14" Track Day Tires - Do they exist?

GameboyRMH said:

In reply to Tom1200 :

True, but there are far more golden-age Japanese cars running on 15s, so I still think that 13s will dry up first, especially for non-race tires.

Speaking as a guy who regularly gets asked for help finding 13- and 14-inch street tires, I'd second that emotion. 

Even the once popular 185/60R14 is becoming a dying breed. 

David S. Wallens said:

GameboyRMH said:

In reply to Tom1200 :

True, but there are far more golden-age Japanese cars running on 15s, so I still think that 13s will dry up first, especially for non-race tires.

Speaking as a guy who regularly gets asked for help finding 13- and 14-inch street tires, I'd second that emotion. 

Even the once popular 185/60R14 is becoming a dying breed. 

For street tires I'd agree with that but for 13" race tires I don't see it happening. As many of those races tires are DOT legal (barely) if push came to shove one could run those on a street car.

In reply to Tom1200 :

The car will not ever see rain.  Dry weather fun only.  :-)

GameboyRMH said:

I say take the practical choice of going to 15s and give yourself the illusion of the ideal wheel size through careful selection of the wheel design. Wheels where the spokes extend to the very outer edge of the rim appear larger, such as Konig Dial-Ins or Advanti Storms, and those that have short spokes and stepped lips appear smaller, such as those purple "figs" in your original post.

Dealing with the tire selection in 15s in hard enough in this age of 17~19" wheels, don't make things extra difficult.

Edit: Also think about futureproofing. I'd bet 14s and 13s are going to dry up sooner than 15s.

Edit2: One more trick on making wheels appear larger/smaller than they really are: Tire fitment can also have a slight effect. A stretched tire fit or smaller sidewall makes the wheel appear larger, a squeezed fit or larger sidewall makes it appear smaller.

Great thoughts.  Thanks!!  

I really like the Watanabe/Panasport wheels on this car but color choice may help minimize the aesthetic change of a different wheel size.  It may be that with the right wheel width and tire selection I come close or maybe even improve from the photos I posted here.  I just completely love how it looks.  It's like Rob Dickenson from Singer taking a lot of time with the wheels and tires on his cars to get that relationship to the body and the overall look just right. (Per his vision)

In reply to msterbeau :

The right wheels and tires can totally make a difference. Do the research. Ask the questions. It will be worth it.