If you’re going to do competitive racing, you need the right set of wheels and tires to succeed. This means ditching your stock OEM street wheels (flashy rims, too) and upgrading to a set of racing wheels that can handle the rigors of a track or drag strip.
Since manufacturers engineer high strength, lightweight wheels for specific types of racing, newer racing enthusiasts often find it difficult to decide on the right set, not to mention knowing where to look. To help clear up some confusion, we cover different racing wheels and how the eBay Motors marketplace helps enthusiasts find the right set for less.
Alloy Wheels: Cast Vs Forged Vs Flow Formed
Whether you’re a muscle car enthusiast focusing on straight-line speed or have a small sports car for cornering around the track, you want to go with alloy wheels. They improve a vehicle’s appearance and, more importantly, performance. There are three different ways to manufacture alloy racing wheels for buyers to consider: cast, forged, and flow formed. You can find a vast selection of alloy wheels on eBay Motors.
Cast wheels are more affordable compared to forged, making them a great entry point for newer racers. However, they’re usually heavier and less durable. Buyer beware: cast wheels are more likely to crack and can result in damage to the vehicle and possibly even harm drivers as well.
Forged (also called fully-forged) wheels are the strongest and lightest of the three alloy options. As an added bonus, enthusiasts love that forged wheels offer a non-permanent way to significantly boost a vehicle’s appearance. They also cost the most because of how they’re made, so we recommend newer racers spend more time at the strip or track before investing in forged wheels. You can find a large selection of forged wheels from Weld Wheels on eBay Motors for a variety of racing applications including rear and front drag, oval track, and more.
Flow formed (or flow forged) wheels offer a nice middle ground between cast and forged. Essentially cast wheels with stronger barrels, flow form wheels are still inferior to forged because the center remains untouched. They’re also cheaper, serving as a sweet spot for enthusiasts.
Single Vs Multi Piece Wheels
Another wheel design feature that impacts a vehicle’s quality (as well as an enthusiast’s wallet) are single piece and multi piece. This just means that manufacturers can produce a wheel using one piece of alloy or separate pieces (two or three) that are assembled into a wheel.
Without wading too deep into details, a single piece is lighter but less flexible when it comes to repairs. If a three-piece wheel suffers damage, for instance, owners may potentially only need to replace one piece. Cast wheels only come in one piece, while forged wheels can come in one, two, or three-piece configurations.
Best Performance Tires
Finding the right racing tires is arguably as important as finding the right wheels. And considering that racing tires wear out faster than ones made for street use, you’re more likely to purchase a new set sooner.
Two common tire types you’ll encounter while browsing eBay Motors include summer tires and all-season tires. All-season tires are more practical, offering decent traction in wet and dry conditions, even winter. Summer tires deliver even better performance, but less traction in winter. We recommend Federal 595RS-R for summer competition tires and Pirelli Scorpion tires for your all-season needs.
Additionally, there are two common construction types to look out for: radials and slicks. While most enthusiasts are already familiar with driving on street radials, a drag radial uses softer compounds to help with grip, which is essential for straight-line performance. One downside is they wear out quickly and are less ideal for street use.
Slicks (also known as bias ply tires) are even better for launching, benefitting muscle car enthusiasts most at the drag strip. But there’s a catch: they are usually not DOT approved for street use. Make sure to always stay up on the latest Department of Transportation’s rules and regulations concerning tires in your area.
Two leaders in the world of drag racing are Hoosier Tires and Mickey Thompson. You can find drag racing slicks from both brands on eBay Motors. The ET Street R tires come recommended for those who want DOT-approved slicks, whereas something along the lines of a Hoosier 18650C07 is more of a true drag slick.
How Do I Access eBay Motors?
eBay Motors (eBay.com/motors) is one of the world’s largest marketplaces, offering more than 122 million unique automotive parts and accessories in the United States.
Whether you're working on a restoration project, performance upgrade, or Aesthetically-enhancing your car, you can find the parts and accessories you need on eBay Motors. Keep the website up and the app open to score everything from body parts, engines, lighting, and steering, to tires and transmissions.