Matt. I have been told stuff like that, recently Brad told me that I may be a dinasaur...or an excentric.....LOL
...my response is that I go by what I find interesting and attractive...if the crowd uses 18 in wheels and in the process ridicule their cars making them look like a coach car ( w/o horses) that is their problem....not mine.
I do not judge nobody, I just find it amazing to see small Datsun cars that are fitted with the biggest wheels that can physically fit, just because the "trend"...
Yes, the trend might be bigger wheels...but the trend on cars that were made for those bigger wheels....the fact that cars are made with larger diameter wheels does not mean that a smaller car can fit them and look good.
Plus it is plain unsafe....at the torrance show I saw a dork with an SR20 510 Datsun with 18 in wheels and skinny tires making a fool of himself, almost crashing in front of everyone...because his powerfull motor has ultra light wheels and skinny tires....floor the pedal and the car will flip over....
You need rubber, substantial rubber and a wheel with some weight....if the engine is powerfull and the tire is skinny ( commensurate to the wheel) and the wheel is light......recipe for disaster.
Every time I see a small Datsun with 16+ in wheels...I feel like vomiting!
About racing cars and steeles, perhaps you are looking at the well sponsored races....due to the fact that racing in such categories is tantamount to a showcase....and those wheels are there not necesarilly for being the best, but for advertizing.
Steeles, well made, are stronger than any fad wheels...and add necesary weight to the counteraction the differential needs....you do not want to spin and span everytime you floor the pedal......
...A 1200 or 120Y , even a 1000 Datsuns, with good rubber and 13 in wheels will look 1000% better than any 16/18/20 in wheeled Datsun any time......and will perform 1000% better.
I have to see a 1200, 120Y or 1000 Datsun "in competition" with "Chromed" 18 in wheels.......it would land against a tree in less than 5 minutes.