Are the 17" Wheels really best for road use on Blighty Black

[biggles330d]

Althalus said:

I'm hoping to get an A110 to replace the current Alfa qf.

I've been wondering about this question. The main draw of bigger wheels is the big brakes which I'm sure I read somewhere in the main thread (life 110) can't be retrofitted. My local dealer does not have a car with 17inch wheels so it's tricky to tesr. I'm not going to track the car and I'm not a driving god.

What I would like and can't find are people opinions of the 17inch Vs 18 inch and regular Vs big brakes. As has been stated they end up a very costly option when combined!

Personal opinion of course, but I'd suggest that your comments on not tracking the car and not being a driving god means you are unlikely to be reaching the limits of the standard brakes for 99.9% of the time you'll be driving it. I have the standard brakes and 17's and have so far found the brakes to have the firmest and most confident inspiring brake pedal I've had on any car. They aren't over-servo'd so it feels like they need a firmer push, but they are in no way ineffective and have a great feel. No doubt at 11/10ths the big brakes will out perform them - simple physics, but i think the choice based on your comments is primarily down to aesthetics. Big wheels and big brakes look cool. Whether they are worth the money is a different question.

[bcr5784]

I've not driven a car with the small brakes, but I think it is worth pointing out that the big brakes need a firm shove too, which may come as a surprize after the many overservoed alternatives out there. Personally I really like that - but if you prefer something lighter don't think that the big brakes may offer it. Life110 offers different pads (and braided hoses) which he believes give better initial feel and don't seem that expensive if you are not happy with your brakes.

[Althalus]

Thanks all, I really appreciate the feedback!
I think you're right for me it'll likely come down to aesthetics. You've reassured me I would likely not miss the bigger breaks though.

I just need to get an order in before the wait gets too long...

[Portti]

I was looking at the used A110s on sale at mobile.de to get a little bit of understanding on how popular the 17" wheels have been. There were 57 new generation A110s on sale at the mobile.de as of 20 Dec 2021. Out of 57 cars only two had 17" wheels. So on that sample 3,5 % of cars had 17" wheels.

[FrenchA110]

Yup a big majority are sold with 18 wheels, and big brakes are often choosed too.

I never tried the standard brakes but I see no reason to deem 300mm discs inadequate to stop a 1.100kg car. Big brakes are good for trackday heat management or sporty mountain roads descents.

[tail slide]

I've taken many fast road cars on track, and used all the performance and grip for 6 laps at a time. In my experience at Anglesey last month, the standard brakes were absolutely fine by Lap6 with hard braking from the max speeds between corners, and of course fine on the road.

From my long TVR experience over the years fitting larger brakes for trackdays & competion, they only help by giving less fade if you're going to use them hard near lockup for long track stints on a hot day. And looking bigger if that's your thing


Larger brakes are significantly heavier, which makes damping slightly worse on the road, so not the choice for me.

Edited by tail slide on Monday 20th December 15:16

[FrenchA110]

tail slide said:

I've taken many fast road cars on track, and used all the performance and grip for 6 laps at a time. In my experience at Anglesey last month, the standard brakes were absolutely fine by Lap6 with hard braking from the max speeds between corners, and of course fine on the road.

From my long TVR experience over the years fitting larger brakes for trackdays & competion, they only help by giving less fade if you're going to use them hard near lockup for long track stints on a hot day. And looking bigger if that's your thing


Larger brakes are significantly heavier, which makes damping slightly worse on the road, so not the choice for me.

Edited by tail slide on Monday 20th December 15:16

In the Alpine’s case the big brakes are actually lighter since they are a steel/aluminium hybrid versus the steel/steel of the standard brakes.
28.8kg for big brakes versus 30kg for standard.

[tail slide]

FrenchA110 said:

In the Alpine’s case the big brakes are actually lighter since they are a steel/aluminium hybrid versus the steel/steel of the standard brakes.
28.8kg for big brakes versus 30kg for standard.

I didn't know that, useful info

[Portti]

Does somebody have an A110 with 18" wheels and the smaller standard brakes? If yes, then which wheels do you have?

At the moment I have some conflicting information on what is possible:

- The price lists on different countries claim that bigger wheels are required with Fuchs wheels but not with Grand Prix and Serac wheels.
- Alpine configurator allows selecting Serac wheels without selecting bigger brakes. However if you select Grand Prix wheels configurator forces you to select big brakes also.
- One dealer claimed to me that bigger brakes are always mandatory with all 18" wheels.

What is correct info?

[PhilipIbrahim]

Portti said:

Does somebody have an A110 with 18" wheels and the smaller standard brakes? If yes, then which wheels do you have?

At the moment I have some conflicting information on what is possible:

- The price lists on different countries claim that bigger wheels are required with Fuchs wheels but not with Grand Prix and Serac wheels.
- Alpine configurator allows selecting Serac wheels without selecting bigger brakes. However if you select Grand Prix wheels configurator forces you to select big brakes also.
- One dealer claimed to me that bigger brakes are always mandatory with all 18" wheels.

What is correct info?

You can order the Serac 18" wheels without the bigger brake kit upgrade, all other 18" wheel options require the brake upgrade.

[Simon Owen]

FrenchA110 said:

tail slide said:

I've taken many fast road cars on track, and used all the performance and grip for 6 laps at a time. In my experience at Anglesey last month, the standard brakes were absolutely fine by Lap6 with hard braking from the max speeds between corners, and of course fine on the road.

From my long TVR experience over the years fitting larger brakes for trackdays & competion, they only help by giving less fade if you're going to use them hard near lockup for long track stints on a hot day. And looking bigger if that's your thing


Larger brakes are significantly heavier, which makes damping slightly worse on the road, so not the choice for me.

Edited by tail slide on Monday 20th December 15:16

In the Alpine’s case the big brakes are actually lighter since they are a steel/aluminium hybrid versus the steel/steel of the standard brakes.
28.8kg for big brakes versus 30kg for standard.

I think I’m right in saying the big (lighter) brakes will also fit with the smaller 17” wheels albeit you can’t order a car in that spec can you ?

[Althalus]

The fact that you can't have 17inch wheels and big brakes is a massive shame as that would have been my spec of choice..

[Marvin H]

I ordered my car with 17" wheels, reasoning that I don't intend doing regular track days and with the poor state of UK roads wanted as high profile tyres as possible. Car sales departments all seem to be obsessed with selling bigger wheels - it's very profitable and tyre companies benefit from more expensive replacement tyres.

[Portti]

PhilipIbrahim said:

You can order the Serac 18" wheels without the bigger brake kit upgrade, all other 18" wheel options require the brake upgrade.

This seems to be the correct information. I managed to order a car with 18" Serac wheels with smaller brakes. The 18" Grand Prix wheels and 18" Fuchs wheels require you to take the bigger brake upgrade on the "regular" A110.

[7en]

After trying 3 Alpines - a PE with Life110 springs, a PE with stock springs and a Pure with 17" wheels I found the latter the most comfortable and most suited to British roads. I think the 18" seemed to create quite a bit more road noise too.

Edited by 7en on Sunday 21st May 19:25

[Max13]

I have a set of unused standard 17inch wheels and tyres, they were taken straight off the car when delivered and a set of Legende wheels fitted. I’ve often planned to use them but never got around to it.
If anyone is interested in buying them send me a PM, located in London.

If anyone has a set of Fuchs wheels for sale I would also be interested as I’ve always liked the look of them.