19" wheels on 111r?

[WhirlingDERVish]

My 111R isn't delivered until 1st June so I'm not speaking with the benefit of actually owning the car yet, but is it possible to fit larger wheels than the standard ones and if so is there any point?

[DanH]

Dunno if you can squeeze them in, but you don't really want to anyway imho :

- bigger wheels increase unsprung weight as theres more metal.

- you lose ride quality.

- its not like the OEM 17" & 18" rims are small in the first place, nor do you get excessive sidewall flex.

[bogie]

Dan - dont you mean 16" and 17" ?

[DanH]

bogie said:

Dan - dont you mean 16" and 17" ?

er yes. oops.

19" fitting would require solid tyres with no sidewalls I reckon

[bogie]

wasnt it on the original elise video (or in the book) when they were doing the ride/handling set-up, one of the engineers stated that the real optimal set up was actually something like 14/15" wheels...and that they ended up going for 15/16" at the time for fashion/cosmetic reasons.

Its only over the last 10 years or so since its become fashionable to stick 18" wheels on a 1.4 Nova etc

[WhirlingDERVish]

Good one Bogie! I agree (about the Novas). I only asked the original question because of a Porsche article in Evo this month where they tested a Boxter with 19" wheels instead of the OEM 18" ones, and when I ordered a Sagaris last year (subsequently cancelled) there was much discussion about whether the 18" wheels should be replaced with 19" ones by customers.

[bogie]

yeah - I think a lot of it is a fashion thiing - particularly on the German cars...and whenever you read the reviews 9/10 times they will say dont go for the larger wheels/low profile ubber as it ruins the ride etc.

Our Tuscan had 35 profile rubber on it - it tram lines all over the place under braking etc....stuck some 40 profiles on and its much better.

Lotus are (by some) considered to be the finest ride/handling guys in the world for production cars...i think if the Elise needed say 17/18" to go well, it would have them on as std

[TTGav]

I totally agree , do not mess with the best !

[Alex Gurr]

That is why Caterhams and the like generally run 13" wheels

[guitarman]

Only thing is, the standard wheels are Ok, but not the best looking ones out there. I keep wishing that there were some really polished multi piece wheels that would fit. It must be the only sports car in the world that you can't buy OTT aftermarket wheels for.
There's some nice ones on the www.PBracing.it site.
I've e-mailed them but haven't heard back yet.
Does anyone know of any that fit?

[Lotusnick S2]

guitarman said:

Only thing is, the standard wheels are Ok, but not the best looking ones out there. I keep wishing that there were some really polished multi piece wheels that would fit. It must be the only sports car in the world that you can't buy OTT aftermarket wheels for. There's some nice ones on the <a href="http://www.PBracing.it">www.PBracing.it</a> site. I've e-mailed them but haven't heard back yet. Does anyone know of any that fit?

I think the standard S2 111S/111R wheels are best I have ever seen.
There is no way I would change mine.
http://image34.webshots.com/34/7/49/37/278274937aCrCOW_ph.jpg

>> Edited by Lotusnick S2 on Thursday 3rd March 14:51

[Sim North East]

I agree

url]http://community.webshots.com/photo/261039207/278274937aCrCOW|http://community.webshots.com/photo/261039207/278274937aCrCOW[/url]</a></a>

Your wheels are very nice


>> Edited by Sim North East on Thursday 3rd March 16:23

>> Edited by Sim North East on Thursday 3rd March 16:23

>> Edited by Sim North East on Thursday 3rd March 16:24

[Lotusnick S2]

[quote=Sim North East]

I agree

url]http://community.webshots.com/photo/261039207/278274937aCrCOW|http://community.webshots.com/photo/261039207/278274937aCrCOW[/url]</a></a>

Your wheels are very nice


Thank you mate

What colour is your Elise?
It is VERY NICE

[elise 111s]

I agree... your wheels are more than ok with the right weight and size for your ps.

I d only change them with exige's black wheels....

They look very nice...

Nick...