30 replies to this topic

[laidback50]

I'm in the process of aquiring a pair of NA rear wheels with Potenzas fitted. The plan is to fit these on the front of my NA. I would imagine the road holding should improve but heavier steering at low speeds. The VX's I've seen with wide wheels on the front look very good as well, the skinny front wheels always look a little sad. I seem to recall this being done already but I can't find it on a search. Am I going to have any problems with the wheels fouling anything under the wing? What about tyre pressures??? Any comments?????????????? Graham.

[BogBrush]

You'd have to change the tyre size to 205 45 17 otherwise you'll find that the wheels will rub in the arches.

[petrolhead1]

There is a lot of information about front wheel options on this site you just need to search for it. The ultimate authority is Thorney as he markets some nice alternatives. Using rear wheels is not viable. I am virtually certain that you will find rears will not fit within the front wheel arches. They will foul the body and or the wheel arch liner at about half full lock. These liners will rip out quite easily if they foul the tyres. The steering will be impossibly heavy at parking speed. If you are stong enough to turn the wheel the force you will need to turn the wheels could damage the rack. I recommend you try another search before one of the old hands points you to the information. I think the For Sale section has some information on replacement wheels or you can try Thorney Motorsports Website.

[The Knobs]

they fit, Timbo ran them on his car with no probs. I think Foxy tried them aswell.

[Black Knight]

I'm getting OZ Superturismo WRC for mine. Fronts will be 7x17 with 205 tyres, will need to use 20mm distancers and wobbly bolts.. Btw. I read at leasts 3 different ET numbers for fronts on this site, 25, 26 and 29, which is correct? The rears as I gathered have an ET of 35.. Rears will be either 7.5x17 or 8x17, probably no distancers, it seems they make them in ET35... I'd like to put 245 or at least 235 tyres to compensate for the huge tyre increase on the fronts so I imagine I'd be better of with 8x17, I hate the feeling of tyres sidewalls flexing in bends... Anyway, I don't see anything bad in using 20mm distancers on an ET 45 wheel to get ET 25... Only difference is longer bolts.. An ET 25 wheel is essentially the same thing as an ET 45 wheel with distancers glued on it or something. As for wobbly bolts, I used them before on other vauxhalls(calibra turbo for example) and have no worries about using them again.

[LazyDonkey]

they fit, Timbo ran them on his car with no probs. I think Foxy tried them aswell.

Yup - i belive R1CHY is also running this combo at the moment

[Richy]

I have rears on the front

There is no rubbing or fouling on the body/chassis of any sort

No wobbly bolts and no wheel spacers

But you have to run 205/45/17 tyres though...

Using rear wheels is not viable. I am virtually certain that you will find rears will not fit within the front wheel arches. They will foul the body and or the wheel arch liner at about half full lock. These liners will rip out quite easily if they foul the tyres.

The steering will be impossibly heavy at parking speed. If you are stong enough to turn the wheel the force you will need to turn the wheels could damage the rack.

[Cough/.. Bullshit] none of the above quote is true

Edited by R1CHY, 19 September 2005 - 01:26 PM.

[Black Knight]

Richy do you think there's room to lower the car about say 20mm? Do you think it will rub then?

[Richy]

I cant say because i havn't tried.. There are others on here who have IIRC Clipping-point has There is still room in there, so i suppose with the correct GEO and camber it should be possible.

[Black Knight]

What camber is yours sporting on the fronts? Mine has 0 and currently that isn't possible to modify as the previous owner hit a curb or something and the left wheel barely has 0 camber with all the shims, including the ABS one, removed..

[rez]

Does anyone have comments on this in terms of handling? Been considering the 195 front / 225 rear combo, curious as to how this compares. If going wider that 195 at the front is is advisable to go wider than 225 at the rear? does having more than 195 at the fron give much benefit on a car this light? cheers

[Richy]

I have no idea... its having the GEO/camber re-done once i have replaced the ball joint. I shall find out for you Blacknight Edit BTW the ball joint had gone 6months before the wheels were fitted, its only now with the trackday looming, im geting around to doing it

Edited by R1CHY, 19 September 2005 - 02:04 PM.

[EMB]

What is the point in this? Are you guys really finding that your cars are understeering that much?

[Richy]

What is the point in this? Are you guys really finding that your cars are understeering that much?

Not at all, infact my car hardly had any understeer..

Im just a cheapskate who refuses to pay £135 each for 175/45/17 fronts

[P11 COV]

What is the point in this? Are you guys really finding that your cars are understeering that much?

The car wil understeer with the skiny standard fronts...thats why Vauxhall fitted a different set up to the VXR.

Also a different size at the front will mean a wider range of tyres avaliable. For example at the moment you have no option to fit any sticky rubber like Yokohama 048's.

Lotus also use this set up for the exige so it must work.

I've got to say though I feel that rear tyres at the front has got to up set the handling to far the other way - All the elise/exige/VX models have had wider tyres at the rear for a reason!

[laidback50]

This is all very encouraging I hope to get away with the standatd rear tyres for the moment until they are worn down to an acceptable degree. I had the geo set up at Scared Stiff and ll the understeer disappeared with standard wheels all round. I was wondring if the extra grip with wider wheels on the front will take the car the other way and make it tail happy So, it's been done before . What about tyre pressures because that can make a big difference. Higher pressures on the frontcan take away some of the heavy steering and hopfully still leave plenty of grip when used in anger. Can I get Yokos to fit these rims???? Graham.

[Foxy]

I hope to get away with the standatd rear tyres for the moment until they are worn down to an acceptable degree.

Won't work.


I have some part worn Toyo T1R's from when I did this - they're 205/40-17 (not 45 - they'll foul the arch/chassis). Any good to you?

Edited by Foxy, 19 September 2005 - 05:00 PM.

[robfenn]

What is the point in this? Are you guys really finding that your cars are understeering that much?

The car wil understeer with the skiny standard fronts...thats why Vauxhall fitted a different set up to the VXR.

Also a different size at the front will mean a wider range of tyres avaliable. For example at the moment you have no option to fit any sticky rubber like Yokohama 048's.

Lotus also use this set up for the exige so it must work.

I've got to say though I feel that rear tyres at the front has got to up set the handling to far the other way - All the elise/exige/VX models have had wider tyres at the rear for a reason!

You can't just say because the Exige has it that it will work, the car has completely different suspension.

Eliminating understeer is one thing but eliminating precious feedback is another. I would rather have a better driving experience than more grip.

If understeer is a problem for people, why not get a anti roll bar upgrade? Or buy a book where you can learn about weight transfer and stop the problem yourself.

-Rob

[Foxy]

If understeer is a problem for people, why not get a anti roll bar upgrade? Or buy a book where you can learn about weight transfer and stop the problem yourself.

Yes, but it depends what your motivation is and what you use the car for. An adjustable ARB is just a a further source of confusion for most people (I know, I've got one! ).

IMO - a proper geo set-up is the best bet for road, but if you're doing lots of trackdays you have to go down the 195 fronts route. If bling is your thing, you're in the wrong place...

[laidback50]

Oooh Foxy, that sounds interesting. Will the Toyos on the front live with the Potenzas on the back????? Graham.