Discussion
Can anyone help,
After numerous phone calls I am still struggling to find out if the Chimaera can run on larger wheels than standard !?
Does anyone know if this is possible or not, if so are the wheels going to be a specialist fit, and what size can you go upto
..............furthmore will this upset the handling even if the tyre sidewall is reduced accordingly..please help ta
After numerous phone calls I am still struggling to find out if the Chimaera can run on larger wheels than standard !?
Does anyone know if this is possible or not, if so are the wheels going to be a specialist fit, and what size can you go upto
..............furthmore will this upset the handling even if the tyre sidewall is reduced accordingly..please help ta
There have been a couple of posts in the last month on this one, have a look.
I have 17" all round, 245/40/17 series on the front and 255/45/17 on the rear . TWS fusion, have a look at my profile, on got a from picture will update soon.
Much better handling, but a different car to drive and take a bit of getting used to.
Only problen is I dont think they make these wheels for the Chim anymore, even more of a sod for me as I have to MAKE SURE the curbs are 2feet away all the time
I have 17" all round, 245/40/17 series on the front and 255/45/17 on the rear . TWS fusion, have a look at my profile, on got a from picture will update soon.
Much better handling, but a different car to drive and take a bit of getting used to.
Only problen is I dont think they make these wheels for the Chim anymore, even more of a sod for me as I have to MAKE SURE the curbs are 2feet away all the time
Go for it!
I was a bit anxious to do it but now I think it's handling better than before.
I would stick to the same width and off set:
front:7 J, ET25
rear: 7,5J, ET37
there are a number of wheel manufacturers who carry these in 17" or 18", e.g. Raceline, Technomagnesio, Kahn.
For tyres: stick to Toyo Proxes T1-S (Bridgestone seems no good with lower profiles). I find these really excellent, both in dry and wet conditions.
I was a bit anxious to do it but now I think it's handling better than before.
I would stick to the same width and off set:
front:7 J, ET25
rear: 7,5J, ET37
there are a number of wheel manufacturers who carry these in 17" or 18", e.g. Raceline, Technomagnesio, Kahn.
For tyres: stick to Toyo Proxes T1-S (Bridgestone seems no good with lower profiles). I find these really excellent, both in dry and wet conditions.
Except that for a 245/40ZR17 the minimum wheel width is 8.0".
The natural chioce for 17" wheels would seem to be 215/40/17 on a 7.5" wheel at the front and 245/40/17 on an 8.0" wheel at the rear; this will maintain the original rolling diameters.
(One could fit 8.0" or 8.5" all round but the different offsets would still be required so there's little point.)
The change to 17" wheels would stiffen up the handling (good for track days in the dry, bad for bumpy roads in the wet) and because the front is stiffened more than the rear there will be a slight shift in the understeer/oversteer balance.
The natural chioce for 17" wheels would seem to be 215/40/17 on a 7.5" wheel at the front and 245/40/17 on an 8.0" wheel at the rear; this will maintain the original rolling diameters.
(One could fit 8.0" or 8.5" all round but the different offsets would still be required so there's little point.)
The change to 17" wheels would stiffen up the handling (good for track days in the dry, bad for bumpy roads in the wet) and because the front is stiffened more than the rear there will be a slight shift in the understeer/oversteer balance.
The other issue is that lower profile wheels and tyres reduce the complience in the suspension which means that the suspension components like the bushes and ball joints etc take more stress and are likley to wear out quicker. Also beware of any pot holts or matchboxes as a result.
I know people have done it but it is something pretty low on my list as a result. The suspension was designed for 15/16 inch wheels. Many of the early Tuscan handling problems were caused by owners going to larger wheels on a suspension that was designed for the 16 inch wheels. TVR ended up having to redesign the suspension to cope.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
I know people have done it but it is something pretty low on my list as a result. The suspension was designed for 15/16 inch wheels. Many of the early Tuscan handling problems were caused by owners going to larger wheels on a suspension that was designed for the 16 inch wheels. TVR ended up having to redesign the suspension to cope.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
BLUETHUNDER said: I placed an order for 17,s three weeks ago,the offset work is being done in germany hence the wait.Ive ordered 7.5 on the front with 9.0 on the rear.
9.0 on the rear... Have you checked you have sufficient clearance? The last time I looked under the Griff rear, the wheel/tyre was pretty close especially as the suspension moves.
Steve
Can I ask a dumb question?
What is the effect on ground clearance when larger wheels are used? OK, I presume that the tyres are going to be lower profile and that this may offset the effect of an increased diameter rim. But what is the net result? If the ground clearance of the car is increased isn't this likely to adversely effect higher speed stability due to increased airflow under the car reducing downforce?
Apologies if this is a load of bo££ocks!
Hutch
What is the effect on ground clearance when larger wheels are used? OK, I presume that the tyres are going to be lower profile and that this may offset the effect of an increased diameter rim. But what is the net result? If the ground clearance of the car is increased isn't this likely to adversely effect higher speed stability due to increased airflow under the car reducing downforce?
Apologies if this is a load of bo££ocks!
Hutch
It looks like i'm going to need to hide the next credit card statement from my misses 
Don't forget a Griff is technically the same so if you've not seen this it maybe of use
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=23180&f=13&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=23180&f=13&h=0
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