Do I go with 18" or 19" Challenge wheels on my 360 Spider

I'm planning to replace my stock 360 rims with Challenge rims.

Asking for recommendations on using 360 18" rims vs 19" rims.

From shopping, there are 18" available for about $3k and 19" for about $4k.

Car is a daily driver when I'm north, with some "spirited driving" and perhaps the occasional rookie track day. So I'm not looking for performance as opposed to looks.

If I go 19", obviously I can go lower profile - 35 or 30 vs stock 45 and 40 on 18".

But what other considerations?

 

Challenge Stradale Rims are 19's. Go with what works.

 

For looks, I would go with 19s. I cannot comment on what's best for the track.

 

19 100%

 

Yes 19"

 

Get 19"s - dont do what I did (get 18s and wish you'd gone that extra inch).

 

That thought had been rolling about in my head.

Quite a disparity in pricing for that "extra inch". Maybe partly due to they being newer as well.

 

Don't they use 18" on the Challenge cars ?

 

But go for 19's - always get more for them when/if you need to resell.

 

I have the 19s and the ride quality is what you would expect. The look is just right and helps fill the wheel well.

 

I put 19's on my 360!

 

would you have any clearance issue with 19"?

 

I do not track my car. 19" looks better. 18" gives more tire to protect the wheel and has a more comfy ride. I would get the 18" and save $1k.

 

Thanks Phil.

I was reading on "the other blog" that the 18" actually made for track only of a softer alloy and tend to not like pot holed roads which is about all that is left in North America after TARP funding.

Do you have 18"?

 

I'd recommend 18" for road use anyway. More tyre profile, easier, more comfortable ride.

19" will look great but ride quality somewhat compromised.

Also, the OEM brakes can look a little puny inside the 19" rims, so you might find yourself feeling the need to blow another few thousand to complete the look.

Both will look great on the car but.

 

I added the 19's this summer and the ride quality is improved over the 18" BBS Mag racing wheels that were on the car. I can't find the exact sizes I ordered but ....Ok, i'll just go out and look at the car. 235/35-19 and 285/35-19 and the ride actually improved. There is still a 4 mph error on the speedo so I will use 295/35 or 40 next rear pair. The 19's look great on the car. FWIW


Jeff Pintler
89 348tb, 86tr, 99 360 3-pedal

 

With equal tires ride quality should be worse with 19s but not horrible. I'm assuming you're upgrading primarily for looks so I'd vote (with your $$, the American way lol) for the 19s. BTW my 360 Challenge runs on 18s

 

I agree - the 18" CH wheels also offer a good weight saving.

 

The bigger you go the rougher the ride.
I stuck with 18" challenge. Nice.
If i was more keen on the track, maybe id have gone 19".
But hey the 360 race car has 18's.

 

What about the story that the 18" 360 challenge rims are soft and will go out of true more easily with potholes and poor roads?

 

i would keep the stock rims, and upgrade to 19". don't chuck the stock rims unless you plan to keep the car forever......

 

They are not "soft", they have less material & are "weaker".