Originally an exclusive aftermarket wheel design for the Dodge Viper, O.Z. Racing has expanded the fitment offerings of their Challenge wheel line. Available in black or silver, this wheel is intended to be used in a track environment as it provides extra durability in tough conditions, and is also a great option for the street. The wheel is offered in the 5-130 bolt pattern and as a centerlock for Porsches. It's also available for BMW M3s and the Nissan GT-R.

What makes the Challenge wheel such an attractive track option? Utilizing casting under low pressure and then shot peened allows this wheel to have a reasonable weight while also achieving the coveted TUV approval. This is considered one of the most rigorous wheel tests in the industry. Combined with one of our competition tires, you'll find a great combo for the track.

Have you been waiting for Eibach to release Pro-Kit Springs for the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ? Well, they are now in stock and one of my co-workers has already installed them on his BRZ. 

Eibach makes the same Pro-Kit Springs for both the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ. The average lowering is about an inch for both the front and rear. In addition to looking great, the Eibach Pro-Kit provides a great balance between ride and overall handling. Compared to his BRZ on stock springs, my co-worker has noticed the following:

1. The car feels like it is stuck to the road, especially when the road is smooth.
2. There is much less body roll with the Eibach Springs and the car corners better. You can dive into a corner and feel very safe and comfortable with the car.
3. The feel is very tight when going in and out of corners.

Eibach Pro-Kit FAQ:

1. What are the Pro-Kit's spring rates? The Eibach Pro-Kit Springs are progressive rate springs. Their rate varies with the amount of spring compression. The more compression, the stiffer the spring. Therefore, minor road imperfections cause less spring compression and will result in the springs working at a lower rate for a better ride compliance.
   
   During fast cornering, hard braking and rapid acceleration you'll get dynamic weight transfer from front to back, and side to side. Greater weight compresses the springs more so they act at higher rates for better vehicle control.
   
   The actual spring rate range is 48-200 lbs./in for the front and 103-274 lbs./in for rear.
    
2. What wheels and tires are on your co-worker's vehicle? He's running 245/35ZR18 Michelin Pilot Super Sports with 18x8 ET48 5-100 gold O.Z. Racing Alleggerita wheels.

The E46 M3 is great for high-speed cruising and awesome for the track. If you're doing lapping days once a year just make sure your tires and brakes are in good shape. If you're heading to the track every weekend then fix the car's understeer by upgrading your wheels and tires and getting a "track" alignment.  

Wheels:

Running wider wheels and tires of the same size in the front and back in a square set-up will remove some of the car's inherent understeer. We offer a few 18x9.5 35mm offset wheels designed to work with 265/35R18 and 275/35R18 tires. 18x9.5 ET 35mm on either size will require a combination of fender and wheelwell modification, along with changes in negative camber to fit. Even with the changes, this is a proven E46 M3 set-up.

For this wheel size, take a look at the matte grey TR Motorsports MT1 and the O.Z. Racing Alleggerita HLT in anthracite painted finish. You can also special order the black, blue,gold,matte graphite silver,orange, red and white.

Non-Streetable Track Tires:

Are you installing a second set of wheels at the track? Then the ultimate grip from non-streetable track tires such as the BFGoodrich g-Force R1 available in both 265/35ZR18 and 275/35ZR18, 275/35ZR18 Hoosier R6 and 275/35ZR18 Hankook Ventus Z214 are great options to consider.

Streetable Track Tires:

Will you be using the same set of tires at the track that you drove to the event on? The non-streetable tires mentioned earlier are easily damaged by road debris. A piece of wire the size of a paper clip can get picked up by the tire, work its way into the shallow tread, through the tire's lightweight plies and puncture the inner liner.

So if your track tires will be driven to the track, consider streetable race tires like the Toyo Proxes RA888 available in both 265/35ZR18 and 275/35ZR18. The 265/35ZR18 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup or the 265/35ZR18 Toyo Proxes RA1 are also great options worth taking a look at.

Drivers will differ in their preference in predictability versus overall grip, but the Toyo Proxes RA888 provides slightly better grip than the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup and a little bit of a better value. The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup's main advantage is more consistent grip from lap to lap, therefore it may be the better choice for a longer event. Toyo Proxes RA1s are less sensitive to small flaws in the vehicle set-up, so if you're still tuning with respect to damper settings, ride height and camber, then the Proxes RA1 would be a good choice.

Alignment:

Optimum alignment settings will vary with tire, damper and spring choices. Most drivers will find that running 3.5-3.8 degrees of negative camber and zero toe for the front to be optimum. You'll need to get adjustable camber plates for the front so you can run that much negative camber.

For the rear, 2.4-2.6 negative camber and the high side of the factory toe-in is normally ideal. You should be able to adjust to these specs without a camber kit. Camber is adjusted at the lower eccentric bolt attaching the lower control arm to the hub assembly (under the axle).

E46 M3 Track Wheels and Tires FAQ:

1. I've heard of other drivers running 285/30R18 or wider tires on 18x10 wheels, will that fit? When we assess the risk of rubbing we're very conservative. We consider the above wheels and 265/35R18, 275/35R18 and 285/30R18 sized tires all to be custom sizes requiring varying degrees of fender modification and wheelwell modification. High negative camber helps with front tire clearance, too. If you've changed to coil-overs or aftermarket struts, you may have less inside clearance with any of the above sizes.
    
2. I still drive a fair amount of street miles on my M3, can I adjust camber at the track so I can preserve some tire wear? For the front you can mark your camber plates so you can adjust between track and street settings. In the rear, the washer at the bolt head has notch marks on it that can be highlighted with paint.
    
3. What about brake pads for my vehicle? For better bite and fade resistance switch to dedicated track pads like the Hawk DTC70 in the front and DTC60 in the rear. Once you get back from the track be sure to switch back to your normal brakes, as the race pads will be noisy, dusty and ineffective in cool weather.
    
4. Do I need to shave and/or heat cycle my track tires? All the above tires will benefit from heat cycling which acts like a second curing for the tire and helps them maintain consistent grip from lap to lap. The Hoosier R6, BFGoodrich g-Force R1 are molded at 4/32" of tread depth so they don't need to be shaved. Shaving will improve dry performance for the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup, Toyo Proxes RA1 and Toyo Proxes R888.

While wheel choices and tastes are always subjective and allow a purchaser to create a custom look for their vehicle, certain wheel styles can certainly be more popular than others. 

One of my favorite lightweight wheels for the past few years has been the O.Z. Racing Ultraleggera. This wheel is available in a variety of fitments, widths, and bolt patterns. From Porsche to Honda to Subaru, this wheel is available in a range of colors including silver, black, and gold. 

Tire Rack is now also pleased to offer this wheel at a 15% discount while supplies last. The O.Z. Racing Ultraleggera wheel sale runs from 9/1/12 - 10/31/12 and is valid for select wheels in 15"-18" diameters. 

As with all of our gauranteed fitments, please feel free to search by vehicle for the correct fit.

If you're someone who notices the details on any vehicle, you can probably recall seeing a nice set of black wheels only to have your eyes wander to the bright silver valve stem. These silver valve parts look out of place on a black aftermarket wheel.

Tire Rack offers an optional black TPMS sensor / valve part kit for $2.99 per wheel. Therefore, when you order black wheels like the O.Z. Racing Ultraleggera or Enkei Racing Series PF01, they can arrive with the complete black-out appearance. Purchasing the optional black sensor kit can provide you the look you desire at a very low price!

To view black wheel options for your vehicle, shop by vehicle and filter by finish to view all black finished wheels for you application.

Tire Rack is proud to offer a broad line of automotive cleaning and detailing products from the experts at Griot's Garage, a company devoted to quality and innovation. Consider the Machine Polishing & Waxing Kit that provides a safe and easy way to remove swirl marks or fine scratches. You can also apply a protective coating to your vehicle's paint. The kit comes complete with the following products and items:

• 6" Random Orbital Polisher
• Paint Cleaning Clay
• Speed Shine (35 oz.)
• Finest Sprayer
• Machine Polish 3 (16 oz.)
• 6" Orange Foam Polishing Pad
• Best of Show Wax (16 oz.)
• 6" Wax Applicator Pad
• Machine Polishing DVD
• Detailed Handbook

Designed for the beginner, the Griot's Garage Machine Polishing & Waxing Kit provides quality an expert can appreciate!

It is easy to keep chrome wheels looking good when you have the correct cleaning tools and cleaners. And that's what you'll find with the Total Chrome Wheel and Tire Care Kit. With the included Chrome Wheel Cleaner, you can gently remove brake dust deposits, heavy road oils and other contaminants without the worry of etching the wheel's surface. You can reach every angle and bend in the wheel with the 3-Finger Detail Mitts and 3" Red Pad and Holder. The Total Chrome Wheel and Tire Care Kit includes:

• Tire and Wheel Wash Bucket (1)
• Chrome Wheel Cleaner (1 - 35 oz.)
• Paint Sealant (1 - 8 oz.)
• Long Lasting Tire Dressing (1 - 8 oz.)
• Finest Sprayer (1)
• 3-Finger Detail Mitts (2)
• 3” Red Pad and Holder (1)
• 100% Cotton Buffing Cloths (4)
• Detail Sponge (1)

Take a look at how we can help your car look great on the inside and outside today!

Have you always admired the look of center lock wheels? The clean design born from racing heritage has only been featured on ultra high-end sports cars. O.Z. Racing now offers the Formula HLT wheel, which provides the center lock look without the need for a center lock equipped vehicle.

Even if the center lock look isn't what you're after, the wheel comes packaged with two center cap options. In addition to the center lock cover plate, O.Z. Racing includes a center cap with their logo which exposes the vehicle's lug pattern.

The Formula HLT is made using O.Z. Racing's High Light Technology (HLT) which according to them is: "The direct result of experience of supply to both F1 from which O.Z. has developed an inimitable knowledge resource at the pinnacle of competitive motorsport. The HLT exclusive manufacturing process achieves mechanical features comparable to those of a forged wheel both in terms of weight reduction and structural strength." During the manufacturing process, rollers are used to compress and elongate the material along with the barrel of a low-pressure cast aluminum wheel to obtain the desired profile. This process, which is directly derived from O.Z.'s experience in F1, produces the Formula HLT to be extremely light and strong.

O.Z. Racing's Formula HLT is offered for a wide array of vehicles including Porsche, BMW and Audi. Currently available in a matte grey finish, the wheel is available in the following sizes:

• 14"
• 17"
• 18"
• 19"

To see if the O.Z. Racing Formula HLT wheel is available for your vehicle, visit our Upgrade Garage.

The Porsche Cayenne Turbo is for the driver who truly wants it all -- a twin turbo V8, top Speed over 170 mph and the space and comfort of a luxury SUV. All of that power can be rendered useless in the winter without the proper amount of grip for snow and ice. A Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package is the answer to ensure your Cayenne Turbo performs its best this winter!

Because the Porsche Cayenne Turbo is not the average SUV, many drivers don't want to put an average aftermarket wheel on their high performance SUV for winter driving. The best complement to Porsche's high style is to add an equally impressive wheel to your winter package. O.Z. Racing's Superturismo Dakar is an Italian made masterpiece that will rival your German masterpiece.

The wheel features a clean 15-spoke design in both a matte graphite silver and bright silver paint finish. Since both wheels boast a fully painted finish, they will easily withstand whatever winter conditions are thrown at them. Road salt and grime can be rinsed right off during a typical car wash. Each wheel is a one-piece, low pressure cast that's offered with a two-year finish and two-year structural warranty.

Shop by vehicle to see if the O.Z. Racing Superturismo Dakar is offered for you Porsche Cayenne Turbo. If so, build a Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package today!

As your vehicle piles on the miles, normal wear and tear can cause your car to look a little tired. For many, a brand new set of aftermarket wheels is the way to give your car a fresh appearance. However, what if a new set of wheels isn't in your budget? To spruce things up, consider the G2 Brake Caliper PaintSystem Set as an easy weekend project. A fresh coat of paint can give a new appearance to any vehicle's brake calipers and drums, while even helping protect them from potentially harmful oils, chemicals and rust.

The PaintSystem Sets are available in nine high-gloss, wear-resistant colors that can be selected to complement or contrast a vehicle's primary and/or accent colors. Available colors include: red, yellow, blue, silver, gold, black, purple, green, white, pink and orange.

G2 PaintSystem Sets provide enough materials to paint four brake calipers or two brake calipers and two brake drums. However, vehicles with large brake calipers on the front axle and large brake drums on the rear axle may require two complete PaintSystem Sets to get the job done. The finish is heat resistant to 950º F and best yet, the two-part system does not require caliper removal.

G2 Brake Caliper PaintSystem Sets Include:

• Detailed instructions
• (14 oz.) aerosol can G2 BRAKE Cleaner Spray (1)
• (4 oz.) metal can Brake Caliper Paint (1)
• (1 oz.) glass jar PaintSystem Reactor (1)
• Stir stick
• Application brush (1)
• Color decal (1)

Order a G2 Brake Caliper PaintSystem Set today!

O.Z. Racing's Alleggerita HLT combines the perfect blend of style and functional performance to upgrade your car. The wheel is built using a state-of-the-art one-piece, low-pressure cast which has been shot peened and heat treated for strength and rigidity. It has a real F1 racing pedigree with the HLT manufacturing process. High Light Technology (HLT) is used in the manufacturing of select O.Z. Racing wheels and uses rollers to compress and elongate the material along the barrel of a low-pressure cast aluminum wheel to obtain the desired profile. This process, which is directly derived from O.Z. Racing's experience in F1, produces wheels that are extremely light and strong. The flow forming process and HLT technology combines to create mechanical characteristics similar to those of a forged wheel. This permits a dramatic reduction in wheel weight while enhancing structural rigidity versus a standard cast wheel.

Alleggerita HLT wheels are not only an instant bolt-on performance upgrade for the track or street, they're also an upgrade in style. The Alleggerita HLT is offered in nine different finish options, so it can make the right kind of style statement no matter what you drive. The paint options include:

• Anthracite Painted
• Black Painted
• Blue Painted
• Gold Painted
• Green Painted
• Matte Graphite Silver
• Orange Painted
• Red Painted
• White Painted

Visit our Upgrade Garage to see if O.Z. Racing Alleggerita HLT wheels are available for your vehicle, and if they are, be sure to view the option that allows you to view them on your vehicle.

Have you been waiting for Eibach to release Pro-Kit Springs for the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ? Well, they are now in stock and one of my co-workers has already installed them on his BRZ. 

Eibach makes the same Pro-Kit Springs for both the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ. The average lowering is about an inch for both the front and rear. In addition to looking great, the Eibach Pro-Kit provides a great balance between ride and overall handling. Compared to his BRZ on stock springs, my co-worker has noticed the following:

1. The car feels like it is stuck to the road, especially when the road is smooth.
2. There is much less body roll with the Eibach Springs and the car corners better. You can dive into a corner and feel very safe and comfortable with the car.
3. The feel is very tight when going in and out of corners.

Eibach Pro-Kit FAQ:

1. What are the Pro-Kit's spring rates? The Eibach Pro-Kit Springs are progressive rate springs. Their rate varies with the amount of spring compression. The more compression, the stiffer the spring. Therefore, minor road imperfections cause less spring compression and will result in the springs working at a lower rate for a better ride compliance.
   
   During fast cornering, hard braking and rapid acceleration you'll get dynamic weight transfer from front to back, and side to side. Greater weight compresses the springs more so they act at higher rates for better vehicle control.
   
   The actual spring rate range is 48-200 lbs./in for the front and 103-274 lbs./in for rear.
    
2. What wheels and tires are on your co-worker's vehicle? He's running 245/35ZR18 Michelin Pilot Super Sports with 18x8 ET48 5-100 gold O.Z. Racing Alleggerita wheels.

Originally an exclusive aftermarket wheel design for the Dodge Viper, O.Z. Racing has expanded the fitment offerings of their Challenge wheel line. Available in black or silver, this wheel is intended to be used in a track environment as it provides extra durability in tough conditions, and is also a great option for the street. The wheel is offered in the 5-130 bolt pattern and as a centerlock for Porsches. It's also available for BMW M3s and the Nissan GT-R.

What makes the Challenge wheel such an attractive track option? Utilizing casting under low pressure and then shot peened allows this wheel to have a reasonable weight while also achieving the coveted TUV approval. This is considered one of the most rigorous wheel tests in the industry. Combined with one of our competition tires, you'll find a great combo for the track.

Spring will be underway shortly and that means many new wheel styles will be available. While there are many fresh designs that have caught my eye, none has impressed me more than the new Leggera HLT from O.Z. Racing.

The Leggera HLT, with its split 5-spoke design, is clean, well made and has an excellent bright race grey finish. It's also light, something we expect after having carried O.Z. Racing's Ultraleggera and Superleggera wheels for quite some time. The Leggera HLT is available in 17"-20" rim diameters with most of the popular widths, offsets and bolt patterns being represented.

O.Z. Racing never compromises on quality and complies with all official regulations, including the stringent rules of T.U.V., the German control office. They constantly submit their wheels to multiple comprehensive testing to measure road stress. And to detect minute flaws, wheels are put under pressure in a specially designed water tank and scanned for hidden flaws by X-ray. Further examination is done by computer and electron microscopes. Finally, an anti-corrosion treatment is given, followed by a protective lacquer coating and final cleaning.

Search by vehicle to see if this new O.Z. Racing is a fit for your car.