"Narrowing" 18-inch Spiders for the 2 front wheels
Discussion
Is it just me, or do you guys like the way the 225 width tyres are fitted to the front wheels if you use 18" Spiders? They are obviously not "filling" the tyre beds properly, look like you ordered wrong sizes and will damage your wheel-sides much easier. The reason seems to be that if you mount wider tyres on the front you would rub the inner wheel arches? Can anyone confirm this?
As we all know the 18" Spiders just came in one width. As i am currently restoring a Griff and have everything ready for the 5-stud conversion and the fitting of 18" Spiders (i have 4 ET33's already bought with all the necessary spacers, steering stops and so on....) i was thinking if i would let them "narrow" 2 wheels for me.
I found a company in Germany who could do this for me http://www.rindt-felgen.com so i was wondering why not give it a go?
Am i overlooking things???
What do you guys think?
As we all know the 18" Spiders just came in one width. As i am currently restoring a Griff and have everything ready for the 5-stud conversion and the fitting of 18" Spiders (i have 4 ET33's already bought with all the necessary spacers, steering stops and so on....) i was thinking if i would let them "narrow" 2 wheels for me.
I found a company in Germany who could do this for me http://www.rindt-felgen.com so i was wondering why not give it a go?
Am i overlooking things???
What do you guys think?
With all due respect, i already bought them because i like the look, so they are definately going to be mounted. There are already lots and lots of Griffs around with them, i am just asking for some technical advice.
I don't mind more grip and stability on the front, i like tailhappy cars that should be steered with the throttle. See my profile-pic in which machine i got accustomed to this and take a look at the front-tyres if you suggest that 225 road tyres will give to much grip.
The standard 15" wheels have 225 width as well, but i found my former Griff very unstable at speed. I try to improve on this as well as on turn in. So with the same road-hugging surface i just want them to look less ill-fitted.
And then there is the looks-question, let's not argue about that, since it is so personal, but i just love the 18" spiders.
Take a look at the side-profile pic of the LS-Griff in the classifieds and judge for yourself. By the way, in this picure you also see what i mean with tyres looking to narrow for the wheels.
I don't mean to offense anyone, i'm just asking for technical input.
I don't mind more grip and stability on the front, i like tailhappy cars that should be steered with the throttle. See my profile-pic in which machine i got accustomed to this and take a look at the front-tyres if you suggest that 225 road tyres will give to much grip.
The standard 15" wheels have 225 width as well, but i found my former Griff very unstable at speed. I try to improve on this as well as on turn in. So with the same road-hugging surface i just want them to look less ill-fitted.
And then there is the looks-question, let's not argue about that, since it is so personal, but i just love the 18" spiders.
Take a look at the side-profile pic of the LS-Griff in the classifieds and judge for yourself. By the way, in this picure you also see what i mean with tyres looking to narrow for the wheels.
I don't mean to offense anyone, i'm just asking for technical input.
infinity said:
With all due respect, i already bought them because i like the look, so they are definately going to be mounted. There are already lots and lots of Griffs around with them, i am just asking for some technical advice.
Ok, in short people fit 18" wheels for looks. Especially Spiders. Which are heavy and weak with over a 50% increase in inertia.I fully agree!! I had them on my Tuscan and they are by far the weakest and heaviest wheels i ever had!! If you only think about a pothole they are already damaged.....
But to me on a TVR they also look the best by far! I also ordered Nitrons, so i give my best to compensate for the weight.
If we were talking about fine, well engineered handling and finish we shouldn't be discussing Griffs anyway. They are too short for their power. But the Griff to me is al about being brutal, unforgiving and impractical but it's just giving me lots of never-ending grins.....
But to me on a TVR they also look the best by far! I also ordered Nitrons, so i give my best to compensate for the weight.
If we were talking about fine, well engineered handling and finish we shouldn't be discussing Griffs anyway. They are too short for their power. But the Griff to me is al about being brutal, unforgiving and impractical but it's just giving me lots of never-ending grins.....
Dries, narrowing the wheel will affect the offset depending on how they narrow them so you would need to re-calculate the spacing and re-measure the offset afterwards. The 225 tyre is not stretched on the rim and they don't look bad in the flesh. The 225 is about 7mm taller than the original wheel and tyre combo so a less than 2% increase in size, the correct size would be a 215 tyre but they would be stretched, I tried a pair on my first Griffith that we did the conversion on and they looked wrong, the 225 however are fine and work well. My advice would be to drive it first and see if you like the handling before going to the trouble of having them narrowed, not sure how successfull they would be either as the wheels are not that strong.
Hi Ian, thanks for your input. My idea was that the problem of the "rubbing" was on the inside. If i let them narrow the wheel i thought i free it up only on the inside since on the outer side nothing wil change.
But -having ordered everything with you as well- i will follow your advice and first use them like they are now.
Do you think 235 would fit?
But -having ordered everything with you as well- i will follow your advice and first use them like they are now.
Do you think 235 would fit?
Dries this is a topic close to my heart as i have gone through 3 sets of wheels and countless tyre combinations!
Eventually i have ended up with 18x9rears running 255x35x18 with 17x8 fronts on 235x40x17 i have moded the arches and run a spacer on the front to stop a wishbone rub on full lock!
I have also had to retro fit a power steering system as once you go up to 225 with larger brakes & disks you need arms like popeye!
You cannot get a decent 225 track tyre for a 17 front with a 40 profile they are all 45 which looks wrong & makes achieving a good rake harder!
If i did not have all the extra power from the LS to put down & track the car i would definitely of stuck to the original set up both for looks and set up!
Hope to see you soon, we will be out @ Spa beginning of April if you want to come and play
Eventually i have ended up with 18x9rears running 255x35x18 with 17x8 fronts on 235x40x17 i have moded the arches and run a spacer on the front to stop a wishbone rub on full lock!
I have also had to retro fit a power steering system as once you go up to 225 with larger brakes & disks you need arms like popeye!
You cannot get a decent 225 track tyre for a 17 front with a 40 profile they are all 45 which looks wrong & makes achieving a good rake harder!
If i did not have all the extra power from the LS to put down & track the car i would definitely of stuck to the original set up both for looks and set up!
Hope to see you soon, we will be out @ Spa beginning of April if you want to come and play
Steve, Chris, thanks for your replies.
The thing is that I just very much like the design of the 18" Spiders, which is why i want them, bought them and will fit them. Going from there i am just as crazy as you chris to change/compensate everything to make it do-able and let it drive more or less OK. As said, if it's refinement you're after we might better discuss another car than a Griff. It's brutality is what touches me, so i don't mind having to take some impracticalities or weaknesses into the equation.
Chris, i would very much love to come out and play the Tuscan at Spa, keep me informed. I am very curious how you got the car sorted out, since we never really tried to get that far..... I miss the beast.
The thing is that I just very much like the design of the 18" Spiders, which is why i want them, bought them and will fit them. Going from there i am just as crazy as you chris to change/compensate everything to make it do-able and let it drive more or less OK. As said, if it's refinement you're after we might better discuss another car than a Griff. It's brutality is what touches me, so i don't mind having to take some impracticalities or weaknesses into the equation.
Chris, i would very much love to come out and play the Tuscan at Spa, keep me informed. I am very curious how you got the car sorted out, since we never really tried to get that far..... I miss the beast.
steve-V8s said:
Sorry very off topic but what did that tow like I wonder with the engine at the rear end of the trailer rather than the hitch end.
It's roughly a 50/50 weight distribution so probably not a noticable difference however the aerodynamics of the windscreen may have been interesting.TA14 said:
It's roughly a 50/50 weight distribution so probably not a noticable difference however the aerodynamics of the windscreen may have been interesting.
I use the same trailer(if that is an Amax) and don’t know it is there driven on forwards but it is less than pleasant reversed on. Probably depends on what you are dragging it with. steve-V8s said:
Sorry very off topic but what did that tow like I wonder with the engine at the rear end of the trailer rather than the hitch end.
towed fine, wifeys car is a 2.7l minivan, so it tows ok.car weight is 50;50, so dont matter which way it is on the trailer as it was pulled forwards of the trailer centre line, so weight was on the hitch
and no screen fitted...
there was a very good reason it went on the trailer that way round.....but i cant recall why now....
just remembered, engine was not running, needed a winch line to pull it onto the ramp, easier to tie onto the back axle than under the front without catching the bodywork
Edited by SteveSPG on Tuesday 5th February 15:43
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