17" RS Diamond Cut

[matt101]

Just purchased a set of the above wheels for my 99 4.5 Chimaera. They are off to Lepsons today to be refurbished. Cant wait to get them on the car!!

I see that a few people have used spacers to keep the correct offsets but I have no idea what size spacer to go for at the front and back. I have no idea where best to get spacers that will fit.

Offsets of the RS wheels are all ET35 and they are 7.5 x 17.
Planning to run 225/45/17 at the rear and 205/40/17 up front.

Any advice most welcome.

Will get some pics up when they are on

[SILICONEKID345HP]

I would put between 5 and 10mm on the front . They are all ready 1/4" further out and inwards because of the wider wheel .Rears just leave lone.

[rigga]

Last run of griffs came with et35 7.5 inch rims, so I'd try them first before deciding if you need spacers or not .....I don't.

[QBee]

I would try without spacers first.
The rear should be 33mm offset, so close enough.
You might need a spacer on the front, but the later cars were 33mm offset at the front, and I have 38 mm wheels on mine with a 5mm spacer with no issues.

Do be aware that if you go bigger than 5mm spacers you will need to get longer wheel studs.

Tyres.

Your selections are ok, but perhaps could be better.
The rears are fine. The size you have selected is a nice width and profile. At 634mm rolling diameter, it is 3mm bigger than the standard 225/50 16......irrelevant.

Personally I think the fronts are too small, especially a bit narrow for 7.5J wheels.
I had 205 tyres on 7J wheels and they looked too skinny. Go for 215/40 17, which gives you a 603mm diameter. Or even 225/40 17, which are 612mm diameter..
205/40 17 is only 596mm diameter. The standard 205/55 15 gives a diameter of 606mm.

[s p a c e m a n]

I always thought that the standard wheels looked a bit tucked under the arches so knew that I wasn't going to stick with the standard offset when I changed my wheels, I just stuck them on and then measured how much I could make them come out without rubbing the arch. I think I've got 16 on the front and 20 on the back but can't remember what offset my wheels came in although they were off an escort.

If you're buying spacers then buy hubcentric ones and not just those cheap flat dangerous things that you can get in Halfords. I got mine from here MTEC EBAY Anything over 5mm you need longer studs for. They are very very easy to change, two swift knocks from a lump hammer and they fall out the back, you don't need to remove the hub/caliper blah blah.

[QBee]

s p a c e m a n said:

I think I've got 16 on the front and 20 on the back but can't remember what offset my wheels came in although they were off an escort.
.

That's interesting. I have a spare set of 7J 17 inch wheels, TVR fit with TVR badges, except the offset is 18, not 25 or 33, so they stick out further than standard. Perhaps I should put them on Classifieds? I don't want to keep them.

[s p a c e m a n]

The way my wheels sit are wider than standard and now that I've got them on I'd take a stab at saying they could have been a lot further out. I'm guessing the uneven length wishbones pull the top in quite a bit under compression as the only rub marks I've ever had are up inside the top of the arch from when I was first setting the suspension up and had it too soft, they've never caught the lip.

[Grey Ghost]

I have these on my car (see profile pic) but in matt finish. They suit the car very well and look lovely after Lepson's have had them for a week

I run 215/40/17 on the front and 225/45/17 rears. The fronts on mine have spacers, either 5mm or 10mm, and they fill the arches rather well.

[Classichim]

Is it likely the car will be lighter on the tyres with as wide a track as possible, or is it negligible?
Spaceman are you using standard geo settings
I'd like to fill the arch more!
I'd agree the 205's on 17's look too thin on the wheel but they do turn in well on the roads.

[macdeb]

I used to have a set, suit the car really well looking 'factory'.
You will need 8mm spacers to the front only.

[Pinx]

I Was bidding on a set of these RS seven spokes on EBay and today the seller pulled them, I hate it when sellers do that

[matt101]

Will give it a try without spacers first. I guess that problems will show ( if they are going to) on full lock rather than arch clearance?

225 rear and 215 fronts it is!

Next on the list is shocks, had avos on a cerb which where ok and racing reds on a chimaera 500 which where great. Not sure if things have moved on again now as this was a few years back. Are gaz monos a good choice? The car feels pretty loose at the moment. Very soft and a bit vague.

Thanks all

[matt101]

Will give it a try without spacers first. I guess that problems will show ( if they are going to) on full lock rather than arch clearance?

225 rear and 215 fronts it is!

Next on the list is shocks, had avos on a cerb which where ok and racing reds on a chimaera 500 which where great. Not sure if things have moved on again now as this was a few years back. Are gaz monos a good choice? The car feels pretty loose at the moment. Very soft and a bit vague.

Thanks all

[matt101]

Will give it a try without spacers first. I guess that problems will show ( if they are going to) on full lock rather than arch clearance?

225 rear and 215 fronts it is!

Next on the list is shocks, had avos on a cerb which where ok and racing reds on a chimaera 500 which where great. Not sure if things have moved on again now as this was a few years back. Are gaz monos a good choice? The car feels pretty loose at the moment. Very soft and a bit vague.

Thanks all

[phazed]

Monos are good, I run a set and have done for 4 years.

[QBee]

I was discussing shocks with my TVR guy yesterday, and Monos are his idea of the best damper for a sensible budget, and good for both track and road.

[macdeb]

matt101 said:

Will give it a try without spacers first. I guess that problems will show ( if they are going to) on full lock rather than arch clearance?

Thanks all

Without spacers they can catch the lower wishbone on full lock, also it seems to me you may exaggerate oversteer by having a narrower front track? Anyhow, good luck.

[SILICONEKID345HP]

Iv`e been trying to make a decision for a long time ,after a serious think this is what i`m going for

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqqZ28m8uCo

[matt101]

That brings back memories

3ft spacers on order.
Also, I think I have decided on the shocks to go with it now. Its going to handle so well.

"And thats the last time anyone saw him alive "

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgIrDyUEBjY

[SILICONEKID345HP]

matt101 said:

That brings back memories

3ft spacers on order.
Also, I think I have decided on the shocks to go with it now. Its going to handle so well.

"And thats the last time anyone saw him alive "

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgIrDyUEBjY

How did they manage that ?