rims?

[stephendell]

With very limited tyre options

Yes Steve ,
According to my best buddy you can fit 18 by 8.5 on the front but they rub slightly at full lock.
If I new how to link their post I would anyone?
your not wrong with tyre option though the profile would need to be low.
I'm just looking at options.
Really would like to know what the actual le-mans size pucka Rims are and offsets.
As thinking of putting on a large wing/body kit.

But basically
Sat on the net surfing bored, captive. Hahs
What did you think of the easi sleave gearbox adaptor?

Dave

I run 17 x7.5 205 x40's at the front and 9.0 x 18 - 255 x35's at the rear I pesonally find that the car handles great no understear to speak of. I find that when people fit the larger rims they up the front tyre pressures...I did this and found at prescott far too much understeer at semicircle ...I reduced the pressure and understeer was all but eliminated ...there are so many variables but you can tune it to your liking

Si21

To be honest I dont really see the reason why 17/18 rims should not handle as well if not better due to extra rubber put down. My only thought is weight of the alloy, if you choose AZEV'S then yes they are a heavy rim and this will increase unsprung weight not good on standard dampers; however, i went for Team Dynamics Pro-race rims and the wheel.and tyre combination was about a kilo less than stand OE fitment!! With the added benefit of cheaper wider choice of tyres and the ability to fit big brakes under them its a no brainer for me....my car handles ok for a ar thats on original 25 year old suspension but of course can be greatly improved with coilovers ..another item waiting to be fitted unleashing the speed.

If anyone can explain to me the benefits of keeping the standard wheels over correct fitment after market albeit wider i will be happy to learn?

I actually plan on setting the car up.to standard ride hight once the car is fitted with coilovers as I admit the front end sits higher than standard on 17's.

Si21

Smaller diameter rims provided the tyres were smaller in diameter too, would improve acceleration potentially due to lower gearing, you would of course have to change up quicker, provided width was the same contact area would be maintained. Also your centre of gravity would be lower enabling higher cornering speeds.

Plus provided you bought light weight 15" rims you would again have quicker cornering potential due to lower ? Can't remember the word.
Something to do with centrifugal mass, was the main reason alfa used to put their brake discs inboard too.

Reducing size also reduces parts that get rotated, I.e it takes less effort to turn a lightweight 15" wheel as opposed to a heavier 18" wheel. Improving HP at the wheels and fuel efficiency.

+ all the settings are for 15" rims and you can't alter shit apart from tow and a bit of castor ......

When did you last see a manufacturer fit smaller and or narrower wheels in pursuit of faster times round a circuit? As tyres contribute to the damping of the car the suspension really needs to be recalibrated to allow for this. Formula 1 cars run tyres with big side walls but there suspension is virtually solid. Also we are forgetting there is a difference between grip and handling. A wider tyre will offer more grip in most circumstances but does it bump steer more? Does it tramline? Does it break away less progressively? Choice of tyre possibly more important. Personally I think that with a car that you drive to the limit of grip like a GTA (as opposed to a car that is easy to handle beyond the limit of grip - an M3 or similar) actual grip is more important because if it gets out of shape it is tricky to control (as are most rear engined cars) and therefore you tend to drive within its limits - whereas something like an M3 or even my old Clio 182 you could keep your foot in and control what was going on without losing much speed so balanced and progressive handling is much more important. Thats my 2 penneth anyway :0)

Yes but you can't just throw bigger rims on and not alter the settings ...well you can but not if you are serious about throwing it about .

Tony,
Nobody mentioned narrower wheels that would reduce the contact area, therefore reduce handling in all aspects. I said same width to maintain surface area.
But I prefer the looks therefore I'm for larger alloys.
But I know it will be at the expense of handling. And I agree there is clearly an optimum for the dynamics of the car. Clearly a mini with tractor tyres is not going anywhere fast Likewise a tractor with mini wheels isn't going to win any trophies either. Hahs

[mettersl]

From what I learned when I studied this 30 years ago....Unsprung weight is critical to handling in real world conditions like uk roads, less important on tracks. Bigger wheels are often heavier too, so bigger wheels, can increase hopping and sidewall flex as the tyres compensate for the changes in unsprung weight.
As Tony says suspension re calibration can help a little (but it's not a cure) and as Clee says bigger/different offset wheels will ruin the carefully set suspension angles, so you need to modify to compensate as there is little adjustment.
As usual everyone is right, modified cars can work better if they are modified properly, sticking big wheels and spacers on is only half the job and likely to make the cars perform less well, no matter how good they look. Lowering has the same negative effect....unless you can correct the angles.
Of course physics may have changed (or my memory) since I was taught this stuff, but I doubt the former.
Cheers lee

Keep boltin on that heavy bling Aaaaayyyyyye

[The Saint]

"Yee canie do it!, the wallet canie cope captain!"

Yes but you can't just throw bigger rims on and not alter the settings ...well you can but not if you are serious about throwing it about .

Thats what I said :0). The suspension would need recalibrating. And Dave I didn't mean put narrower wheels on than standard just that manufacturers always put wider, bigger diameter wheels on their sportier models - normally with the suspension recalibrated to suit.

Yes but nobody does alter the settings ....they just bolt the big rims on .