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Author: Subject: Wheels
Crazy Jay

posted on 16/3/04 at 02:08 PM Reply With Quote
Wheels

Hey all, in ur opinions, wat are the best size and type of wheels for a locost? Im going for 15 x 9 at rear and 15 x 7 at front. Thanx
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jcduroc

posted on 16/3/04 at 02:23 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Crazy Jay
Hey all, in ur opinions, wat are the best size and type of wheels for a locost?

I'm going for 13x7 in Frt and 13x8 in Rr.
Reasons explained if necessary.

Joćo





JCM

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200mph

posted on 16/3/04 at 02:40 PM Reply With Quote
It depends.....

wider wheels= wider bodywork and more money.

larger wheels are heavier and will burden acceleration

wider wheels mean more expensive tyres.

I'm using lightweight motorpsort alloys, 6x15, with either 195/50 (much cheapness) or 205/50 tyres.

wide wheels can look good, but there's something German about them (dont ask me explain that).

Joao, just out of nosiness why you using those wheels?

Cheers
Mark

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mackie

posted on 16/3/04 at 03:57 PM Reply With Quote
We are planning on using our XR4x4 rims in the first instance. They're 14x5.5 with 195/60 tyres that are practically new.
If I'm feeling flush I may get some from GTS, can't argue with £35 a pop!
As for 195/50R15 being cheap you're not wrong! I just got a full set of Toyo Proxes T1-Ss for my Puma for £120! Friend with an RX8 has to fork out £160 each!

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jcduroc

posted on 16/3/04 at 05:16 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by 9904169
Joao, just out of nosiness why you using those wheels?

Cheers
Mark

Reason 1: 13 in wheels are lighter than 14 or whatever bigger;
Reason 2: They are (much) cheaper than 14 or whatever bigger;
Reason 3: 7 and 8 in rims allow me to use 205 and 225/235 wide tires attaining a rolling diameter of about 550;
Reason 4: I don't like those f..... enormous wheels and these 13 in look great in a 7-like;
Aah, ultimate reason: they have less rotational inertia (in fact, main reason).

Cheers
Joćo





JCM

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200mph

posted on 16/3/04 at 05:33 PM Reply With Quote
would the cost of the tyres (i.e. expensive) not offset the cheapness of 13 inch wheels?

That was my main concern with wide alloys. Plus I got mine really cheap. They weigh the same as standard 13 inch alloy I believe, maybe slightly heavier.


But you have missed out the real reason havent you?

So you can see two stomping wide trails of rubber on the tarmac behine you after you pull away!

Mark

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Mark Allanson

posted on 16/3/04 at 09:10 PM Reply With Quote
I am using 13" because I do not like the way that low profile tyres handle on a light car, you sacrifice handling for grip, the low profiles will also snap out at the limit without any of the warning signs you get with 70 profiles. They are also more comfortable on almost any road except a well kept race track.





If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation

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theconrodkid

posted on 16/3/04 at 09:17 PM Reply With Quote
i had 185,s on mine,tried some 205,s and it was like a drunken camel with piles,back to the old ones





who cares who wins
pass the pork pies

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jcduroc

posted on 16/3/04 at 11:00 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by 9904169
But you have missed out the real reason havent you?

So you can see two stomping wide trails of rubber on the tarmac behine you after you pull away!

Mark


...after a Porsche Boxster "dandy weekend driver" sees them and I pull away!...

Cheers
Joćo





JCM

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200mph

posted on 16/3/04 at 11:08 PM Reply With Quote
cant wait...
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britishtrident

posted on 17/3/04 at 05:12 PM Reply With Quote
175/65x14 on 5.5 rims

Reasons low profile 13 inch XR2 style tyres look very silly on Locosts, decent sticky tyres in older taller 13 inch sizes are either massively expensive or don't exist. 15 inch wheels are just too big for such a light car.

Also using a tyre a the narrower end of what the rim will take gives better more responive handling than an over wide tyre on the same rim.

An added advantage is my speedo gearing works out just right at 1000 tpm.

[Edited on 17/3/04 by britishtrident]

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Crazy Jay

posted on 17/3/04 at 10:13 PM Reply With Quote
Good stuff still think i'll be sticking to my 15in'ers tho. Thinkin of OZ superleggera's. Luckily my mate Phil owns a splendid modified car shop "PRO CAR" so he shud b able to get me them good and cheap with eagle f1 rubber
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kingr

posted on 17/3/04 at 11:02 PM Reply With Quote
One thing to bear in mind - not all disc and calipers will fit under 13" wheels - I'm fairly certain you can't fit 13s if your running Sierra discs all round.

Kingr

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britishtrident

posted on 18/3/04 at 01:49 PM Reply With Quote
Of course nobody has mentioned wet weather, wide tyres on a light car on a greasey surface ain't fun.

Both of my everyday cars used the same size of tyre 195/50x15 with the same make of tyre - the ligher one a Rover 214 is a real pain on wet roads very poor traction while the heavier Rover 623 isn't too bad although it puts down more rthan 60% more bhp.through the front wheels

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