16" Front Wheel info.
Discussion
The best advice I can offer is don't go too wide, I have power steering with 16" rear Imolas wheels on the front and run 205/50R16, the Chimaera is a light car therefore doesn't need Calos Fandango tyres. Like a Lotus the car's low mass means narrower tyres can be used to achieve the required grip, the big advantage being the narrower the tyre the more communicative and precise your steering will become.
Any true petrol-head will tell you better steering feel is where it's at, more communicative steering (like crisp throttle response and a good brake pedal) is one of the true pleasures to come from driving, steering that directly connects you with the road surface gives you confidence to place the car more accurately when cornering (think Caterham 7). The truth is pretty much all modern cars are over tyred, so to resolve the inevitable consequence of impossibly heavy steering manufacturers are forced to implement ever increasing steering assistance, and the more assistance you implement the more feel you lose.
Modern cars are carefully designed to be as refined as possible which results in a vehicle that isolates you from the driving experience, this is great for the average man who just sees his car as transport but most of us chose a TVR because we seek that back to basics connected driving experience we've very much lost over the years.
Tyres are your only connection with the road, the narrower the tyre you choose the better your steering feel will become, and with no power steering going narrower means you won't need biceps Popeye to park your TVR either. Don't be tempted to go wider because you think it'll make you faster in the corners, within reason go narrower and you'll find you can place the car more accurately on the road which will equate to more driving pleasure and like complaint well damped suspension will actually deliver faster cornering speeds when driving on the road.
Any true petrol-head will tell you better steering feel is where it's at, more communicative steering (like crisp throttle response and a good brake pedal) is one of the true pleasures to come from driving, steering that directly connects you with the road surface gives you confidence to place the car more accurately when cornering (think Caterham 7). The truth is pretty much all modern cars are over tyred, so to resolve the inevitable consequence of impossibly heavy steering manufacturers are forced to implement ever increasing steering assistance, and the more assistance you implement the more feel you lose.
Modern cars are carefully designed to be as refined as possible which results in a vehicle that isolates you from the driving experience, this is great for the average man who just sees his car as transport but most of us chose a TVR because we seek that back to basics connected driving experience we've very much lost over the years.
Tyres are your only connection with the road, the narrower the tyre you choose the better your steering feel will become, and with no power steering going narrower means you won't need biceps Popeye to park your TVR either. Don't be tempted to go wider because you think it'll make you faster in the corners, within reason go narrower and you'll find you can place the car more accurately on the road which will equate to more driving pleasure and like complaint well damped suspension will actually deliver faster cornering speeds when driving on the road.
The reason I know is because I've just increased the size of my tyre, same 215 but a higher sidewall, which on the tyre's I've chosen appear to be a lot wider than my old tyre as well as higher. The nett result is slightly more tracking and less precise when lining the car up for a braking zone or whatever.
Awesome over bumps and I need a geo session before I can really commit to this statement.
It's fine on motorways though. Bullet straight lines
Awesome over bumps and I need a geo session before I can really commit to this statement.
It's fine on motorways though. Bullet straight lines
with 7x16 et 35 you should at least have a 5mm spacer on the front, ideally 10mm! The originals for the front are 7x15 et 25, meaning your new rims will sit 1 cm further inwards than original
the rear imolas are 7.5 et 33 and fit fine with a 5mm spacer on the front
I use this with 205/55r16 tyres, and 215/55 or the rears .... for my winter tyres
its a bit bigger than original but no rubbing and more comfort
the rear imolas are 7.5 et 33 and fit fine with a 5mm spacer on the front
I use this with 205/55r16 tyres, and 215/55 or the rears .... for my winter tyres
its a bit bigger than original but no rubbing and more comfort
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