150 replies to this topic

[SPLAM]

Speedy i didn't think of subtracting from my weight whilst holding them. Done about 100 miles earlier and what i can say is turn in feels much more precise and instant, steering is lighter and there is slightly more noticable tramlining. Throttle response feels more immediate and in general felt quicker but i guess that could be the placebo effect. (is it called placebo ) I also got cut up by an XR2i, a Citroen Saxo tryed to race me and a little after that some kid shouted w*nker at me, is it cause my wheels are black Aiiiiiiiee.

[Whiteboy]

No he shouted, because he cant believe you bought those wheels

[speedyK]

Speedy i didn't think of subtracting from my weight whilst holding them.

Can someone else do this please to put us out of our misery? I was hoping "a bit more than 7kg" meant 8.5kg tops ...

turn in feels much more precise and instant, steering is lighter and there is slightly more noticable tramlining.

– apart from the tramlining. I noticed that too on the Delta-Motor supercharged one on wider (but noticeably heavier wheels) – a bit unnerving on bumpy country lanes at speed, but suppose you just need a firmer hand. Perhaps this can be adjusted out by experts like Scared stiff?

Throttle response feels more immediate and in general felt quicker but i guess that could be the placebo effect. (is it called placebo )

Yeah, like a "sports" exhaust that merely ups the decibels but "sounds" faster. Though, hopefully it is quicker in the corners...

[SPLAM]

Though, hopefully it is quicker in the corners...

It definately felt a lot more planted but with the rain/sun/rain/sun weather we are getting at the moment( well last month or so ) the roads are staying permenantly(my spelling is getting worse) greasy plus i'm not sure how much if any the 048's need bedding in, later this week i will get the geo sorted and perhaps if we get more than fifteen minutes of dry weather i can find out.

[Sicey]

Cool Pics Sam Looks just like Mani's VXR now I hope the weights are wrong too, no weight saving there otherwise

[Thorney]

Tram lining might be due to tyre pressures. Try 24/26 front and 26/28 rear. If you are still getting understeer then soften the fronts, if you are losing grip out of corners at the rear then soften the rears. Yoko's do need bedding in (100 miles or so) espacially when its wet like this so take it easy for the first trips out, they DO have less grip in the wet than the Bridgestones (especially standing water). Looks good

[cheeky_chops]

just had a mail from speedline - wheels are 10.5 Kg and 11 Kg front and rear respectively WTF is all that about then when you can get 8kg or less loti ones and save another 1kg on the hubs??? A V V unimpressed CC

[Chuck]

The VXR wheels are originally designed for Group N Rally Cars and I was really surprised Vauxhall decided to use them for a lightweight car. I had a set for my Evo and the rear 17's look identical. Built for rally cars and designed to take major impacts, hence the weight.

[Thorney]

I imagine this is down to liability. On the VXT's they did suffer some wheel failures in testing so Vauxhall have to be very careful on todays litigeous World. If nothing else then at least you can be confident that the VXR is certainly up to the job

[SPLAM]

Tram lining might be due to tyre pressures. Try 24/26 front and 26/28 rear. If you are still getting understeer then soften the fronts, if you are losing grip out of corners at the rear then soften the rears.

Yoko's do need bedding in (100 miles or so) especially when its wet like this so take it easy for the first trips out, they DO have less grip in the wet than the Bridgestones (especially standing water).

Looks good

To be honest the tramlining is completely accetable to me, my 205 used to be a nightmare, the vx is just a little more than it was on it's original set-up so only really noticealble on roads that are heavily used by lorrys or where two types of surface running down the same lane.


As for tyre pressure i am at the mo using 24/26 front rear which seems pretty perfect but thanks for the tips i will probably have a play, can't do any harm.

[SPLAM]

Looks just like Mani's VXR now

Except mine is lighter.















Oh and slower.

[speedyK]

just had a mail from speedline - wheels are 10.5 Kg and 11 Kg front and rear respectively   

WTF is all that about then when you can get 8kg or less loti ones and save another 1kg on the hubs???

A V V unimpressed CC 

B*llocks! That's appalling. Just when it looked like we had a viable and plausible solution that the Swiss could not refuse.

Looks like mine will be getting new standard 17" Potenzas then . No point in doing a half way solution... will hang on to it till Lotus bring out one that tempts me enough (supercharged 111R/Exige or even S3 in 2005/2006). With lightweight hubs and OZs, you're carrying about 20kgs less unsprung weight – that's a big difference – too big.

[Thorney]

You could always move to a less draconian country?

[stu harris1]

Oh do get a grip...... std wheels 5.5 x 17 9.8kg 7.5 x 17 11.6kg VXR Wheels 7x 16 10.5kg 8 x 17 11kg Both I believe an alloy compound. Both used on road. VXR wheels are larger wheels so the you'd expect the front to be heavier - and it is - and the rear to be comparable - well its a smidge lighter. Now as you all rush to talk about the relative benefits of unsprung weight etc I suspect that no one - on this site - can actually tell the difference in these weights. And as to having super lightweight Loti(?) wheels , ask OZ about their SuperLeggera wheels and how 'round' they ended up when on the road..... Stu

[garyk220]

Now as you all rush to talk about the relative benefits of unsprung weight etc I suspect that no one - on this site - can actually tell the difference in these weights.

Glad I went for the 7 x 16 Turinis now... only 7kg 5kg less unsprung weight on each corner is significant, and I'm sure I'd notice.

Agreed that no one could spot the difference in unsprung weight between the standard and VXR alloy though, since they are about the same weight

PS Quick question Stu. What wheels does the Sprint use? Are they magnesium alloys? I remember the Autocar test making a big deal of the 16kg reduction in wheel weight and something like 50kg overall reduction compared with the VXT.

Edited by garyk220, 26 August 2004 - 12:15 PM.

[cheeky_chops]

Another reply from Speedline - i asked if there was a reason why they were a similar weight to the original, given that Turini 16” fronts are (apparently) 7kg.... "The final weight of a finished wheel tends to be influenced by a number of factors including material and process, size ( diameter and width ), offset ( ET ), design, load rating, impact resistance and long term fatigue resistance. All of these considerations will have an effect on the weight of the finished item. In the case of the VXR wheels, they are a "heavier" design than the original equipment wheels and are also wider than the original equipment wheels. The wheels are also designed with a high load rating to ensure long term reliability and safety when used with low profile tyres on our less than ideal road surfaces, and high stress environments such as track days. The highly specialised "stealth" paint finish of the VXR wheels is also a contributory factor that must be taken into account ;-) Remember that the VXR comes with a 3 year warranty from Vauxhall, wheels included!" But still 5kg a corner heavier than turini + loti hubs. Only time and a few rally stages will tell re strength...

[garyk220]

Remember that the VXR comes with a 3 year warranty from Vauxhall, wheels included!"

So peeps doing loads of track days on Turinis can't rely on them lasting 3 years, without some form of deformation. Seems fair enough to me, given the level of abuse they could be getting

[Thorney]

Sprint uses mags/Oz super legeras. Been on mags now for some time. Mags are NOT suitable for the road (one good pothole could knacker them). A lot is down to design. Multispokes are a stonger design (there's a reason why most race cars run on multispoke rims) and so can be lighter but as Stu says on the UK's crap roads there is a higher chance of failure.

[cheeky_chops]

Remember that the VXR comes with a 3 year warranty from Vauxhall, wheels included!"

So peeps doing loads of track days on Turinis can't rely on them lasting 3 years, without some form of deformation. Seems fair enough to me, given the level of abuse they could be getting

Are you suggesting that if in 2 years and my wheels are buckled(trackdays or not), that i take them back to my dealer and mention "...warrenty...."??

"TADTS sir"??

[speedyK]

Glad I went for the 7 x 16 Turinis now... only 7kg   5kg less unsprung weight on each corner is significant, and I'm sure I'd notice.

Well said, that man!

Saying "we want it sturdy (=heavy) so that there are no guarantee issues" is a bit weak when we're talking about a car that is supposed to be the honed track machine version ( at least as I understood it) – otherwise why bother offering the Oehlins?

And would have thought that anyone wanting the VXR would want a lightweight wheel solution – particularly for track use or at least the option of one as with Oehlins!!!

Sorry, but I'm not at all convinced. Yes, granted it will be better than the regular wheel/tyre combination (and I'm sure all who buy it will confirm that – and good luck to them) – but it could have been much more significantly better!

Talking of "getting a grip" is all very well, but I want a grip and weight reduction.