RE: New alloy wheels for TVRs
Monday 15th May 2006
Silverstone Performance SP12 wheelIndependent TVR specialist Silverstone Performance has released a new motorsport wheel with fitments for all TVR models from Griffith onward.
New alloy wheels for TVRs
Silverstone Performance wheel looks the biz
Silverstone Performance SP12 wheel
The SP12 wheel has been developed as a direct replacement for the TVR 18-inch spider alloy, and is claimed to offer a number of important improvements:
- Light weight – the 18-inch SP12 wheel is 25% lighter than the equivalent ‘spider’ wheel, reducing unsprung weight by typically 3kg per wheel and shaving around 12kg from the weight of the car
- High strength – SP12s are heat treated to increase impact resistance and handle the heavy loadings of track use with sticky track tyres
- Handling – while the reduction in unsprung weight delivers a tangible improvement in ‘feel’ at the helm, it is the elimination of a TVR front geometry compromise that leads to improved straight line and turn-in characteristics
- Wider tyre options – the SP12 wheel is compatible with the standard TVR 18-inch tyre sizes used on spider wheels but can allow for a wider rear tyre (up to 275/35) on some TVR models.
- Style – the 12-spoke design is a classic motorsport style. The standard finish is “Racing Silver”. SP12s are supplied with new black zinc-coated wheel nuts and a choice of centre-caps with SP or TVR logos. Custom paint finishes are available at extra cost.
SP’s Matt Lee said: “We set out to make a good looking wheel that is technically superior and which provides tangible performance benefits. The SP12 has been under development for some time with the idea being to offer much more than a different look. The TVR spider is relatively heavy and prone to buckling. Because most TVRs were not originally designed for the 18-inch spider wheel at the sizes TVR uses, handling is compromised and, particularly on Cerberas, tyre shoulder wear rates are excessive. The SP12 solves all these problems and also allows wider-than-standard tyres to be fitted to the rear of the car if desired.”
- TVR Tamora/T350 – Front 8-inch x 18-inch; Rear 9-inch x 18-inch. Standard tyre sizes: Front 225/35; Rear 235/40
- TVR Tuscan – Front 8-inch x 18-inch; Rear 9-inch x 18-inch. Standard tyre sizes: Front 235/40; Rear 245/40
- TVR Cerbera – Front 8-inch x 18-inch; Rear 9-inch x 18-inch. Standard tyre sizes: Front 225/35; Rear 255/35
- TVR Sagaris/Tuscan S – TBA; Dynamic testing in progress
- TVR Chimaera/Griffith – 4 stud (5 stud special order only, £POA)
- Front 7-inch x17-inch; Rear 8-inch x 18-inch. Tyre sizes: Front 215/40 17; Rear 225/40 18 or 245/35 18
The 9-inch x 18-inch rear wheel can be fitted with up to 255/35 18; 265/35 18 and 275/35 18 tyres as potential upgrade options. These upgrades may require minor modifications to the inner wheel arches on certain models/examples due to TVR body manufacturing tolerances. Silverstone Performance will provide advice on request. Checking and adjustment of suspension geometry after fitment is also recommended to maximise handling improvements from the wheels.
Price: £846 for a set of four 18-inch SP12 wheels. Includes fitting supplied tyres (on existing rims or supplied new), precision balancing with nitrogen inflation and fitting to the car. For customers quoting “I saw it on Pistonheads”, there is a reduced price of £799 for all wheel orders placed before 31 July 2006. Prices exclude VAT.
Discussion
Nice looking wheels. Ballistic Banana said:
that looks a great deal for the 4stud Griffith/Chimeara owners
I might be missing something, or its the way I'm reading it, but I'm not sure I agree
£940 for 2 17's and 2 18's without tyres seems a little on the steep side to me.
The going rate in the aftermarket world for a set of 17's with tyres is about £600 and 18's about £700 (in fact the 18's on my Golf are £450 a set with tyres
) ok at those prices I wouldn't be expecting Toyo Poxies but it still seems a little expensive to me, but then I expect most TVR owners have deeper pockets than me. 
Edited to add VAT to the prices
>> Edited by raceboy on Monday 15th May 12:20
£800 for the Griffith/Chimeara 4 stud ones, which I think is a pretty good price as You try finding a wheel that fits the 4 stud with the correct inner clearances/offset etc... tres difficle although a few have but not sure at what costs, and other probs like the clearances with the brakes etc
BB
BB
And while I'm being picky.........
How come if you buy them via their website they are £846 inc VAT
SP wheel package
But if you mention PH to get the 'special' price its £799 plus VAT so that'll be a bargin of £939
still think they are too expensive though, be interested to know who's alloys they actually are though.
>> Edited by raceboy on Monday 15th May 15:00
How come if you buy them via their website they are £846 inc VAT
SP wheel package
But if you mention PH to get the 'special' price its £799 plus VAT so that'll be a bargin of £939
still think they are too expensive though, be interested to know who's alloys they actually are though.
>> Edited by raceboy on Monday 15th May 15:00
raceboy said:
And while I'm being picky.........
How come if you buy them via their website they are £846 inc VAT
SP wheel package
But if you mention PH to get the 'special' price its £799 plus VAT so that'll be a bargin of £939
still think they are too expensive though, be interested to know who's alloys they actually are though.
>> Edited by raceboy on Monday 15th May 15:00
I agree, if that does not include tyres it well over the top - I had 4 split rim spiders and toyo proxes ffitted to £895 all in.
Looking round SP's website I think I've found something that makes the wheels look like a bargin........
Indicator upgrade ......£80
If you can't find these in your local Halfords, or via eBay for £10-£20 you deserve to be fleeced.
I've got nothing against SP but come on, some of these prices are a joke, good luck to them if they can find enough fools to part with their hard earned cash
Indicator upgrade ......£80
If you can't find these in your local Halfords, or via eBay for £10-£20 you deserve to be fleeced.
I've got nothing against SP but come on, some of these prices are a joke, good luck to them if they can find enough fools to part with their hard earned cash
raceboy said:
And while I'm being picky.........
How come if you buy them via their website they are £846 inc VAT
SP wheel package
But if you mention PH to get the 'special' price its £799 plus VAT so that'll be a bargin of £939
still think they are too expensive though, be interested to know who's alloys they actually are though.
VAT is a PH error. The prices on the SP site and the PH offer both INCLUDE VAT.
The wheels were developed by SP for SP in much the same way as a car company commissions wheels from a wheel manufacturer. I did some of the development testing for SP with one of my TVRs and can vouch for the positive difference that a lighter wheel, to the correct specification (which spiders are not on the front of Cerbera), makes to the steering feel and handling. While the SP12 range covers all TVRs, there are several different part numbers in the range tailoring wheels EXACTLY to each TVR model.
Having buckled 13 spiders on two cars in 5 years, the idea of having a robust wheel appeals to me for economic reasons let alone anything else.
My 4.5 will have its SP12s on shortly and IMHO the price is pretty low considering the cost of the new wheels for my other Cerbera cost nearly £500 a corner. Needless to say, neither cars' wheels bear much resemblance in weight/strength/performance or any other sensible criterion to what's listed in the pages of Max Power. If you're happy to buy wheels on looks/price alone then good luck to you.
BossCerbera said:
The wheels were developed by SP for SP in much the same way as a car company commissions wheels from a wheel manufacturer. I did some of the development testing for SP with one of my TVRs and can vouch for the positive difference that a lighter wheel, to the correct specification (which spiders are not on the front of Cerbera), makes to the steering feel and handling. While the SP12 range covers all TVRs, there are several different part numbers in the range tailoring wheels EXACTLY to each TVR model.
As it appears TVR factory wheels are now made by Rimstock I'm not surprised the quality isn't as good as it used to be when the RV8 cars came fitted with wheels made by OZ.
BossCerbera said:
Having buckled 13 spiders on two cars in 5 years, the idea of having a robust wheel appeals to me for economic reasons let alone anything else.
Thats got to be excesive, I know people with spiders on Cerberas that get worked quite hard on road and track and never had any problems, you want to get on the phone to your local council about the potholes around your way
BossCerbera said:
My 4.5 will have its SP12s on shortly and IMHO the price is pretty low considering the cost of the new wheels for my other Cerbera cost nearly £500 a corner. Needless to say, neither cars' wheels bear much resemblance in weight/strength/performance or any other sensible criterion to what's listed in the pages of Max Power. If you're happy to buy wheels on looks/price alone then good luck to you.
On a price point, a quick surf of the net puts TVR standard wheels quality ie Rimstock at about £400-£500 with tyres (one of these offers even looked a little like spiders.....
For anyone interested.....17" Rimstocks
If your saying the SP wheel is made by someone higher up the pecking order, I'd hope so, for the same money your in BBS and OZ land.
Obviously you've got to claw back some development money and if these are designed with TVR in mind I can see a small advantage for customers that are looking to shave 10/10ths off their lap times, I hope you sell enough to make it worth your while.
But come on defend those £80 indicators
they are standard Max Power Ford/Multi fitment, your not going to tell me thy have undergone thousands of miles testing and are made in a factory in Sweden by Nordic virgins, hence the comedy price. Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff