Hi all, just been looking at the Radicals and have noticed that they run a 15" at the Front and 16" at the Rear. Why is this done and what
are the benefits?
Been thinking of running 17"on the rear with 15" at the front just for cosmetics but would like to know pros and cons before hand.
Cheers
Jools
It may raise the rear and improve handling?
lotus do it with the elise 15" fronts and 16" rears. Exige 16" fronts and 17" rears.
I believe they do it because the engine is in the back.
I run 15" front and 17" rear just because it suits the tyres that are available in the widths and compounds I want. I sustect in Radicals case it may be as simple as that
Lotus did this on the Elise as well so there must be a fairly sensible reason behind it 
which im sure that someone with more knowledge than me will
be a long to explain shortly
My guess would be something to do with tyre dynamics....generally higher profile tyres are easier to control on the limit and i would presume this
effect is greatest at front so thus smaller wheels with higher profile tyres at the front
Gives the car a degree of rake front to rear which is desirable / necessary.
Hopefully someone who knows more than I do will be along soon.
quote:
Originally posted by zilspeed
Gives the car a degree of rake front to rear which is desirable / necessary. Depends on the ride height surely?
Hopefully someone who knows more than I do will be along soon.
I have 195/50/15 ET38 at the front and if I put 240/50/17 ET42 on the rear.
Can anyone tell me what effect this will have on my wheel alignment? with 15" at the front and rear the track widths are the same.
Thanks
Rear tyre is 245/50/17!
Gearing?
you get no gain by having a large wheel on the front but you do at the rear... and you don't want differing tyre profiles front and rear.
Another is looks as it makes the car look more balanced... but I doubt radical care about that.
edited to add that I am guessing as I don't know for sure.
[Edited on 15/11/07 by andygtt]
on the elise the tyre profiles are different to correct the rolling radius from using different diametre wheels.