"VINTAGE" WHEELS

"VINTAGE" WHEELS

Author
Discussion

s3c chris

Original Poster:

288 posts

129 months

Saturday 27th August 2016
quotequote all
Hi all.

It's probably something to do with my age but I love the look of "BBS" style wheels.
I never got around to getting a set on the last car but fancy some on my current one, a year 2000 fitted currently with 245/45x16R and 205/50x15F tyres on 7.5" and 7" eStoril rims from the factory.

My original plan was to get a set of silver Lenso BSX alloys, 16 all round but they seem to be like hens teeth to get hold of with no firm re stocking date available from thr distributor. The only current options are a set of black ones or a set of 17" all round in 7.5" or 7.5"and 8.5" staggered fitment. I can't make my mind up about the 17" fronts (pictures welcome) though as most seem to look too big and I don't particularly want 40 profile tyres on the front and apparently 215/45x17 can be a bit hit and miss regarding clearance issues.

Do 17" wheels all round have a detrimental effect on the ride of the car?

There is another alternative from Calibre wheels and they are in stock! 17x8 on the rear and 7x16 on the front. With this combination I would go for 245/40 tyres on the rear and 225/45 tyres on the front.Seems ideal apart from the fact that a 225/45 tyre ideally needs a 7.5"rim.....
Does anyone have any experience of Calibre alloys? Apparently they have an alloy centre cap as opposed to a plastic one on the Lensos.....

After saying that though, TVR fitted 225 tyres onto a 7" rim from the factory with no issues.Once again I am confused!

It also seems to be getting harder to find the right tyres for our cars and as TOYOs seem to betting scarce in some sizes I was considering Yokohama ADO8R tyres as they come in the correct sizes for whatever combination I end up with.

Thanks for reading this and as usual all comments welcome! Chris.

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Saturday 27th August 2016
quotequote all
17 all round are fine as far as I have found in 30,000 miles driving. I would avoid going as skinny as 35 aspect ratio, but I have no real experience of these as I have avoided them, so that may be prejudice, not reality.

You say you are worried about 215/45 17 catching, then later suggest getting 225/45 17 for the fronts.......which are 10mm wider, and therefore 9mm bigger in diameter.

I presently have Toyo R1R tyres on my Silverstone SP12 wheels (no two brands/styles of tyre are identical) and my fronts are 225/45 17.....and they catch slightly on full lock on the back of the headlight inspection panel.

215/45 17 is the size of my track tyres (Yoko A048) on 17 inch Team Dynamics Monza wheels and they don't catch. The SP12s are 17 front and 18 rear by the way. However I cheat slightly - I have aftermarket dampers, so can soften the ride for road use. But as far as I remember the standard Bilsteins, they are fairly soft anyway.

In terms af the Chinaera stance, the standard 15/16 set up with standard tyre sizes gives you a 25mm bigger rear wheel than front. 245/45 17 rear and 215/45 17 front gives you a 27mm difference......which is fine. A tyre wears 12mm in diameter from new to knackered, so you will soon have the rears worn down to a 25mm difference!! Or you aren't trying.

s3c chris

Original Poster:

288 posts

129 months

Saturday 27th August 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for that reply.

I would only fit 225/45 on the fronts with 16" wheels, the car currently has 225/50x 15 on the front. If I go for the calibre wheels they are only available in 7" width and I was a litte concerned that would be too narrow for the 225 tyre but as I said, TVR got away with it!

If I go the 17"all round route, I would prefer the 215/45 tyres on the front but I have read that these can catch. I guess as with all TVR problems there are so many variables!

I don't suppose you have a picture of the 215/45x17 fronts?

Thanks again.

greyhulk

989 posts

105 months

Saturday 27th August 2016
quotequote all
Got the bbs ones on my chimaera 93, could do with a good refurb, I always preferred the esoteril rims on the chims personally

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Saturday 27th August 2016
quotequote all
s3c chris said:
Thanks for that reply.

I don't suppose you have a picture of the 215/45x17 fronts?

Thanks again.
I would never say never.....but I haven't ever had 215/45 17 fronts catch.
These are 215/45 17 fronts



And this is the 17s all round, with 215/45 17 front and 235/45/17 rear



And this is the 17/18 combo with 215/45 17 front and 235/40 18 rear



QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Saturday 27th August 2016
quotequote all
Bloody ipad!!

Jurgen Schmidt

824 posts

200 months

Saturday 27th August 2016
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Your tyres have excellent grip!!

SILICONEKID345HP

14,997 posts

230 months

Saturday 27th August 2016
quotequote all
Never go back 245/40/17 on the rear ,they look lost .I prefer 235/45/17 ,no problems at all.

My fronts are 205/50/16,great combo.

Edited by SILICONEKID345HP on Saturday 27th August 19:11

Nosh

982 posts

166 months

Saturday 27th August 2016
quotequote all
Jurgen Schmidt said:
Your tyres have excellent grip!!
Good one Jurgen!

Anthony - sort it!!

wink

Nosh

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Saturday 27th August 2016
quotequote all
On my third glass....CBA.

911legend

218 posts

220 months

Saturday 27th August 2016
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s3c chris

Original Poster:

288 posts

129 months

Sunday 28th August 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies and for taking time to post the pictures.

Wheels are a very subjective thing but I'm beginning to think that I prefer the 16" rims on the front and 17" on the rear. I also like to see a bit of the sidewall as opposed to some of the ultra low profile tyres that are around now. Another age related thing probably.....

Based on the available wheels it would seem that the 235 45x17 rear and 205 50x16 front would be a good set up on 8" and 7" rims respectively. The only doubt I have is that I would be going down in widths, the rears currently being 245 45x16 and the fronts 225 50x15, all factory fitted and running on standard 7.5" and 7" Estoril wheels. If I went for this combination I can get the Calibre wheels in ideal widths for the tyres and it does appear that there is far more choice of tyre in 235 and 205 sections... Would I notice any difference with the 205 tyres on the front?

It's a minefield and too expensive to make a mistake!

Regards Chris.

s3c chris

Original Poster:

288 posts

129 months

Sunday 28th August 2016
quotequote all
Still looking at pictures of wheels!
On final thought, DARE make the RS alloy which is similar to the LENSO BSX.
They do these in 8x16 and 9x16. With the correct offsets front and rear are these a posiiblity?
That way I can keep the standard size tyres on these size rims.....
Regards Chris.

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Sunday 28th August 2016
quotequote all
Sounds good to me.
While you are at it, Wheelbase Alloys are offering an extra £25 off those alloys right now. Just depends on how their price compares to start with.

Just bought these for my car. Black because the car is going yellow next year. And because I like them.


s3c chris

Original Poster:

288 posts

129 months

Sunday 28th August 2016
quotequote all
Those wheels look lovely! Buying them because you like them is the best reason too.
Your car will look lovely in yellow, but I am biased as mine is too....
I have been very confused by all these wheels though. I will find out more on Tuesday when everyone is open again but if they are available in the correct offsets, would there be a problem with 16" wheels in 9" and 8"widths?

Chris.

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Sunday 28th August 2016
quotequote all
I like the wheels you have been looking at. They really suit the car I think.
I have been trying to find photos of a Chim 500 with them.
I think the one I know belongs (still, just) to pk500.
Then you will see what they look like on a Chimaera.

I have had 215s on 7 inch wheels, 235s on 8 inch wheels. I am presently running 225s on both!
The black wheels (second hand, refurbished, £120) are 7.5 inch, so should suit a decent choice of tyre widths.
My car won't take much wider than 235s.

I have a link to a width chart that should help you. I will post a link in a short while.

s3c chris

Original Poster:

288 posts

129 months

Sunday 28th August 2016
quotequote all
You had a bargain with those wheels!

I've found loads of pictures of Chimaeras with similar wheels, mainly Lensos which seem unavailable in 16" with the right offsets.

911 Porsches seem to run 16" wheels, often 16x9 with 245 45 16 tyres and they look great to me. I'm personally not a fan of ultra low profile tyres so I am happy with 16" all round. The look is a bit "oldskool". I,ve not read of any 16x9 wheels on a Chimaera but would they fit? Most seem to fit 17 or 18" wheels. Likewise would 16x8 work on the front or would the extra width cause the wheels to catch the wishbones? Tyres in both cases would remain the same size.

There is a great picture of a Chimaera with 16" Xspokes all round. The car belongs to "Ace Of Hearts", it looks stunning and in proportion to me....

regards CHris.



OleVix

1,438 posts

147 months

Sunday 28th August 2016
quotequote all
I'll just leave this here...



Image wheels, 9x17 and 7,5x16

s3c chris

Original Poster:

288 posts

129 months

Sunday 28th August 2016
quotequote all
That looks gorgeous!

I'm surprised how good the black wheel centres look with the polished rims.
May I ask what offsets the wheels are and what size tyres you are using?

Thanks for the picture, Chris.

greyhulk

989 posts

105 months

Monday 29th August 2016
quotequote all
OleVix said:
I'll just leave this here...



Image wheels, 9x17 and 7,5x16
yes
think im going to try this combination on mine as they are due a refurb