I am trying to get some feed back from the Tire Rack (or any one else) about SSR wheels. Before I purchased my 05 RX-8 (which I autocross) the hot lightweight wheel was the SSR Competition. In SCCA BS stock class you can use an after market wheel only if it is the same size (18x8) and within ¼ inch offset. The SSR Competition met all that and was very light also (16.3lbs). Also Tire Rack is the sole distributor for SSR wheels in the US.:
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...2FMachined+Lip

Well SSR has fallen on hard times but still in operation (most likely reduced output) which is why I am having a problem finding these wheels.

SSR has discontinued the Competition and replaced them with the Type C-RS (15.5lbs) and lists them on their Japan web site.:
http://www.rd-tanabe.com/lineup/ssr/...ec/18inch.html
(18x8.0J size 5/114.3 bolt pattern +48 offset)

Here is the Tire Rack's info on the Type-C RS.:
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...racite+Painted

I did call the Tire Rack and I didn’t get any information from them other than the wheels are not available. Does any one from the Tire Rack or in the SCCA Solo world have any idea if these wheels will ever come to the US or is SSR dead and we will see no more wheels from them?

 

No idea when but even if they do it will no longer be 16.3 lbs. The Solctice uses an 18X8 and the SSR for it is 18.x lbs.

This is from Nigel at the Tirerack on why:

"Actually SSR has not abandoned the Semi-Solid Forging process, (SSF). They still use it in all SSR Comp, CompH, Type C, and Type C-RS wheels.

The only difference is in 17" and larger sizes. Those wheels are now a 2 piece wheel, SSF Center with Fully forged Barrel welded together. This is exactly how the Solstice SSR wheels are made. Lots of the smaller SSR Type C and Type C-RS wheels are still made the old way, (1-piece SSF), which is extremely light.

The only reason they switched to the 2-piece welded wheels was the fact that more often then not the 17" and larger wheels (as well as the very wide wheels) would not come out of the SSF process correctly and would have to scrapped. The byproduct of the new Hybrid process was a more consistant wheel that was dramatically stronger with a small weight increase, (1.5-2.5lbs avg)."

Just buy the OZ at 18 lbs and be done with it.

 

Thanks for the info, I guess the OZ is the best choice.