New wheel/tyre problem

[Dutchone]

I need your help chaps.

I have a 500 with standard 7 spoke Estorils wheels of 15"x7J front and 16"x7.5J rear fitted with Bridgestone SO2s tyres of 225 and 245 section respectively. (standard as recommended in handbook)
Because of the reduction in replacement tyre options (especially for front)I have decided to change the wheel size to 17" all round.

I sourced a wheel supplier who could give me both 17 x 7J (fronts) and 17 x 7.5J (rear) in a wheel design I liked that could also be supplied with the standard offsets of 25mm (front) and 37mm (rear).
I put the wheels on order and on the strength of this I also ordered the tyres mail order which were Toyo 17x40x215 (fronts) and 17x40x245 (rears).

The tyres arrived within a few days and are sitting in the spare room, the wheels arrived 3 weeks later.
On receipt inspection of the wheels, I noticed that the style was a little different (enough to notice when looking at the car side on) between front and back and on questioning the supplier who then questioned the manufacturer, explained this was a normal difference between the 7 & 7.5 widths.
I feel it is reasonable to have presumed that the wheel appearances would be the same and I know that my eyes would always 'zero in' on the difference every time I looked at the car.
I told the supplier I was unhappy, and he has agreed to give me a full refund on the wheels as I (and he) was not made aware of the differences by the manufacturer at the time of placing the order as we both assumed all 4 wheels would be look identical 'face on'.
That is background. My question for you is this:

Do you know of any wheel manufacturer's that supply 7 & 7.5J in the same styles in 25 and 37 offsets? so that I don't have to send the 245 section tyres back (If the tyre supplier will agree to an exchange anyway)

I know quite a few of you have gone the 17" route but what make,offsets and wheel widths did you use?

I would appreciate your help as I have currently started down a route that I probably cannot change without further aggravation.

Thanks, Paul

Editted to say 225 & 245 section tyres are the recommended widths in my handbook.


>> Edited by Dutchone on Tuesday 11th April 15:14

[GarryM]

I've looked into it but not done it yet. One comment though, (I think) the tyre manufacturers do not recommend putting a 245/40/17 on a 7.5" rim. An 8" or 8.5" would be much better. The same applies to the front albeit 7.5" should be OK. You did well to find wheels with the correct offset off the shelf, I ended up looking at made to order wheels.

[lig]

Hi Paul,

I enquired about these wheels....www.pistonheads.com/sales/68213.htm (page 7 of the current TVR parts classifieds - Compomotive wheels). And although the chap had sold them, he was really helpful.

He told me that he got them for about £600 from Compomotive and they fit straight onto his Chim. I am interested and when I have the time I will give them a call and enquire. I think they look great (not unlike the original 4.3 wheels) and I am sure it would be worth a call. Haven't got there number but am sure you could find it out from directories. They are a UK based company.

Hope this is of some help. Email me to let me know how you get on as I mentioned I would like to go down this route in the future.........

regards,
Lig.

[redboy]

Hi Paul, I am fairly sure DavidGerald were running Compomotive alloys on their griffith race car... these also looked similar to the original 4.0/4.3 alloys mentioned by Lig so might be worth giving them a call?

[Ricko]

I have spent approx 10 months going through all the options of going above 16". When I bought my Griff it had and still does at the moment 17" Devil/Hijoin H147 wheels with 42 offset rear and the front also 42 with approx 10mm spacers in. These are 7.5j wheels and have 215 on trhe front and 245 continental on the rear.Due to a wheel being damaged beyond repair and a single wheel no longer being available to replace it I researched a little further with a view to repeating this configuration I found out that a 7.5j wheel should really only be shod with a max of 235 tyre. Cutting a long story short I have now opted for an 18" rear and 17" inch front Wolfrace. The choice becomes very limited. I have included a link to a griff owner who had similar dilemmas.

www.greenbear.org.uk/The%20wheels.htm

The styles of wheel available that can meet all the criteria are limited but the above link is good if you wish to keep similar to standard wheels.

I am waiting anxiously for my wheels to arrive in the next 2-4 weeks.

Have Fun

>> Edited by Ricko on Tuesday 11th April 19:40

[gf350]

I bought the ones in the classifieds. The compomotives are a really good wheel made from a high magnesium content alloy which makes them a lot lighter than some other 17 inch wheels.

see www.comp.co.uk/flash.htm

They are also available individually so different sizes/offsets not a problem.
The fronts are 17x7 et 28 with 225/45 tyres - rears 17x8 et 35 with 235/45 tyres This is ideal really as the ride and drivability are better with the 45 profile tyre and the wheels are very close to having the same rolling circumference.

Best price I've seen them for is £670 delivered in any standard colour from a guy on ebay that runs a a performance ford parts place. Sam got them at trade through Moore Racing as I understand it.

PS The Yokohama A048 tyres are amazing!! (On dry or damp roads - not been out in the wet yet though)

[Chris500]

Paul - I did brainstorm about the replacement of my factory 15'wheels for many weeks. Ended up with the size 7,5/17 - 4/108 - 35. Using spacers 10mm front 20mm rear for each side. The discs require longer bolts (60mm). Tires: Toyos T1-R F: 225/40 R: 245/45. On the image below no spacer discs have been put on yet as the Toyos on the rear are 4os and not the 45er I just got. With the spacers recentyl fitted the car looks the way I wanted. Newer pics to follow. Chris
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f15