16s or 18s???

[NJP]

The car I have just bought is on its original 16s at the moment which are allegedly a "better" ride.

Thoughts?!?

I think the car might look better on 18s but don't know how much crashier the ride is going to be.

Keep the 16s with winter tyres and get 18s for the summer? Is it an easy swap? Geo issues?

[mk1fan]

I'd forget about the 16's. Out 'em. I'll happily take them to help you out.

[NJP]

Im clearly being stupid but WHAT?!?!?!?!

[chris watton]

Both the Tamora's I have had come with 18" wheels, so I don't know what the difference in ride quality would be. All I know is that I love the road manners of both, and they do fill the arches a lot better from a visual point of view, even though the rolling radius is about the same.

[Getsis]

I had both sets, the 16" are better ride and handling especially if racing, the 18" are more for show and make bump steer worse, most have 18 just because they look better, I only put the 16" on for track days, I would have kept them on if they were anthracite like the 18" I had.

[SteveSPG]

i have tried 16, 18 and 18 sp12

admittedly the spiders had road tyres, and the sp12 were wider stickier r1r.40 profile so some of my comments will be related to tyres as much as wheels...but i would comment:-

the 18 spiders were worst. more tendency to tramline and bump steer. the corners felt heavy to drive relative to others, turn in was sharper, but a it snatchy

the 16 were also road tyres, ride was much more compliant and comfortable. turn in was more predictable, not much slower, but more forgiving, less inclined to hang on to the wheel incase of kick back and snatch over bumps etc.

the sp12. these have r1r tyres 263 and 235 i recall. they feel far lighter to drive than either of the above. the ride sits between the 16 and 18 spiders comfort wise. turn in is very precise and predictable,

I would sell my 18 spiders tomorrow. i don't like them
i would keep the 16 spiders.... if i were on a long 2/3 week trip with my mrs, then she would appreciate the comfort. If i managed to wear the tyres, i would replace them with something stickier and i would consider keeping them
i like the 18sp12 best. they provide offset and rim widths perfect for my car, which the 16 or 18 don't (I'm not a fan of the stretched tyre look on the front of the 18).

All IMHO of course.

Edited by SteveSPG on Tuesday 25th February 16:39

[crazyidea]

I have 16's on mine and am happy with the ride and handling. I live in an area with awful roads with many potholes and undulations in the fens and the extra profile on the tyres makes a huge difference on what the car can take on. General concensus seems to be 16 better to drive, 18 better to look at, ask why you bought the car. I have just put new shocks on and that has made a massive difference to road manners as well.

[NJP]

Thanks for the replies folks.

Crazy - What shocks and tyres are you running on yours?

[billy no brakes]

NJP said:

Thanks for the replies folks.

Crazy - What shocks and tyres are you running on yours?

I have Gaz Monotubes and they are very good and Toyos tyres

Did you get my email re trimmers

[jev]

I run winter tyres on 16" spiders (some sort of Pirelli) and summers on 18" SP12s (Eagle F1).

I have found the 16" surprising good - stable on the road (less jitter) and more comfortable. I am beginning to wonder whether to sell the SP12s, buy another set of 16" spiders and go over to 16" in the summer as well. Or perhaps I just need to replace the Eagles.

Jev.

[crazyidea]

NJP said:

Thanks for the replies folks.

Crazy - What shocks and tyres are you running on yours?

Now running Gaz Monos and Toyos which seem the in vogue choice for fast road use. The Mrs, who rarely gets to drive the car, took it out tonight and said that she could tell it stuck to the road really.well with them.

[purpleliability]

Mk1fan, I have some Tamora 16's without tyres available if you are after some, they don't fit my Cerbera