1. What is the widest 13" wheel that anyone has used successfully
As others have said, it depends. If you autocross in D Mod or FSP, then you
can use an 8 or 9" wheel. If you autocross in D Prepared, you can't go wider
than 6 inches. If you road race with IVR, you can use any wheel you want, we
don't have any prep rules, other than for safety stuff. In theory, if you cut
up the body and modify the suspension to suit, you can run any size wheel you
want. Even some mongo monster trucksetup. I'll limit this to more practical
applications.
The max wheel size and offsets depend on the tire size and whether or not you
flare the fenders. On a unflared roundtail, an 8" wheel with 225/45 Hoosiers
just sort of rubs on high G loads. 20 x 8 x 13 slicks fit fine. 185/60 tires
on a 6 inch rim also fit fine. If you retain the standard roundtail rear
suspension bits, you need a backspace of about 3.25 to 3.5 inches. If you
have fitted the longer 1500 axles, then you can go up to 4" backspace. Both
the 6 and 8 inch Keizers I run on Killer have 4" backspace.
2. What sources of wheels are available at reasonable prices?
It depends on your definition of "reasonable" Lightweight, racing specific
wheels are likely going to run in the area of $175 to $225 each, depending
on source and weight. A Keizer 13 x 8 aluminum rim, weighing 8 pounds, would
cost about $190, or $760 a set of four. A 13 x 8 Keizer magnesium center
wheel, a couple ounces lighter, would run about $280 each, or $1,120 a set.
You can get steel wheels in the same size, which weigh considerably more, for
maybe half that much, or less. As a matter of fact, a recently added FOT
member may still have a set of steel 13 x 7 wheels I sold a while back, that
cost me something like $50 or $60 each, but the bare wheel tipped the scales
a pound more than a Keizer complete with a Hoosier Autocrosser mounted.
3. Is Mark in the business of actually "Selling" stuff?
Yes. The Fat Chance Garage is a real, live new and used parts dealer.
4. If the answer to 3 is yes, then how does he stay in business if he
ignores his potential customers?
The parts business is not my main job. I have other areas where I spend more
of my energies. I'll just leave it at that for the moment.
mjb.
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