7-inch front wheels instead of 6.5-inch - any problems?

[theturbs]

What issues or effects will I notice if I swap the wheels on the front of my car (currently 6.5 inches wide) for wheels which are 7 inches wide?

The wheels I am planning to buy aren't available in a size narrower than 7 inches. I will be fitting the same size tyres (Yoko A048 195/50/16) as are on the current wheels.

The rear wheels are also to be replaced, but I will be able to purchase the replacements in the standard size, so no issues there.

Do I have to get the geo redone? Do I have to ensure that the rear wheels are correspondingly wider too? Will handling be improved in any way? Or will I ruin turn-in/feel? In fact, will I notice anything at all? Etc.

Any thoughts welcome, thanks

TT

[Cuzza]

As long as you're putting the same tyres on and the wheel width is within the permissable range for the tyre, I doubt you'll notice any difference TBH. ISTR Elises have a funny wheel offest though, if it's not the same on the new wheels, then it will make a difference.

[Scuffers]

so long as the ofset is the same, no problem... (Offset is expressed in ET)

[tstendall]

Hi guys,

Did you see the review of the 111s on top gear. Clarkson was complaining of understeer and they got someone in from Lotus who said that they can fit wider tyres which would change this.

You can see the video on youtube quite easily.

I suspect therefore that putting wider fronts on would reduce the tendency for understeer.

tom

[fredd1e]

Going from 6.5 to 7 isnt a massive change especially if the offsets are the same as well as the tyre size . if you go with a lower offset (ET number) then you will have a wider track as the tyre will have move out by the difference in the offsets. A higher offset may cause clearance issues with the chassis behind the wheel on full lock.