Bigger wheels

[Dave B]

OK, I have had no luck finding any 15" anthracites but have noticed some HPC 16" on ebay. Can anyone advise any handling problems going to 16". Car is 1989 Xflow 165bhp 5 speed(BGH) conversion, Dedion and LSD. I really only need ground clearance as I am emigrating to a house with very steep drive.

DaveB

[Stationary M25 Traveller]

Would some civil engineering works on the drive produce more benefit ? We used to live in a house with a drive downwards at a crazy angle. We had to knock the top surface off the centre of the concrete at the transition from the pavement to the drive, and build up the level of the ramps where the wheels ran (just at the top of the slope), to effectively 'widen the pavement', and ease the transition on to the slope.

 

7 related photos

[Dave B]

The top of the drive will be modded as you suggest, however the big problem is at the bottom as the drive goes straight onto the road so no mods can be done there. I had a hire car in June when last visiting and almost ripped the front apron off it is soooooo steep. I have taken all appropriate measurements of the caterham and an engineer is going to take a look for me next week. But the big wheels look so good I thought.

DaveB

[Dickie Normuss]

Dave

 

I don't think going to 16" wheels will help much as they use a 45 profile tyre, I would guess the 15" wheels use a higher profile tyre so the overall diameter won't be much difference. The perceived wisdom is that small wheels are better. I have the HPC wheels and can tell you they do 'tramline' quite a lot with the 205 tyres. Also with such a small sidewall there's very little 'give' which can cause a jarring ride sometimes and sometimes a lack of 'feel'. Unlike a taller tyre that will flex a bit under a load, these don't as much so the grip can be there one moment, then gone quite quickly 😬

 

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[Cookie Monster]

Have to agree with Ric: 16" wheels tramline & ride quality not that good.They also make steering quite heavy too esp at low speed.

I would favour the 15" or lower but obviously that may not help your drive angle problem.

 

Phil.

[Sheds Moderator]

As stated above conventional wisdom is that 13 or 14s work best as the spring of the tyre helps the ride and handling. I would fit 70 profiles to a 13/14 rim.

[Dickie Normuss]

Smaller tyres are usually cheaper too

 

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[caterhamnut]

Why not get some adjustable platforms and raise the ride height at the front - you may have to jiggle around a bit and balance by lifting the rear, but you should be able to gain a little bit without too much handling sacrifice...

Carry a c-spanner and it would also give you the otption of winding things down if you needed to, for a track day for example....probably too much hassle for every drive out, but for a longer trip...

 

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Edited by - angus&tessa on 9 Nov 2007 15:10:50

[Dave B]

Thanks Angus

Already have adjustable platforms on spax all round. Any ideas how much height I could gain

[alan c]

I have 15 and 16 wheel and by the time you allow for differnet tyre profiles there is no difference in ride height between them.

Check but I think you need different wings and stays for 13/14 to 15/16 in wheels.

Alan

[Dickie Normuss]

You're right about the wing stays Alan

 

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Watch out, whatever hits the fan will not be distributed evenly

[millsn]

I found the big tyres run quite cool, too cool really. Sometimes you'd lose the back end at local roundabouts because the tyres were stone cold. Swapping to 13" wheels loses ride height but makes the car more chuckable and improves the ride. The tyres also become about the half the cost but the small wheels are harder to clean

[Dartmoor7]

Assuming your car is at the standard ride height and rake now, fit 185/70x13 tyres,this gives maximum sidewall height amongst standard CC tyre options, see if this gives enough clearance; if not, raise the front ride height in small increments until the car just gets over the bump and then restore the rake by adjusting the rear.

 

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