17" wheels for rear?

[rookerrobert]

I'm trying to find some 17" wheels for rear I only run at the track maybe 3 or 4 times a yr. and I dont want to pay a big price just something for a 2 305/35/17 M/T radials any help would be appreciated. I have to race stars but there only 17"x7" and I dont think I could get a tire that would help much for that wheel

 

[Speedy!]

Did you check Billet Specialties?

 

[rookerrobert]

no but I will.....looks like I'm going to have to buy 2 race star's at least I know then they will fit correctly. there about the chipset I can find. I just dont want to spend a bunch of money for just 2 or 3 weekends a yr. but already have the m/t's and there 17" .

 

[rookerrobert]

I would just get 2 mustang wheels but cant find them in 17" and they fit with centric rings

 

[vortecd]

I would just get 2 mustang wheels but cant find them in 17" and they fit with centric rings

I would never run mustang wheels on my car. This topic has been brought up before. They are close but still not the same 115x5 114.3x5

Also most race wheels should be using centric rings. I have them on my forgestars.

Don't cheap out a couple hundred dollars on a 70k car

 

[vortecd]

I bought some racestars since they were the cheapest I could find. I hated the stupid lugnuts and kinda liked the looks. I ended up coming across some used forgestars ( Zs old wheels) and bought new rears to match. No stupid washers and they go on with ease. Not only do they look better but the front set up is 8 lbs lighter
Spend money on best looks to you or lightest not cheapest, you will be happier in the end

 

[rookerrobert]

yeah your correct....I'm going to get the race star's Thee 7x17 race stars I have and just sit...they fit my scat pack but wont on the hellcat. Thanks

 

[Speedy!]

I was in the same boat years ago and wanted cheap and actually did the Mustang thing for a while. Cobra wheels were 17x10 and they worked but looked like ass LOL. I ended up going all in and got a set of Weld S71 17x10s. Weren't many options back when I bought them and they were pricey but have served me well for over 10 years. When I got the Hellcat I had to get new front wheels since the Hellcat brakes were so big the Weld fronts wouldn't fit, sold those, and bought Racestars. They're light and work, but yes the lug nuts can be a pita. I found using a short socket made things a lot easier.

More options are out now though.

 

[rookerrobert]

yep you right the lugs do suck....and yeah I found about short socket also ans I always start mine by hand.I ended up learning the hard and used the power tool and had to replace 2 rear studs

 

[vortecd]

yep you right the lugs do suck....and yeah I found about short socket also ans I always start mine by hand.I ended up learning the hard and used the power tool and had to replace 2 rear studs

Other choices out there so you don't have to mess with them. I change mine enough going to the track I want it as easy as possible. Takes me 20 minutes to swap all 4 out. Would take way longer messing with the washers

 

[Slipaway16]

I have some JMS Avengers. 17x10. I mounted a set of MT 305/35r17's and ran the car at the track for 2 passes. I sold the car and tires, but I still have the wheels and lugnuts. They are chrome. I'd let them go for $300 for the 2 wheels and nuts. I'm in NC.

 

[rookerrobert]

thats good deal and I appreciate you letting me know. But I'm looking at VMS wheels there price isn't bad I may go that route.

 

[DavidKFla]

18" Bravados are a good buy from Summit Racing. I've run them for 3 years.

I run VMS on the front and they're a good wheel for the money.

 

[1971demon]

I bought some racestars since they were the cheapest I could find. I hated the stupid lugnuts and kinda liked the looks. I ended up coming across some used forgestars ( Zs old wheels) and bought new rears to match. No stupid washers and they go on with ease. Not only do they look better but the front set up is 8 lbs lighter
Spend money on best looks to you or lightest not cheapest, you will be happier in the end

Go the cheap route...and you usually get what you pay for...

 

[DavidKFla]

Go the cheap route...and you usually get what you pay for...

I bought some used racestars and put them on once. Actually a friend of mine put them on. Sold them. They suck trying to get the lugnut and washer right without stripping the stud.

 

[Marc W]

I bought some used racestars and put them on once. Actually a friend of mine put them on. Sold them. They suck trying to get the lugnut and washer right without stripping the stud.

Let me offer some advice concerning the RaceStars and the shanked lugs…. Back a few years ago when I had a set of those…. The lugs were the worst example of Chinese made junk. Best thing you could do was throw them away and buy some higher grade versions from Gorilla. I don’t know if RaceStar has changed that situation by now or not. You can get super high grade shanked lugs from Billet Specialties now. The root cause (🫢) of the big problem with the RaceStars is reusing those compression washers. They function as a lock washer of sorts and if they are flattened by over torquing, they will bind up in the wheel and cause the nut to tear up the threads on the lug. So…. The rules to live by with RaceStars is…. Get quality shanked lug nuts (go with open end). Lube the lugs beforehand. Always use a new washer and torque them to spec. Never over torque them! There! 🤓

 

[vortecd]

Let me offer some advice concerning the RaceStars and the shanked lugs…. Back a few years ago when I had a set of those…. The lugs were the worst example of Chinese made junk. Best thing you could do was throw them away and buy some higher grade versions from Gorilla. I don’t know if RaceStar has changed that situation by now or not. You can get super high grade shanked lugs from Billet Specialties now. The root cause (🫢) of the big problem with the RaceStars is reusing those compression washers. They function as a lock washer of sorts and if they are flattened by over torquing, they will bind up in the wheel and cause the nut to tear up the threads on the lug. So…. The rules to live by with RaceStars is…. Get quality shanked lug nuts (go with open end). Lube the lugs beforehand. Always use a new washer and torque them to spec. Never over torque them! There! 🤓

My thought is not to buy racestars in the 1st place. Jon has the recluse and they don't use the washers. Not sure why the stars have them

 

[2fast4u]

^^ I'll 2nd the Recluses, they use the same basic lugnut as stock, so finding a set of Gorilla's or equivalent is pretty easy.

 

[Marc W]

My thought is not to buy racestars in the 1st place. Jon has the recluse and they don't use the washers. Not sure why the stars have them

The washers are cupped. They are labeled as “wheel side” meaning that they go in with that side down. When that washer is “crushed” it creates a tension on the nut that acts like a lock washer so the lug won’t get loose. If the washer is over torqued or used over and over again, it will flatten out to where the diameter is too large for the space it is in. That’s where the problems come from. I agree with the “Just don’t use RaceStars” but they are an economy wheel that isn’t that bad if you know how to deal with the shanked lug/washer issue.

 

[vortecd]

The washers are cupped. They are labeled as “wheel side” meaning that they go in with that side down. When that washer is “crushed” it creates a tension on the nut that acts like a lock washer so the lug won’t get loose. If the washer is over torqued or used over and over again, it will flatten out to where the diameter is too large for the space it is in. That’s where the problems come from. I agree with the “Just don’t use RaceStars” but they are an economy wheel that isn’t that bad if you know how to deal with the shanked lug/washer issue.

I wouldn't say I struggled with it, just didn't like it