomorrow.

You have an email

Looks like UPS Ground will be $59 to that zip code for all four rims without tires.


I normally race FS with 16x8 rims and those same-sized Kumhos. They aren't ideal for that rim size, no, but they do work pretty well. In the V700, Kumho had specifically made the 265/45/16 to work on an 8" rim for A Sedan road racing. I'm not positive, but I think the V710 may also be designed for that. In any case, going to a 9.5" rim for that same tire will improve grip and response. It should also reduce heat and wear, since the tire will go through less flex as it rolls. I would expect it would be a little less critical of inflation temps, and would be easier to keep equal readings across the contact patch. My own experience with the 8" rims and V710s is that lower pressures worked well, although I'm sure the tire is more "spongy" and has more flexibility and springiness in the sidewalls that way. I found that at 29/26, I got the correct amount of rollover, and the car goes fast. And I have now fully worn out one set and they wore quite evenly.

if these other guys don't work out, i will buy them

Rims are sold! The new Circle website for aluminum rims is www.spinwerkes.com



Was that 29/26 with the 8" or 9.5" rims? I probably felt the tires moving around on the rim and thought it was tires getting greasy. I was definately slower with less pressure, because I slowed down thinking the car was sliding. It was my first time on R compounds and didn't know what to expect... I brain farted and didn't check the tire pressure thread in advance. But now that I read it I'm not sure that it would have helped me all that much.

This post has been edited by slowTA: May 31 2006, 12:03 AM

Ha! You beat me to the punch, Chris. Happy rolling (I can't say "Happy rimming," after all...).


That was on the 8" rims. I've not run V710s on these 9.5" rims, so I can't say for sure. I think you could get proper rollover with a wider range of pressures, and ideally then you could use a temp gauge after a skidpad run to get the perfect temp. The 710s are not sharp edged like Hoosiers, many street performance tires, or even the V700s. They seem to work at higher slip angles than many others, and have a wider range of slip angles where they supply max or near-max grip levels. I can certainly see how they would feel greasy to someone not expecting that feel. But I think you'll find that they stick very, very tenaciously; and that because of the wider slip angle range they are more forgiving of input errors. This will change a little with the wider rims, of course. I'll be curious to see what you think of that combo.

This was also my first autocross in about 9 months so I definately have to get used to the car again, not to mention new(er) tires too. I might leave these tires on the 8" rims to get more experience, then swap to the new rims just to see what the difference is.