scooby Posted March 24, 2003 Share Posted March 24, 2003 Ok i have just bought a 1989 Westfield 1800 Roadster and i like the idea of bigger wheels due to seeing one with 16's on it and it looked the dogs nads. On my above car (Mk1 escort donor) what size can i go up to .ATM it has 185 x 60 x 14's on it. I would like 215 x 45 x 16's...CAN I DO THIS ? What are the pros and cons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adhawkins Posted March 24, 2003 Share Posted March 24, 2003 Umm... Don't mean to be picky, but is there any reason you felt the need to start two near identical threads within days of each other? Couldn't this have gone in the other thread? Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bananaman Posted March 24, 2003 Share Posted March 24, 2003 scooby I think you will find the cocensus of opinion beeing that 15" is the max size for any kind of decent ride quality & a lot of people wanting better handeling are going for 13" rims. Depends on what you want MAX power looks or great handeling? Andy P.S. Not much good tyre choice at 14" IMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RICHARD+PHILIP Posted March 24, 2003 Share Posted March 24, 2003 Sccoby i would second bananaman go for 15" rims probably 7" wide with 195 50 15 tyres. with 215 tyres you maybe over tyreing it i.e Too much grip for the power available (yes it's possible! Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby Posted March 24, 2003 Author Share Posted March 24, 2003 Quote by adhawkins "Don't mean to be picky, but is there any reason you felt the need to start two near identical threads within days of each other? " Sorry pal just wanted some answers "i am a newbie here dont put me off just trying to fit in" So 15 inch is about the best ... Where do i get cycle wings that wil fit larger tyres than 185's IE 195 - 215 's. Thanks in advance.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisbin Posted March 24, 2003 Share Posted March 24, 2003 Where do i get cycle wings that wil fit larger tyres than 185's IE 195 - 215 's. Thanks in advance.... Westfield..... PlaysKool Tiger Dax c******m.... All depends on shape/colour/price you want!! HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adhawkins Posted March 24, 2003 Share Posted March 24, 2003 I think everyone so far has said 13" is the best. 15" is the biggest people say you should put on. Also, take into consideration what people have said about the size of the tyres. Putting huge tyres onto it will significantly change the handling characteristics of the car... There's plenty of discussion on this elsewhere...try doing a search. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bananaman Posted March 24, 2003 Share Posted March 24, 2003 Scooby As Mr Hawkins has said 15" is about the max you(I) would want to goto. You have to remeber that these cars are very light in comparison to most other road cars so can getaway with running taller tyres. The reason that i have chosen 13" rims is that they are lighter than most 15" rims, the tyres are cheaper (185/60R13 Yokohama AO32's =£60, 195/50R15's are about £100) & supposedly you get more feel, which is never a bad thing. I say supposedly cos i've only just changed & will know better after a few trackdays. Andy P.S. Tyres now theres a whole nother subject DO A SEARCH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick M Posted March 24, 2003 Share Posted March 24, 2003 Empirical evidence of a direct comparison between 15" and 13" wheels. 15" wheel weighs in the region of 16.5kg, 13" wheel about 11.5kg. Car running on 15" wheels felt "heavy" - it was harder to provoke the back end to move around and the intertia of the wheels meant that it was harder to get the rear wheels spinning. Also the ride height was higher which has an impact on the centre of gravity. Same car running on 13" wheels - OMFG !! Car felt light, nimble, turned in better was much more chuckable and getting the back end hanging out was easier and much more controllable. The factor was massively increased !! Neither set of tyres was particularly sticky - both Yokohamas but nothing more exciting than A520s (old) and something they call AVS Intermediates here in the US. Only other change to the car was to dial in a fraction more negative camber on the front with the 13" wheels (which in turn probably gave a little more toe-out). It really is chalk and cheese territory !! Unsprung weight makes a *massive* difference to these cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamie Posted March 24, 2003 Share Posted March 24, 2003 i am running 17" with 215's x 40%on the front and 235's x40%they fit under the arches no probs i have detchable on rear and cycle on front hope this help's jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adhawkins Posted March 24, 2003 Share Posted March 24, 2003 Blimey, and I thought my wheels looked big compared to the arches (see avatar). Got any photos of those monsters? I think my ST170 has only got 17" wheels on it! Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby Posted March 24, 2003 Author Share Posted March 24, 2003 thanks for all the advice gonna get some 205/50/15 's on best of both worlds.... good looks and not damaging the handling to much .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bananaman Posted March 24, 2003 Share Posted March 24, 2003 Scooby Get 195's for the front 205's will be OK on the back but total overkill on the front. IMHO. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbo Tommo Posted March 24, 2003 Share Posted March 24, 2003 FWIW Wotbox won the speed series on 16" rims with A520's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisbin Posted March 24, 2003 Share Posted March 24, 2003 FWIW Wotbox won the speed series on 16" rims with A520's And if you really want to spend some time reading about tyres..........try here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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