Advice on Wheel size and Preferred Tyres
Discussion
Requirements vary: looks, comfort, or performance? (Remember that the T-series cars were designed to run on 16” wheels.)
Assuming that you keep the rolling radius the same then larger wheels will:
Downside: - cost more, have more expensive tyres, perform worse in the wet, perform worse on bumpy roads, be more susceptible to tram lining, increase the weight of the car, increase the unsprung weight, produce a harsher ride, increase the rotating unsprung weight (second moment of inertia) and be more liable to scuffing on kerbs when parking.
On the plus side they should: - prevent the tyre from distorting thus giving greater cornering grip in the dry and on smooth roads, be more direct giving greater steering feel and control, have less tyre wall flex (thus reducing both heat and fatigue and be better for long high speed journeys) and they should look good. Perhaps most of all they allow you to use top quality (UHP) rubber.
Larger wheels will effectively increase the spring rates and fitting lower section tyres with less sidewall flex can make the car more sensitive to suspension geometry changes. There are advantages to tyre wall flex when cornering too; this flex gives a lot of feedback and enables more progressive oversteer. Reducing this flex gives more ultimate grip but when it reaches the limit there is less opportunity to control it.
If a car was set up for one wheel size then by increasing the wheel diameter, keeping the same rim the same tyre widths the same rolling radius and the same tyre model then the mathematical advantages are not as much as the disadvantages, even after minimising them by adjusting the suspension set-up. Check whether the weight and the cornering speed of the car are not enough to mean that the tyre rolls onto its sidewall causing sidewall scrub during cornering.
Tyres for 14” wheels are a low point for performance rubber. From there the larger the wheel diameter the better the quality of rubber that is available.
Wheels have a mounting offset from centre known as ET (German = Einpress Tiefe, literally meaning "push in depth,"). The Pitch Circle Diameter (PCD) and Centrebore needs to be considered. Wheel spacers can only reduce this ET value, irrespective of the wheel diameter.
Also consider whether you think that very large wheels will look appropriate on a car that was designed with more modest wheels.
16” all round is probably the best combination for performance. The real choice should be from the roads which you use, your driving style and your preferences.
Cheers, Jonathan
Assuming that you keep the rolling radius the same then larger wheels will:
Downside: - cost more, have more expensive tyres, perform worse in the wet, perform worse on bumpy roads, be more susceptible to tram lining, increase the weight of the car, increase the unsprung weight, produce a harsher ride, increase the rotating unsprung weight (second moment of inertia) and be more liable to scuffing on kerbs when parking.
On the plus side they should: - prevent the tyre from distorting thus giving greater cornering grip in the dry and on smooth roads, be more direct giving greater steering feel and control, have less tyre wall flex (thus reducing both heat and fatigue and be better for long high speed journeys) and they should look good. Perhaps most of all they allow you to use top quality (UHP) rubber.
Larger wheels will effectively increase the spring rates and fitting lower section tyres with less sidewall flex can make the car more sensitive to suspension geometry changes. There are advantages to tyre wall flex when cornering too; this flex gives a lot of feedback and enables more progressive oversteer. Reducing this flex gives more ultimate grip but when it reaches the limit there is less opportunity to control it.
If a car was set up for one wheel size then by increasing the wheel diameter, keeping the same rim the same tyre widths the same rolling radius and the same tyre model then the mathematical advantages are not as much as the disadvantages, even after minimising them by adjusting the suspension set-up. Check whether the weight and the cornering speed of the car are not enough to mean that the tyre rolls onto its sidewall causing sidewall scrub during cornering.
Tyres for 14” wheels are a low point for performance rubber. From there the larger the wheel diameter the better the quality of rubber that is available.
Wheels have a mounting offset from centre known as ET (German = Einpress Tiefe, literally meaning "push in depth,"). The Pitch Circle Diameter (PCD) and Centrebore needs to be considered. Wheel spacers can only reduce this ET value, irrespective of the wheel diameter.
Also consider whether you think that very large wheels will look appropriate on a car that was designed with more modest wheels.
16” all round is probably the best combination for performance. The real choice should be from the roads which you use, your driving style and your preferences.
Cheers, Jonathan
rens914 said:
Arapo said:
Can anyone recommend where to get these from?
And also how much would it more or less be??
overhere the profile tyre centre can supply/order themAnd also how much would it more or less be??
they are between € 220 and € 250 (225-40/255-35)per piece
awesome grip
rens
Check this site out: www.tyredrive.com
This tyre with code Toyo / 225/40r18 pxt1-r 92y is only £94 each. And the Toyo / 245/40r18 xl pxt1-r 97y is £138 each. - not including fitting, but still sounds cheap..
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