RL-7 wheels

[HarryW]

Chaps some advice from the Cerbera collective please, as part of the rebuild project bigger front brakes are going on so the 16's are coming off to accomodate them.

I know most put the latest Spiders on for this, but I really prefer the RL-7's look on a Cerb . Also the 18" spiders fall down with me on the front wheel clearances/steering lock stakes.

options I have is I can either fit 17" RL's all round (17x8.5???) or fit 17x8.5" on the front and 18x9"s on the rear, both still in RL-7's .

Question has anyone done this , my reasoning for the bigger rear is to try and get 265's (35) on them in anticipation that I might have some issues trying to getting the power down . I also I think the 18" RL's look like the dogs danglies and would fit them alround but I don't want to compromise the turning circle.

Any advice and experience welcome .

[dc53]

is this for your cirby project
if it is your are sure cracking on with it good luck. Cant wait to see the end product keep up the good work

Edited by dc53 on Sunday 16th July 21:40

[simonsparrow]

The new Marcos has 17" on the front and 18" on the rear as you describe, could be an interesting way to go.

[Autonotiv]

Harry can you post some pics of the RL's please?

[Touching Cloth]

Have you seen the Silverstone SP wheels? 18" all round with 8" front and 9" at the back. I know Boss Cerb is running 265/35 on these at the back (albeit he said that it was Toyo's only as the Pirelli's in that size rubbed). Also fronts being only 8" and with the correct offsets I understand that the turning circle is not impeded and you don't need to stop locks. Also heard that the 18" RL's were prone to problems with cracking or something, do look lovely in that size thouugh. Maybe you want to keep a stock look however.

[SP]

Touching Cloth said:

Have you seen the Silverstone SP wheels? 18" all round with 8" front and 9" at the back. I know Boss Cerb is running 265/35 on these at the back (albeit he said that it was Toyo's only as the Pirelli's in that size rubbed). Also fronts being only 8" and with the correct offsets I understand that the turning circle is not impeded and you don't need to stop locks. Also heard that the 18" RL's were prone to problems with cracking or something, do look lovely in that size thouugh. Maybe you want to keep a stock look however.

Spot on TC... you were paying attention! The SP12 wheels are also lighter than Spiders and RL-7s. RL-7 wheels suffer from fatigue cracking due to poor material composition at the manufacturer.

[gazzab]

the 18 RL7s do not impede turning circle.

[TVRWhoa]

Having recently swapped RL-17 for spiders, I don't think that the turning circle is that much difference, o.k. its a bit tighter, but then a cerb never did have the turning circle of a black cab anyway, and lets face it in normal driving mode how often do you have fulllock on anyway, except when parking, and when you get used to the turning circle of a cerb you compensate for it.

RL-17's look good, but IMHO the spiders cut it every time, go for 40 profile, rather than the 35 norm, and you won't buckle them as much either.

I got a set of four 18" (toyo T1)from romford tyres on ebay for 320 quid, much cheaper than I could got 17's all round, for me its spiders.

Hope this gives you my perspective from someone who has recently done the swap - back to 17" no way.

[HarryW]

gazzab said:

the 18 RL7s do not impede turning circle.

What size were the rims on the front as I've only seen 18x9 in the RL7's, were there different ones front and back .

I understand the cracking/porous issues with some of the 18" RL7's but I feel that the duff batch now must be out of circulation and exchanged for Spiders by now .

[Paulk]

I have had my RL 18" for 5 years now with no problems. The 18" dont alter the turning circle either, you will be lucky to find a set.

[HarryW]

Paulk said:

I have had my RL 18" for 5 years now with no problems. The 18" dont alter the turning circle either, you will be lucky to find a set.

I've already have a pair of 18x9's . Do you know if the fronts are a different size/offset .
The steeering lock issue comes from those fitting the 18" spiders, are we saying the 18" RL's don't have the same problems

[paulk]

HarryW said:

Paulk said:

I have had my RL 18" for 5 years now with no problems. The 18" dont alter the turning circle either, you will be lucky to find a set.

I've already have a pair of 18x9's . Do you know if the fronts are a different size/offset .
The steeering lock issue comes from those fitting the 18" spiders, are we saying the 18" RL's don't have the same problems

I am not sure about the front offset, give Tony a ring at HHC he supplied mine all them years ago. Yes only a problem with the lock if you fit spiders the RL's are ok and dont have the same problem.

[HarryW]

I've done a trawl through back posts and I am now officially a little confused (nothing unusual there I hear you say).

Can peeps post updated details on the two RL-7 sizes used on cerbs:

17" x 8.5" Rear - offset = 35?
17" x ??" Front - offset = ???

18" x 9" Rear - Offset = 35?
18" x ?? Front - Offset = ??

[Touching Cloth]

HarryW said:

I've done a trawl through back posts and I am now officially a little confused (nothing unusual there I hear you say).

Can peeps post updated details on the two RL-7 sizes used on cerbs:

17" x 8.5" Rear - offset = 35?
17" x ??" Front - offset = ???

18" x 9" Rear - Offset = 35?
18" x ?? Front - Offset = ??

My handbook says that the 4.5 runs 17x8 on the front. Wouldn't say it is infallable however as it goes onto say that it then has 16x7.5 on the back - guess the latter part was a typo and carried over from the 4.2, no real reason to doubt the width of the front one as it sounds like it would be about right. My guess is that even with the 18" RL's they would not have gone any wider than 8" on the front as tyre would have the same prob as the spider (i.e the 235 being stretched out across a rim that was too wide) 8" is better for a 235 I believe.

[HarryW]

Touching Cloth said:

HarryW said:

I've done a trawl through back posts and I am now officially a little confused (nothing unusual there I hear you say).

Can peeps post updated details on the two RL-7 sizes used on cerbs:

17" x 8.5" Rear - offset = 35?
17" x 8" Front - offset = ???

18" x 9" Rear - Offset = 35?
18" x 8.5 Front - Offset = ??

My handbook says that the 4.5 runs 17x8 on the front. Wouldn't say it is infallable however as it goes onto say that it then has 16x7.5 on the back - guess the latter part was a typo and carried over from the 4.2, no real reason to doubt the width of the front one as it sounds like it would be about right. My guess is that even with the 18" RL's they would not have gone any wider than 8" on the front as tyre would have the same prob as the spider (i.e the 235 being stretched out across a rim that was too wide) 8" is better for a 235 I believe.

Agree and have updated the quote.........

[jensena]

My Owners Handbook says the 4.5 has 8x17 on both Front AND Rear (235/40x17 front, 255/40x17 Rear)

[gazzab]

send a mail to pxwheels - he has them in stock and will prob tell you tthe size and offset?

[HarryW]

gazzab said:

send a mail to pxwheels - he has them in stock and will prob tell you tthe size and offset?

Gary I'd send you mail but its not activated, speaking to Andy this afternoon he said you have experience in this area, can you drop me a mail. Ta H

[gazzab]

HarryW said:

gazzab said:

send a mail to pxwheels - he has them in stock and will prob tell you tthe size and offset?

Gary I'd send you mail but its not activated, speaking to Andy this afternoon he said you have experience in this area, can you drop me a mail. Ta H

Think my email bit should work. YHM !
I have had 2 sets of 18 RL 7s, 2 sets of 18inch spiders and 1 set of RL7 17s !
My current set of spiders are from pxwheels ie I bought 4 wheels from the web (£180 all in), swapped with pxwheels, bought nuts, locking nuts n caps from Raving Queen, fitted wheels myself (ie hacksawed the rear hubs and fitted lock stops at the front). Got tyres from Leigh tyres.

[HarryW]

OK then the conclusion I've come to is the 17" are x 8" front and rear, the 18" are x8.5" front and x9" rear.

The other conclusion is that its not worth trying the 18" as they could be dangerous, so I've taken Gaz's suggestion and have a set of 17" coming direct from Pxwheels . The only down side was they are already refurbished and silver, I didn't have the heart nor wallet to tell them to strip and do them again in black, so standard 17" RL7s in silver it is ,
.. and to confirm its 235/40 and 255/40 on those rims yes .

Edited by HarryW on Wednesday 19th July 22:25