Why did TVR use smaller wheels in the front?

[Brithunter]

Is there a valid good reason for having 15" fronts and 16" rear wheels?

I know that having slightly wider rears compared to the fronts help with precision of the steering and tracking. MG-Rover did this wiht the MGF it helped keep the rear of the mid engined car from switching end with the front so easliy.............................. or that is what was claimed. I can say that have slightly narrower front tyres does reduce the twitchiness over over banding and white lines compared to have the same widths front and rear.

[BeastMaster]

It was to get a muscle car look.

A lot of owners will change the fronts to 16inch, maybe changing the back to 17 inch to keep the look, but this is due to the limited tyres available in 15 inch size or to have larger disc brakes on the front.

Many cars have now changed wheel size, but suggest this is to give a more modern look, as the large profile tyres and small dia. rims look old school and have not to much too do with adding performance.

Have not had too many problems finding front tyres, except have had to compromise the speed rating which the insurance company have accepted. It is possible to fit close to 300mm discs with 4 pot calipers on the front of the original 15 inch wheel, which improve the feel of braking, an important upgrade without modern braking aids like ABS

I think the original set up works well with the Classic look, which after all is what these cars are all about and as the value becomes stronger it will be the original versions which become sought after.

IMHO Andy

[Pupp]

Its because the target buyer was weaned on Raleigh Choppers

[phillpot]

Brithunter said:

Is there a valid good reason for having 15" fronts and 16" rear wheels?

Yes, would look silly the other way round.

[ClassicChimaera]

Wheels turn faster so aiding tyre and brake heat up, turn in better. To give it a more go cart feel.
This was the late 80's into the 90's when they were thinking of it all this.
Tyre tech as with most things has moved on so now I'd say it's negligible if it makes much difference.

I'm changing tyres and actually increasing the front size out of sinc with the rears slightly, so I'll be going in totally the other direction as in tyre speed so we'll see if I notice any difference.
In theory I'm possibly introducing a more understeer induced car,,, but here's the rub, on the roads I don't barrel into corners pushing on the front, I'm slow in fast out,,,, if that.

I'll keep the body rake nose down and I'm also thinking of making a more aggressive front splitter.

Soon see

[Brithunter]

Thank you. Am well aware of the lack of choice in good 15" tyres as the Rover 75 sits on 15 alloy rims as did theBlue 97 MGF. Luckily teh 75th MGF has 16" alloys as standard.

Was looking the other day at trye prices to check them out and noticed that it was not easy to find a match set to suit the 15" and 16" sizes on the Chimaera.

[QBee]

The front to rear rake does improve aerodynamics - but can easily be achieved with the same size wheels and tyres all round by simply adjusting ride heights - at least it can on my car, where I have adjustable dampers.

[ClassicChimaera]

Brithunter said:

Thank you. Am well aware of the lack of choice in good 15" tyres as the Rover 75 sits on 15 alloy rims as did theBlue 97 MGF. Luckily teh 75th MGF has 16" alloys as standard.

Was looking the other day at trye prices to check them out and noticed that it was not easy to find a match set to suit the 15" and 16" sizes on the Chimaera.

Some say the 15 inch wheel looks small in the wheel arch, pfffft. I quite like them

The truth it's the lack of tyres available and mixing and matching isn't a good idea means your very limited and in many cases just can't get the tyres of your choice.

16/17 is good but more and more 16/16 is better to my eye line and you can still get a good selection of tyres.
Big chunky tyres (like the old days) the 60's look really good on these cars, ultimate performance might not be there but these cars are light with very limited suspension travel so tyres can make a serious difference to its ability to take our British hell roads.
Buy the softest you can, they last about a century on our cars, you can't wear them out unless your a stunt man,

The light foot print and the cars nimble handling tend to mean on the roads you don't get them very warm at all unless it's a hot day.

I've got out and touched my tyres a hundred times over the few years I've owned it, unless your really getting aggressive they stay stone cold half the time in this country.
Go abroad and the car comes alive with grip because the tyres warm up, fan bloody tastic if you live in Provence.

[Brithunter]

Thank you for you input. As I am not driven any TVR as yet obviously it's impossible to say from experience of them but I can comment on running a car that weighs about the same as the Chimaera .................................... the MGF. Mine runs 16" rims with 40 profile tyres (215/40 R16) and of course is mid engined so is a bit light on the front. The fronts do get warm so it must be the difference in the suspension is all that I can think of.

Does anyone happen to know what the weight distribution is for the Chimaera?

[ClassicChimaera]

You'll notice the engine sits well back in the chassis, 50/50 but that swings towards the rear when your accelerating hard.
These cars do have a nice natural balance.

[Brithunter]

ClassicChimaera said:

You'll notice the engine sits well back in the chassis, 50/50 but that swings towards the rear when your accelerating hard.
These cars do have a nice natural balance.

Thank you the MGF is 40/60 I beleive with it being mid engined.

[ClassicChimaera]

Brithunter said:

Thank you the MGF is 40/60 I beleive with it being mid engined.

No worries, almost all of us start by knowing very little about these cars.

I do like rear engined cars myself and the handling is usually wonderful.

[Brithunter]

ClassicChimaera said:

No worries, almost all of us start by knowing very little about these cars.

I do like rear engined cars myself and the handling is usually wonderful.

No ............................ no not rear engined ............................... Mid engined!! There is a real boot behind the engine and the gearbox is beside it. The engine is just behind your shoulder . Lots of driver new to MGF's end up spinning them as the drive is totally different to a FWD that most are used to. Am hoping that being used to the MGF's and RWD that the transition to the TVR will not be so difficult.

[QBee]

Brithunter said:

ClassicChimaera said:

No worries, almost all of us start by knowing very little about these cars.

I do like rear engined cars myself and the handling is usually wonderful.

No ............................ no not rear engined ............................... Mid engined!! There is a real boot behind the engine and the gearbox is beside it. The engine is just behind your shoulder . Lots of driver new to MGF's end up spinning them as the drive is totally different to a FWD that most are used to. Am hoping that being used to the MGF's and RWD that the transition to the TVR will not be so difficult.

Those skills will help a lot. It's the torque that most people notice most, which makes the car fairly tail happy.
Trying to be clever and/or showing off coming off a roundabout in the damp is my favourite way of swapping ends and looking a right tt.

[Brithunter]

QBee said:

Those skills will help a lot. It's the torque that most people notice most, which makes the car fairly tail happy.
Trying to be clever and/or showing off coming off a roundabout in the damp is my favourite way of swapping ends and looking a right tt.

T'was coming off a roundabout in the wet by the Sugar factory in Newark that cost me aalloy wheel and O/S inner CV joint. MGF just spun and slammed sideways into the high curb. Two cars following also slid when they braked. Was not even pushing it of going fast. Have an idea that one of the trucks from the factory deposisited something on the road. Diesel or oil??? Will have to take more care that's for sure. Don't need the drama nor the repair costs.

[QBee]

Brithunter said:

QBee said:

Those skills will help a lot. It's the torque that most people notice most, which makes the car fairly tail happy.
Trying to be clever and/or showing off coming off a roundabout in the damp is my favourite way of swapping ends and looking a right tt.

T'was coming off a roundabout in the wet by the Sugar factory in Newark that cost me aalloy wheel and O/S inner CV joint. MGF just spun and slammed sideways into the high curb. Two cars following also slid when they braked. Was not even pushing it of going fast. Have an idea that one of the trucks from the factory deposisited something on the road. Diesel or oil??? Will have to take more care that's for sure. Don't need the drama nor the repair costs.

A young friend of mine wrote his Chimaera off within a couple of weeks of buying it, sliding on diesel on exiting a roundabout. The one just outside the Baldock Services on the A1.
By the way, have you seen the MGF specialists on the A1? Trophy Cars. Just south of Grantham, on the northbound side. They have about 50 cars on site, including a race prepped one.

[SILICONEKID345HP]

Do you get through many head gaskets?

Those mgfs are a real bargain .

[phillpot]

QBee said:

A young friend of mine wrote his Chimaera off within a couple of weeks of buying it, sliding on diesel on exiting a roundabout.

Always seems to be youngsters in fast cars that find these puddles of diesel

[ClassicChimaera]

SILICONEKID345HP said:

Do you get through many head gaskets?

Those mgfs are a real bargain .

My mate had one, we used to do some serious speed in that thing on country lanes and yes having a MID engined configuration was a really fun car.

Sorry about the rear engine slip

[BeastMaster]

ClassicChimaera said:

Brithunter said:

Thank you. Am well aware of the lack of choice in good 15" tyres as the Rover 75 sits on 15 alloy rims as did theBlue 97 MGF. Luckily teh 75th MGF has 16" alloys as standard.

Was looking the other day at trye prices to check them out and noticed that it was not easy to find a match set to suit the 15" and 16" sizes on the Chimaera.

Some say the 15 inch wheel looks small in the wheel arch, pfffft. I quite like them

The truth it's the lack of tyres available and mixing and matching isn't a good idea means your very limited and in many cases just can't get the tyres of your choice.

16/17 is good but more and more 16/16 is better to my eye line and you can still get a good selection of tyres.
Big chunky tyres (like the old days) the 60's look really good on these cars, ultimate performance might not be there but these cars are light with very limited suspension travel so tyres can make a serious difference to its ability to take our British hell roads.
Buy the softest you can, they last about a century on our cars, you can't wear them out unless your a stunt man,

The light foot print and the cars nimble handling tend to mean on the roads you don't get them very warm at all unless it's a hot day.

I've got out and touched my tyres a hundred times over the few years I've owned it, unless your really getting aggressive they stay stone cold half the time in this country.
Go abroad and the car comes alive with grip because the tyres warm up, fan bloody tastic if you live in Provence.

Hiya, like you I do prefer the smaller wheel classic look on these cars.

Regarding the front end handling, just to add my thoughts.

Mine is a 94 car with power steering and came with 205 width fronts, and when I needed to change them went for a bit wider.

With the wider fronts the steering became less clear and started to tram line on some surfaces. The turn in also became difficult with increased amount of under-steer. Kept with it for a couple of months then changed back to the smaller width.

Tend not to drive much in the wet but seem to remember had a bit of a moment which made the decision to change back.

Andy