Wheel/tyre advice please

[RichHH]

Hi all,

 

I currently run a 135bhp K series Seven on 185/65/14 Uniroyal Rainsports.... However, this is soon to go and will be replaced by a 220bhp Zetec with LSD... This, slightly surprisingly, also runs on the same sized tyres, albeit Nankang NS2Rs... The car will be for dry fast road use only, but from reading various threads on here the car seems like it might be a bit under-rubbered at the rear. I'd like to keep running on 14s as ground clearance a bit of an issue (speed bumps in road).

 

Supply of 14x7 and 14x8 wheels and suitable tyres seems limited.

 

Any thoughts/advice please?

[Wales South AR]

Change to 13" and fit higher profile tyres ground clearance will not change much. I rum R888 6"inch front and 8"rear.

[Tazio]

What he said !

[Tom_Arundel]

220 bhp.....LSD....`slim` tyres....40psi ....british roads......donuts....drifts....whats not to like?  

[eric]

Nankang NS2R good in 14"

[RichHH]

Thanks all... I may try running as is for a bit and then consider a 6 and 8" 13s.

[7 wonders of the world]

185 / 205  - 60 -13  Toyo R888R's   

[BenF]

Lots of 13" minilites for sale at the moment, may be worth buying a set just in case.  Should be easy to sell on if you don't use them.  This means sticking with narrow rears but I found in pure cornering a 7 is better balanced that way.

[Drumster]

I ran a 200bhp LSD Zetec on 185/70/13s (albeit A021Rs) on the road for many thousands of miles touring with 6" rims all round and never found it under-tyred (quite possibly because of the Yokos). I'd see what the existing set-up is like before investing i new wheels...

[7 wonders of the world]

Don't forget we have a club discount with Revolution wheels - Warren is the contact their and is very helpful.

[Wrightpayne]

I posed the question a few years ago about power outputs and need to switch from 6" to 8" rears. The learned response was 185s & 6" rears were good up to 200 bhp.

You're just over that power wise so guess it comes down to usage - lots of track days on smooth tarmac or bumpy B roads, where sump clearance necessary? 

[Wrightpayne]

Also, I'd google DVLA and engine swaps - they are more interested these days in modifications and may ask for receipts and/or want to inspect the vehicle.

(based on a few PH reads so could be complete tripe!). Also know of a mini owner who has reshelled it with a fibreglass shell and DVLA want it IVA'd before allowed on the road!

[OldAndrewE]

Ref #12 you should not have any issues with vehicle identity, i.e. the need for new tests, if just changing the engine (and transmission).  For the engine you only loose 1 point and the transmission 2 points on the DVLA system (see Vehicle registration: Radically altered vehicles - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) ).  Maximum points are 14 and you need 8 to keep the vehicle identity.

The advice on receipts, etc. is sound.  I have been asked for proof of ownership of an engine when changing one

[Nigel B]

I had a 120bhp 8 valve Vauxhall Seven fitted with 185/70 13s. I sold it three years ago & bought a 210bhp 420R which was fitted with fifteen inch wheels with 195/50 ZZS front & rear. 

I was expecting the 420 to feel wayward with an extra 90bhp over the VX, but it has always felt very well tied down & you can certainly give it the full beans in the dry without having to worry about the back end sliding unexpectedly. I guess improved tyres, suspension set up & the LSD help.

Since then, I’ve changed the Titan diff for a Tracsport & swapped the fifteen inch wheels for thirteens, with 8 inch rears & if anything, I’d say it feels a little bit TOO grippy at the rear, even with a recent upgrade to 220bhp. I've since had the car flat floored & adjusted to suit the new wheels, so it's not a set up issue.

I do wonder if I’d prefer the car with matching wheels front & rear. If my experience is anything to go by, I’d say you’d probably be okay with the same sized wheels. Perhaps just drive it for a while & see how it feels?

[RichHH]

Thanks Nigel (and others). I think I might as well try it as is for a while and see how it goes...

[Windsurfer]

Hi all! First post here! Just registered.

 

Do not want to change subject of the author but It might be a good solution for you too.

 

I am looking to switch from HPC 16in wheels (205/45/16 tires) to 13in apollo. I do not want to lower the ride height.

 

Did anyone run 205/60/13 all around? Toyo offer the r888 in this dimension and it would not lower the ride height. Toyo recommands 6in wheel width for their 205/60/13 tires.

 

Best regards.

 

 

 

[Nigel B]

If you have adjustable spring platforms, you can simply adjust the ride height to suit the new wheels. Having the car flat floored & properly set up makes quite a difference.

Oh... & welcome to Blatchat! 

[Windsurfer]

good! Thanks for you post Nigel,

I was told that the camber/toe will be affected but I guess adjusting the upper balljoint could correct this easily. Is that you thought too?

best regards

[Nigel B]

I think my approach would be to take it to a specialist & get it properly set up.

DPR Motorsport set my car up last spring & having the car correctly adjusted to suit the wheels & tyres you're using really does make a world of difference. 

They start at the beginning & ensure the ride height & rake are correct, before systematically working their way through every aspect of the set up, checking the corner weighting, camber, toe, caster & finally, dialling out any bump steer that may be present by shimming the steering rack.

I know a lot of members do set up their own cars, but I personally wouldn't feel confident enough to have a go myself. As you hint at in your post above, all this stuff is interlinked, adjust one aspect & it affects everything else.

Personally I think it's well worth the expenditure.