Griff 18" Spyders
Griff 18" Spyders
Author
Discussion

cormorant

Original Poster:

16 posts

205 months

Saturday 28th November 2009
quotequote all
Griff fitted with Tuscan 5 stud axle by TVR Factory (along with uprated brakes etc.) and currently have the original TVR 5-Stud Spyders fitted. (see photo)
Question: Thus the axles can accept the 18" Spyders but can the car accept 18" Spyders? these would be 8.5x18 et33 for the rear and et42 for the front (code 2253518)
Any experience of this fit/comments?

spend

12,581 posts

280 months

Saturday 28th November 2009
quotequote all
They fit fine (just the cerbs that use fronts all round).... some different tyres may create a few problems, the Toyo 225/245-35-18's were OK.

I did have some (& sold them) but didn't feel they were an improvement. Quite a few seem to break in use which also worried me so I went back to the 16" spiders. I still have to try some RL7s which fitted the T350 OK and are available in a range of sizes.

cormorant

Original Poster:

16 posts

205 months

Saturday 28th November 2009
quotequote all
Spend,

what do you mean, "quite a few break in use" as you say that might mitiogate against purchasing a set of 18" what would youi recommend? Is the handling etc. same? my reasons for up-sizing are pure vanity, so would acceed to not compromising the running/handling; still, they do look pretty............

Mike

Big Ashy

492 posts

282 months

Wednesday 2nd December 2009
quotequote all
thumbup Have them on mine and there are no major issues apart from some slight tram lining on uneven road surfaces, look "The Dogs" too!!

cormorant

Original Poster:

16 posts

205 months

Thursday 3rd December 2009
quotequote all
any photos?

900T-R

20,406 posts

286 months

Thursday 3rd December 2009
quotequote all
Agree they look fantastic but they're f-in heavy (about 11.5-12.0 kg?) and erm, not the last word in strength.

Guillotine

5,516 posts

293 months

Thursday 3rd December 2009
quotequote all
This is a pic of my mate Chris' Griff with 18s. (ZZ top)

It was the first Griff with 18s as before that the Factory told everyone it was impossible.
Could be that a thinner profile 18 tyre became available???
Its now another mate of mine's...Nick T


cormorant

Original Poster:

16 posts

205 months

Thursday 3rd December 2009
quotequote all
what tyres has he fitted?

neal1980

2,584 posts

268 months

Thursday 3rd December 2009
quotequote all
I have just bought some for mine I love spider alloys. I have 3 sets now lol

16" Anthracite
16" Silver

18" silver

tyres on them are rear 255/35/18 and 225/35/18

Agreed they are the best wheel by far!

cormorant

Original Poster:

16 posts

205 months

Thursday 3rd December 2009
quotequote all
Well, that's decided then, 18" looks pretty good to me, shouldn't be a problem as I have no intention of driving off road! Thanks guys

spend

12,581 posts

280 months

Thursday 3rd December 2009
quotequote all
neal1980 said:
tyres on them are rear 255/35/18 and 225/35/18
Not really followed it for a while, but I think the other TVR's (cerbs & Tcars) started using larger profiles to protect the rims a bit more.

We have limited space & I seem to recall someone fitted non Toyos which created real arch fouling problems - seemed the Toyos created just the right profile to fit our (Chimyth tongue out) cars?

Rob_the_Sparky

1,000 posts

267 months

Thursday 3rd December 2009
quotequote all
Doesn't such a thin tyre and large wheel impact the handling of the car?

Big Ashy

492 posts

282 months

Friday 4th December 2009
quotequote all
Big Ashy said:
thumbup Have them on mine and there are no major issues apart from some slight tram lining on uneven road surfaces, look "The Dogs" too!!
Here`s a recent photo of my Griff on 18" Spiders


cormorant

Original Poster:

16 posts

205 months

Friday 4th December 2009
quotequote all
Ashey,looks excellent, what tyres have you fitted?

Big Ashy

492 posts

282 months

Sunday 6th December 2009
quotequote all
Falken FK452 - F 225/35/18 and R 245/35/18 is what is on it at the moment, but I will probably go to a 255/35/18 on the rear when these are trashed. Fronts are about as wide as possible and thats with steering rack stops fitted. thumbup

argoose

585 posts

251 months

Tuesday 15th December 2009
quotequote all
Car not finished yet so dont know how it will drive.

But I have 18in spyders on chevy Griffith and I have gone for 255/35 on the backs.

Big Ashy what are the falkens like??

I was going to get a set but went for Toyo's because they seem to be the norm for most TVR's.

Edited by argoose on Tuesday 15th December 15:43

cormorant

Original Poster:

16 posts

205 months

Tuesday 15th December 2009
quotequote all
argoose, thought about continental sport contact 3s, with 255/35/18 rear but 225/40/18 front as they seem to have a pretty good review, however, would be interested to hear what the Falkens are like for grip/wear

steve-V8s

2,924 posts

277 months

Tuesday 15th December 2009
quotequote all
Just as a point of interest, do wider tyres actually give you more grip ? As the area of rubber on the road increases the weight on each square inch of contact patch must be reduced so do you get more grip, less grip or the same grip with a wider tyre?

Presumably as the tyre gets wider the contact patch shape changes, getting wider side to side and narrower front to back, could that mean more grip in a straight line and less to the side perhaps.

Another thing that comes to mind with the bigger rims, is what is the comparative weight of wheel to tyre ? Presumably if aiming at about the standard diameter the rubber gets thinner and the wheel bigger, does that save weight or gain it ?

CHGRIFF

326 posts

281 months

Tuesday 15th December 2009
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The wheels look great but I am pretty sure the front ET42 is not okey for geometry. Might foul in a few places when on bump and patial or full lock. If you get this wrong your steering will be all over the place. You need to check the offset out with these wheels to be sure.

Big Ashy

492 posts

282 months

Tuesday 15th December 2009
quotequote all
Falken FK452 tyres have been very good and are on a par with Bridgestone SO2`s in my honest opinion.

With regards to the geometry and the wheel offset, I have used ET33 Spiders all round which cures these issues and have no adverse effects whatsoever apart from a tad of tram lining on motorways, predominantly in the inside lane.