Several years ago I made the commitment to adopt a 17 inch wheel for my track car. Now I have three sets of Apex 17 inch wheels shod with Nitto NT01 tires. All those tires are nearing end-of-life. Two years ago, I could get a set of these tires delivered next day to my door for $530. I didn’t have to buy tires last year because of the pandemic which my reduced track days. I went to buy some new tires recently and I noticed the price of these has skyrocketed to $960 for a set of four. On top of that, currently they’re not available at discount tire direct… I haven’t searched elsewhere yet. On top of all this, I’m starting to consider a big brake kit. My options are severely limited if I stick with 17 inch wheels. So, I’m at a crossroads. Do I bite the bullet and switch to 18 inch wheels or continue with the 17s?
The price difference between the 18 inch tires and the 17 inch tires has converged to now little more than $120 it looks like. So, the savings aren’t there like they used to be. Not necessarily looking for somebody to provide me answers but just curious if anyone else has been through this and what they ultimately decided. If I switch to 18 inch wheels it will certainly be an expensive endeavor as I like to have at least two sets in case something goes wrong at the track.
On another note, I’ve been extremely happy with the NT01’s. I like the grip and especially like their longevity… I feel it’s a great compromise between performance and value. However, I’m open to looking at other tires but I’m not looking for a hero tire that burns out after one or two weekends. Going with 18s opens up a lot more options in that regard.
The price difference between the 18 inch tires and the 17 inch tires has converged to now little more than $120 it looks like. So, the savings aren’t there like they used to be. Not necessarily looking for somebody to provide me answers but just curious if anyone else has been through this and what they ultimately decided. If I switch to 18 inch wheels it will certainly be an expensive endeavor as I like to have at least two sets in case something goes wrong at the track.
On another note, I’ve been extremely happy with the NT01’s. I like the grip and especially like their longevity… I feel it’s a great compromise between performance and value. However, I’m open to looking at other tires but I’m not looking for a hero tire that burns out after one or two weekends. Going with 18s opens up a lot more options in that regard.
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