17" wheel advice

[Chimp871]

Looking at some 4x108, et40, 17x7.5 (all corners)

Tyres currently have 205/40

Will they fit as is, thinking offset and are tyres OK?

[Classic Chim]

You need to check your offset via a tyre/ wheel calculator to decide if you need spacers.
I run 215/45/17F
235/45/17R
Using Rainsport 3 without any issues.
You’ll notice via calculator they are both bigger than the standard size in diameter but for me that re introduces some much needed tyre wall height which on Rainsport works really well in giving back some cushioning over bumps.
My cars never felt better so it works for me but that’s because the tyres are naturally very grippy as they are normally a rain tyre.

[ianwayne]

205/40 x 17 will be 1.8% smaller than 205/55 x 15 on the front but the rears will be way too small. Check your options on here:

http://www.rimsntires.com/specspro.jsp

Don't forget the bore size on the wheels will have to be at least 63.3mm, and adaptor rings needed if it's not the Ford spec.

The standard wheels have offset of ET25 on the front and ET33 (some have ET35). So you'll need large spacers (hubcentric for that amount) on the front with different wheelbolts and 5mm on the rear, which you could get away with without needing longer bolts.

I've looked into alternative wheels myself, there are lots of threads on here if you do a search. It's a bit of a faff if the offsets are too different.

[magpies]

this is the best wheel / tyre comparison site I have used

https://www.willtheyfit.com/

[RobXjcoupe]

tyres you can change easily enough. You only need to get the rear rolling radius correct to keep the speedo accurate. Getting the wheels to sit in the arches perfectly will require spacers as mentioned before.
Personally I’d fit a 245 40 r17 tyre on the rear but that requires an 8j width wheel minimum really with an et33-35.
The fronts as 7.5j is fine but your wheel will look lost in the arch with et40. Fitting a 15mm spacer to correct the offset to et25 (which is a standard Escort cosworth offset) is possible but will require fitting longer wheel studs also.
Peugeot wheels generally have an et20-25 share the ford 4x108 pod but do have a slightly larger centre bore at 65.1mm I believe.
Are you on a budget regarding the wheel and tyre combo?

[Chimp871]

I can ditch the tyres as the rims are the priority.

It sounds like I'm not going in the right direction.

With 17" rims, 7" is the correct offset still et25 and 33

[QBee]

If it helps, I regularly use 17 x 7 or 7.5j wheels with a variety of tyres. Don’t get too hung up on offsets being spot on if you are on narrower tyres.

I mostly buy Ford fit wheels, as they have the correct centre bore. You can always get spigot rings off Ebay for a few quid if the wheels are bigger bore than 63.4mm, but on NO ACCOUNT buy wheels with a smaller centre bore.

I tend to run mine on 5mm spacers, which brings the standard Ford ET 38/40 down to ET33/35. I find this is perfect for the rears, and in fact for the fronts too.....the factory fitted 16 inch wheels all round to some later cars, which means on those cars the fronts were ET 33.

I would recommend 215/45 17 for the fronts, 235/45 17 for the rear, but I often use 215/45 17 all round. I have adjustable dampers, so can adjust my rear ride height.

You could also run 205/40 or 215/40 17 front and 215/45 17 rear to get some rake.

Call me on 07736 774325 if you want a chat. I have been on 17 inch wheels for six years now....

[Chimp871]

Thanks Antony very good of you.

These are the ones was looking at, the bore is 72mm

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

[fieryfred]

I am on 215/45 R17 & 245/40 R17 without any issues.
Might help, but i like the wheels & prefer them to the standard wheels.

[QBee]

Chimp871 said:

Thanks Antony very good of you.

These are the ones was looking at, the bore is 72mm

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

They should be fine. You could run them with 5mm spacers (any longer and you will also need longer wheel studs) and 72mm to 63.2mm spigot rings.
I can pick them up for you if it helps....I live about 15 minutes from there.

[Chimp871]

So from searching these forums I realise that 5 stud hubs have done before.

I'm asking as I have a spare set of rl7's that came as a spare from the cerb I bought last year and have a set of worn track tyres on them.

So if I can convert to 5 stud hubs I can then use the existing rl7's.

Do cerbera hubs fit chimaera's, which are based on jeeps?

[QBee]

We need Phazed here....he has RL7s on 5 stud hubs in his Chimaera.

[ianwayne]

This 17" set has been listed for the second time. No bids at £99 the first time!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TVR-Griff-Chim-17ins-Al...

These are on ebay too, 17" / 18" combination, but 3 of the 4 have white paint facings so refurb needed, but already have 4 tyres:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Set-Alloy-Wheels-with-g...

[HiAsAKite]

I've been running 17" front, 18" rears on my Chimaera for the past decade (previous owner put them on). I recall that he mentioned needed to make sure they had the right offset.

Tyres are 225/45/R17 and 245/40/R18, not had any rubbing issues.

[RobXjcoupe]

Chimp871 said:

So from searching these forums I realise that 5 stud hubs have done before.

I'm asking as I have a spare set of rl7's that came as a spare from the cerb I bought last year and have a set of worn track tyres on them.

So if I can convert to 5 stud hubs I can then use the existing rl7's.

Do cerbera hubs fit chimaera's, which are based on jeeps?

The 5 stud conversions were modified 4 stud hubs. Not hard to do really, more agro taking things apart tbh

[Chimp871]

ianwayne said:

This 17" set has been listed for the second time. No bids at £99 the first time!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TVR-Griff-Chim-17ins-Al...

These are on ebay too, 17" / 18" combination, but 3 of the 4 have white paint facings so refurb needed, but already have 4 tyres:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Set-Alloy-Wheels-with-g...

I did message both asking about offset, I assumed the centre bore was correct as they came off chimaeras. So the £99 rims I didn't get a response on offset and the 2nd auction I did but the fronts are et15 which struck me as unusual.

I really like the focus st170 rims but theyre et48 or higher so big spacer and probably new bolts.

I'm being fussy on wanting 17" et33-40 and I won't fit 40 aspect ratio tyres, as they look daft on a chimaera, 45 is better. Te search isn't easy unless you want to buy new and expensive. But happy to be proved wrong.

My plan is to use the 17" for road and fit Uniroyal rainsport, as they seem very popular, and use the standard TVR rims as a track set.

As for the 5 stud hub conversion it's not common and getting info/experiences isn't easy. I know you can get them for £350 (no back plate,bearings etc) but would like to find cheaper.

Edited by Chimp871 on Saturday 1st September 10:19

[QBee]

Keep searching on Ford fit 4 stud, Focus or Fiesta. They come up regularly, but you have to be very luck or pay around £200 for mint or close to mint. My Team Dynamics Monza Rs were £180 and were a few months old. Couple of small marks, came off a Focus.

ET 15 would have caused you an issue with tyre width on the fronts, and mpnothing you could do about it

I look regularly, so will pass it on if I see anything possible.

[QBee]

You could also try Facebook Marketplace. Restrict it to say 60km of your address, and search on 17 Alloys. You will have to trawl a bit and ask questions, but it may be worth it.

[Chimp871]

QBee said:

Keep searching on Ford fit 4 stud, Focus or Fiesta. They come up regularly, but you have to be very luck or pay around £200 for mint or close to mint. My Team Dynamics Monza Rs were £180 and were a few months old. Couple of small marks, came off a Focus.

ET 15 would have caused you an issue with tyre width on the fronts, and mpnothing you could do about it

I look regularly, so will pass it on if I see anything possible.

This was my basic search, to start with. 4x108 17" is pretty common and the centre bore is, as you say, the same as our cars. The problem is the offset, it does vary between years on focus, fiestas etc.

I almost clicked the buy button on the fiesta/focus 4x108, 17" rims

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

But the offset, after a lot of digging (they're ford model #0635) are et48. Real shame, I think they're a natural look for a chimeara.

[ianwayne]

Chimp871 said:

I did message both asking about offset, I assumed the centre bore was correct as they came off chimaeras. So the £99 rims I didn't get a response on offset and the 2nd auction I did but the fronts are et15 which struck me as unusual...

Edited by Chimp871 on Saturday 1st September 10:19

The normal front offset is ET25 so an offset of ET15 if the wheel is wider than the standard 7" would be appropriate. The outside edge of each wheel would only be 10mm further out than standard (plus 1/2 of whatever extra width over 7" the wheel is), allowing for the inside edge being closer to the suspension.

Edit: edge not end...

Edited by ianwayne on Saturday 1st September 11:56