17 inch rims on a T350
Discussion
Hi,
does anyone have experience with T350C and 17 inch rims?
I would like to test it for better directional stability
with 215/40(45) R 17 on front wheels and 255/40 R 17 on rear wheels.
Is there someone who has tested another offset on front wheels?
I heard something about the 3 mm spacers,
what about increasing disturbing tortional moment to the steering?
After changing castor with the two spacers to the maximum
i have no idea what I could do to improve unexpected behavior
driving through >longitudinally lane disturbances< (hope it is the right translation).
(front: camber -1 / toe in 1,5 mm / castor 4 deg with 225/35 R 18 org spiders
rear: toe in 3 mm / camber -1 with 255/35 R 18 org spiders)
Any meanings in there?
Regards from Germany.
Siggi
does anyone have experience with T350C and 17 inch rims?
I would like to test it for better directional stability
with 215/40(45) R 17 on front wheels and 255/40 R 17 on rear wheels.
Is there someone who has tested another offset on front wheels?
I heard something about the 3 mm spacers,
what about increasing disturbing tortional moment to the steering?
After changing castor with the two spacers to the maximum
i have no idea what I could do to improve unexpected behavior
driving through >longitudinally lane disturbances< (hope it is the right translation).
(front: camber -1 / toe in 1,5 mm / castor 4 deg with 225/35 R 18 org spiders
rear: toe in 3 mm / camber -1 with 255/35 R 18 org spiders)
Any meanings in there?
Regards from Germany.
Siggi
Edited by tvr2367t on Wednesday 24th August 09:36
Factory Geo settings for T350 circa 2005 were
Chassis Settings
K.P.I 5°
Castor 4 - 5°
Front Camber 0.5°-0.75° Negative
Front Toe 0-10”(0-1.5mm)IN
Rear Camber 1.25° Negative
Rear Toe 22”(3.0mm)IN
There seems to be recommendations to reduce the rear toe in to 2.0mm
The increased offset recommened by the now defunct Silverstone Performance of 3mm would give an wheel ET of ET39 compared to the standard front 18" spiders ET42. This might help as it supposed to allign the wheel centre with the Hubs rotational axis (if I understood it correctly) which should reduce deflection effects from road surface. Note you will probably need to run an 8" wide front rim with that offset to avoid the wheel extending outside of the arch.
Chassis Settings
K.P.I 5°
Castor 4 - 5°
Front Camber 0.5°-0.75° Negative
Front Toe 0-10”(0-1.5mm)IN
Rear Camber 1.25° Negative
Rear Toe 22”(3.0mm)IN
There seems to be recommendations to reduce the rear toe in to 2.0mm
The increased offset recommened by the now defunct Silverstone Performance of 3mm would give an wheel ET of ET39 compared to the standard front 18" spiders ET42. This might help as it supposed to allign the wheel centre with the Hubs rotational axis (if I understood it correctly) which should reduce deflection effects from road surface. Note you will probably need to run an 8" wide front rim with that offset to avoid the wheel extending outside of the arch.
Edited by fredd1e on Wednesday 24th August 16:40
I was having this debate with the boys from Track v Road when I picked up mine the other week, they agree that the 16s handle a lot better (in general) but the 18s look great, we then wondered about 17s. Would like to see how they look on the Tam
This all started after I wittered on about the divine handling the Lotus Evora has, man that thing flies down rough B roads. It just needs a Speed 6, and a less plastic interior, and a better body. And, oh bugger it....
This all started after I wittered on about the divine handling the Lotus Evora has, man that thing flies down rough B roads. It just needs a Speed 6, and a less plastic interior, and a better body. And, oh bugger it....
Ironballs said:
Yes. The T350c was designed and launched with 16" wheels but I think that all customer deliveries had the 18" option fitted hence my motor show suggestion.BCA said:
JR said:
Yes. The T350c was designed and launched with 16" wheels but I think that all customer deliveries had the 18" option fitted hence my motor show suggestion.
I can only remember the motorshow cars on 18s. JR said:
Maybe. I just wondered whether one may have been on 16s. It was just an idea of how you might find a 'photo of a T350c/t on 16s.
Yeah, I know... I find it odd that there haven't been any T350er's to make the switch, the chassis suited the 16's as they did the Tamora - it'd ride better, handle better (in theory, based on the Tamora) and I cant think the looks would be that badly effected.Anyone got any 16" spider wheels lying around that they want me to try on a T350c?

16's looking goooooood;
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3025283.htm
Edited by BCA on Wednesday 24th August 23:13
leef44 said:
Would you need to change the brakes as well? I read somewhere that the larger wheels were required to accommodate the callipers fitted. But then what do I know and maybe it was a passing comment from a journalist who knew less than me
Ignore journalists.
I think it may be an issue on the Sagaris/ larger braked Cerbera (4.5s)/possibly a few Tuscans - but for a Tamora/T350c - the brakes fit fine if they're standard. The chassis was developed with 16"s in mind.

Innnnnnnnnnnnnnnteresting indeed Graham!! Top work, I look forward to hearing what the results are, and what is then available to the TVR lot as a result. 
For those looking at the image and wondering what I am on about/ Graham has done, look at the logo on the rotor hubs - Audi. Much larger diameter from the looks of things, but could also mean cheaper disks/ upgrades/ potential for Audi wheels/aftermarket Audi wheels (presuming the PCD is the same and these havent had to be machined) etc etc...
For those looking at the image and wondering what I am on about/ Graham has done, look at the logo on the rotor hubs - Audi. Much larger diameter from the looks of things, but could also mean cheaper disks/ upgrades/ potential for Audi wheels/aftermarket Audi wheels (presuming the PCD is the same and these havent had to be machined) etc etc...
Edited by BCA on Thursday 25th August 17:08
How exactly are the wheel diameters measured? As I was mooching about in the garage after a little spin I spied the tape measure and thought I'd give them a quick check. 19.5 inches. Checked the 17s on the Subaru, 18.5 inches rim to rim across the middle.
What exactly does the 18" refer to, is it the well that the tyre sits in so essentially the internal diameter on the tyre bead?
What exactly does the 18" refer to, is it the well that the tyre sits in so essentially the internal diameter on the tyre bead?
Small update on this;
Have tested 17" wheels (RL7's wearing Toyo T1R's 235/40/17) on the front of the T350c.
They fit fine.
No rubbing - we just did a Sprint, so I can confirm this.
They ride better - noticeably so.
Stability isn't noticeably better.
They are lighter.
and finally...
they look rubbish. This is a combination of the wheels being less sexy than a set of spiders and the fact that these are our ridiculously scruffy set of wheels.
More info later on tomorrow/ in the week, had a 5:20am start, need sleep.
Not yet tried the rears, but we will do soon. One thing is for certain though, the RL7's are not what I consider light... the Spiders are heavier still! I cant help but feel the whole car would benefit massively from a MUCH lighter set of wheels.
Have tested 17" wheels (RL7's wearing Toyo T1R's 235/40/17) on the front of the T350c.
They fit fine.
No rubbing - we just did a Sprint, so I can confirm this.
They ride better - noticeably so.
Stability isn't noticeably better.
They are lighter.
and finally...
they look rubbish. This is a combination of the wheels being less sexy than a set of spiders and the fact that these are our ridiculously scruffy set of wheels.

More info later on tomorrow/ in the week, had a 5:20am start, need sleep.
Not yet tried the rears, but we will do soon. One thing is for certain though, the RL7's are not what I consider light... the Spiders are heavier still! I cant help but feel the whole car would benefit massively from a MUCH lighter set of wheels.
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