15" Wheel Upgrade - Help Please

[v41ley]

I'm looking to upgrade my 15" fronts to 16" pricipally to
widen the tyre choice but would like to know what difference this
makes to the handling and where I might get a second set of standard
16" 4 bolt wheels as I assume they are no longer available.

[M@H]

Slightly firmer ride and can sometimes seem a bit more twitchy. A lot will depend on tyres and tyre pressures after the change though (and geometry) as to how it will feel. What tyre size are you considering for the front.. 205/50/16 ?

[GreenV8S]

Assuming you go for a wider and lower profile tyre to match the wider rim, you'll find you get less self aligning torque and feedback through the wheel, and the grip will drop off more abruptly when the tyre starts to slide. You'll also get more kickback and tramlining. Just going from 15" to 16" the difference aren't catastrophic, but they're noticeable.

[sparkythecat]

GreenV8S said:

Assuming you go for a wider and lower profile tyre to match the wider rim, you'll find you get less self aligning torque and feedback through the wheel, and the grip will drop off more abruptly when the tyre starts to slide. You'll also get more kickback and tramlining. Just going from 15" to 16" the difference aren't catastrophic, but they're noticeable.

No, No, No You've got it all wrong there Pete. Despite all your extensive racecar suspension development and experience, you quite obviously don't know what you're talking about. Look at this recent thread.

The big wheel brigade will be along here in a minute to tell how much better their cars handle.