Eccentric_Rich Posted February 27, 2004 Posted February 27, 2004 Post a picture with the 17's on the car then stevio because I reckon it'll have the ground clearance of a Landrover. Quote
neilwillis Posted February 27, 2004 Posted February 27, 2004 Therein lays the rub Blatters, and you are quite correct, a truly sorted car, with all the bells and whistles will cost more of course. Quote
adhawkins Posted February 27, 2004 Posted February 27, 2004 Post a picture with the 17's on the car then stevio because I reckon it'll have the ground clearance of a Landrover. This car has 17s on: As does this pink one (sorry Si! ) To my mind, the wheels look too big, and the tyres too low profile. Plus there's the performance downsides that people will (hopefully) back me up on! Andy Quote
Eccentric_Rich Posted February 27, 2004 Posted February 27, 2004 Hmm, I think they look OK, the bottom line is if you want to go round corners like Automan (showing my age) you run 13's and if you want respect from the Max Power boys you run 15's, 16's or 17's. Quote
adhawkins Posted February 27, 2004 Posted February 27, 2004 Hmm, I think they look OK, the bottom line is if you want to go round corners like Automan (showing my age) you run 13's and if you want respect from the Max Power boys you run 15's, 16's or 17's. Why would anyone want that? Think I'd better change my 15s to 13s right now if that's what people think... Andy Quote
Blatman Posted February 27, 2004 Posted February 27, 2004 Plus there's the performance downsides that people will (hopefully) back me up on! Ride quality on 40 profile tyres will be awful, IMHO. When it's crashing and banging over every slight bump (and it will, 'cos Westfields are *very* communicative) it'll put you off really pushing it. When you do push it, it'll skip around like a ballet dancer on Prozac. Result...... you'll drive slower. Also, 17" rims and tyres will add unsprung weight. Do not underestimate just how much. People converting from what they considered to be lightweight 15" rims have reported savings of up to 7Kg's per corner. This is about 4-5% of the entire vehicle weight, so it is a significant amount. Add to that the increased inertia of a big wheel, and turning a corner becomes more difficult than it might be with a smaller rim. All in all, the only reason to fit anything much above 15's is just for show, and not for go, except in one or two exceptional circumstances......... Put on a set of 185 or 205 60's, and you'll think you're in a different car. It'll feel nicer over the lumps, it'll change direction better, and the nice sticky rubber is about half the price, so you can buy twice as many sets...... IMVHO, 195-50-15 is just about ideal for all but the most powerful Westfields, if "big" wheels are your thing. on 13's, 185-60 is best, unless you have more than about 160-170bhp, when it's worth considering 205's for the rears..... Quote
scruffythefirst Posted February 27, 2004 Posted February 27, 2004 IMVHO, 195-50-15 is just about ideal for all but the most powerful Westfields, if "big" wheels are your thing. on 13's, 185-60 is best, unless you have more than about 160-170bhp, when it's worth considering 205's for the rears..... How wide do you need for a laggy 350bhp cossie? Scruffy Quote
stu999 Posted February 27, 2004 Posted February 27, 2004 ...and not forgetting to mention that tyres for 17's are more often than not are designed for far heavier vehicles. So the carcass will not perform as well, and the compound is likely to be harder, which is good for mileage, not so good for grip. Quote
adhawkins Posted February 27, 2004 Posted February 27, 2004 I thought you were never gonna show up to back me up Blatters! Andy Quote
Blatman Posted February 27, 2004 Posted February 27, 2004 I thought you were never gonna show up to back me up Blatters! Something wrong with the search function? Quote
stevio Posted February 29, 2004 Posted February 29, 2004 would love to post a pic rich but..... 'aint got a clue how to do this.... just how will it ride as high as a landrover....... my overall wheel and tyre height is the same as 14,15, or 16 package......... plus the wonders of adjustable shockers....... it sits at 175mm all round. My 17's are only 1.6kgs heavier than the 15's westfield sell...... IMHO not much to shout about on my 670kg car. Plus as i stated right at the start of this thread ... I just like the look of them and will get a little benefit on the track. I can't see any performance downsides at all...... and nobody has come on here and said that there will be..... or why........ Quote
mb893 Posted February 29, 2004 Posted February 29, 2004 it sits at 175mm all round. I could almost drive under that Average ride 100mm Quote
adhawkins Posted February 29, 2004 Posted February 29, 2004 I can't see any performance downsides at all...... and nobody has come on here and said that there will be..... or why........ Did you read Blatman's post 3 or 4 above yours? Andy Quote
Blatman Posted February 29, 2004 Posted February 29, 2004 and will get a little benefit on the track. No, you won't....... My 17's are only 1.6kgs heavier than the 15's westfield sell Westfield don't sell especially light wheels, IIRC. Plus, you're already admitting to having 1.6Kg's per corner more. If that's without a tyre, expect that figure to go up. and nobody has come on here and said that there will be..... or why........ I guess you're just ignoring me then......... So, to re-iterate...... Unsprung weight. Lots. Ride quality. Poor. Rotational inertia. Lots, making turn is less than snappy. Sure, compared to a tin top, it'll be like a go kart. Compared to my 13" shod Westfield, it'll feel like a tin top........ Tyre compounds are likely to be really hard, leading to..... Getting the tyres warm enough. Slim chance, especially on the road. It'll take longer that you might think on a track....... Quote
Nick M Posted February 29, 2004 Posted February 29, 2004 I just like the look of them and will get a little benefit on the track. I can't see any performance downsides at all...... and nobody has come on here and said that there will be..... or why........ See Blatman's post. Plus, back to back tests on my car show that the car handles much better with 13" wheels than with 15" ones. It's more nimble and, subjectively I'll grant you, more confidence inspiring on 13" wheels. It's not just the weight, but where that weight is - with 17" and low profile tyres a lot of the weight will be concentrated towards the outside edge so the gyroscopic effect is much greater - they're harder to spin up, slow down and change direction. Yes, there's a theoretical advantage to having low profile tyres, but in practice I think this only works with well controlled suspension geometry and proper racing tyres. Quote
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