I'd be afraid of using hollow wheels, such as the IFI wheels, in an exposed position like that. Something like the
AndyMark performance wheels,
AndyMark traction wheels,
or some variety of colson wheels may be a better option. Regardless of wheel choice, I would also advise having plenty of spares (even if they don't break, if one tread gets worn out etc., due to the ease of switching live axle wheels, spares are often advantageous). If possible, you're going to want some form of exterior protection (typically a bumper), and not just for the safety of your wheels. 254 had trouble last year when teams discovered that if they hit 254 at high speed, they could often "hop" on top of 254's wheels, making it next to impossible for 254 to move effectively. A good example of this can be found in
Newton Quarter-final 2-2.