Wheel/tyre combos?

L

lacroupade

Veteran
Apologies if the answer already lies elsewhere....looking to upgrade my sad little 16" wheels after three years and since my tyres are due for replacement soon I'm thinking about moving off runflats. So my question is in two parts:

1. Can I move to 17" (I don't want to worsen the ride to be honest) and keep the existing tyre profile to fill the arches a bit more? I'm assuming that wouldn't then impact the ride since its effectively the same amount of rubber on a slightly larger wheel?

2. If I also went to non-runflats will that help to improve the ride a bit and does it have any negative effect on road-holding? Any tyre recommendations there please?

thanks in anticipation.... :)

PS I'm not anal about paying through the nose for BM wheels so am happy to look at other wheel manufacturers - anyone got any recommendations based on experience please?
 
Hi,

I see no reason at all why you could not go up a size and keep a larger profile tyre. Since 18's fit then there wil be no fit issue. It may look a bit unorthodox and compromise handlling on a bigger more wobbly tyre. The increase will certainly be noticable in performance on a 2.0 with the increased gearing and greater unsprung weight. I would not go that route.

Ride quality on any non RFT will vastly inprove over stock and easily compensate for any deterioration by lowering sidewall profile.

Personally I'd keep to OEM wheels. They are generally better quality, lighter and look better than others, however that of course depends on what you spend. I'd get some OEM of a style you like off Ebay and refurb them.

As for tyres you'll find many fans of Falkens on here, which from personal experience are excellent.
 
I think CJ has not read you post correctly as he is knowledable in this area, but you will not be able to kee the profile the same if you move to 17" or 18" rims.

http://www.etyres.co.uk/glossary-tyre-terms?term=profile

Just incase you are unaware the profile is the amount of rubber between the rim and the road in percenta of width, if you increase your wheel diameter you will need to decrease the profile to keep the rolling circumfrence the same to ensure your speedo etc reports correctly.

Edit: think CJ has sort of mentioned the above but just left out the Speedo bit :D
 
srhutch - you're right and I was focussing on the odd performance that a greater rolling radius would have on gearing, performance, etc. Speedo would of course also be out.
 
Thanks chaps, much appreciated.

I was aware of the issues vis-a-vis rolling radius, although I'm not convinced the effect on performance would be that great, I guess only experiment will tell! Don't seem to have these issues on the 4x4 that I also drive since theres enough torque to accommodate a wide range of tyre sizes without really noticing....

Am I to assume that the larger engined cars can cope with a bigger rolling radius and therefore thats what they get? The issue here is filling the wheel arches a bit more, which the standard 16s and styres on the 2.0 don't seem to do, or is it just me?

I think I'll go the non-runflat route....I've had one puncture in three years/30k miles so hopefully the odds are in my favour now! Tks for the Falken tip.....are there any particular tread pattern or tyre type in the range recommended for general use ( as opposed to track-day type stuff!)?

Thanks again for your help! Off to Wales shortly (sadly in the Nissan) for a bit of off-roading - its a shame it was pre-arranged cos hell isn't this ragtop weather this weekend!! :(
 
lacroupade said:
Thanks chaps, much appreciated.

I was aware of the issues vis-a-vis rolling radius, although I'm not convinced the effect on performance would be that great, I guess only experiment will tell! Don't seem to have these issues on the 4x4 that I also drive since theres enough torque to accommodate a wide range of tyre sizes without really noticing....

Am I to assume that the larger engined cars can cope with a bigger rolling radius and therefore thats what they get? The issue here is filling the wheel arches a bit more, which the standard 16s and styres on the 2.0 don't seem to do, or is it just me?

I think I'll go the non-runflat route....I've had one puncture in three years/30k miles so hopefully the odds are in my favour now! Tks for the Falken tip.....are there any particular tread pattern or tyre type in the range recommended for general use ( as opposed to track-day type stuff!)?

Thanks again for your help! Off to Wales shortly (sadly in the Nissan) for a bit of off-roading - its a shame it was pre-arranged cos hell isn't this ragtop weather this weekend!! :(
Click to expand...


the wheel radius of a 16" and 18" once tyred is the same pretty much, beacuse the bigger the rim the lower the tyre profile.

If you keep the tyre profile the same and get bigger rims you'll just lift the car and make it look more like youre Nissan :?

Ditch run flats and the ride improves massively - i had 16's on run flats and now have 18's on normal tyres. The ride is much improved, less jarring and no more tramlining :wink:
 
Just get some 18" 108's (The Best wheel :evil: ) and some Falken 452's and you will be set, much better then the runflat rubbish.
 
You'd be amazed how much difference that sort of jump you propose would make on a sports car. The 2.0 would of course notice it more than the larger engines as it's way down on torque and they already use a different diff to part compensate for this. You may even find fuel economy drops as the engine will be out of it's ideal range. Of course each to their own in the trade off of performance.

I run some fairly hairy 4x4's and have to change final drive each time I up the tyres. Even with a small block chevy powered Jeep needed a diff change once I hit 35" on them.

In terms of the rolling radius I'll bet the final result as the wheels step up in size and the profile drops is about the same.

Frankly I'd scrap this line of thinking as as said above go with some 18" and the correct tyre profile. If you want to fill the arches go for any aftermarket spring that will drop it 30mm on standard suspension and 15mm on sports

BTW - where do you off road in S Wales? I spend a fair amount of time at Seven Sisters and many places mid Wales
 
18s and Falkens it is then - thanks guys! Just have to find the right wheels now.....

CJ..... Seven Sisters eh! Not at the dreaded Walters arena? LOL

My permanent home is a couple of miles north of Llandovery on the road to Rhandirmwyn (Oxfordshire during the week for work and three teenagers at college) - if you know Seven Sisters/Banwen/Sarn Helen you'll certainly know my all-time favourite route Strata Florida? plus numerous local routes in the vicinity.....but fabulous ragtop driving as well as you'll know....

Thanks again for the good advice....
 
Driven all you mention there and been to Seven Sisters more times than I care to count.

Usually get up there twice a year and either camp at Dan yr Ogof caves, or if I'm feeling like luxury at the Abercraf inn. Camped a few times up on SS itself but a bit sparse.
 
Ha! I live approx x2 miles away from walter's arena :D

I got quite up there quite often to watch the rally teams testing throughout the year :driving:
 
WelshGirl2009 said:
Ha! I live approx x2 miles away from walter's arena :D

I got quite up there quite often to watch the rally teams testing throughout the year :driving:
Click to expand...

Small world. I'd best be on good behaviour now then when I drive the main road.

I'll let you guys know when I'm next up and give ytou a whizz around Walters yard
 
Sounds good, i'm up for that :)

I'm just a few miles down the bottom of the main hill, from a small village called Pontneddfechan (just past Glynneath)
 
cj10jeeper said:
I know where you are :)

Normally go left at the lights for fuel and food at the end of the next village.
Click to expand...

The 'Lamb and Flag' by any chance? :)

p.s sorry guys/gals for going slighty off topic.. :roll:
 
Big fuss going on at the moment to stop Walters illegally closing the Sarn as he keeps doing....it'll all end in tears I'm sure! Seems the concils Sarn closure has been llegal all this time as well LOL.... like to say hello, especially if you've still got a Jeep, I've been tempted for a long time....

so welshgirl, its not me but do you ever see a bright red Nissan 4x4 with 35" wheels bashing about your neck of the woods?
 
here's what I mess about at:

Yes - this was intentional to see how far it would go before falling over...
france0001.jpg


n735590446_385710_1035.jpg


and my rock crawler - 400+hp small block chevy
cj10jeepfest.jpg


Both on ARB's 35" tyres. CJ10a has Atlas transfer on TH350 and the 'normal Jeep is for deep water and forest competition stuff.
 
cj10jeeper said:
here's what I mess about at:

Yes - this was intentional to see how far it would go before falling over...
france0001.jpg


n735590446_385710_1035.jpg


and my rock crawler - 400+hp small block chevy
cj10jeepfest.jpg


Both on ARB's 35" tyres. CJ10a has Atlas transfer on TH350 and the 'normal Jeep is for deep water and forest competition stuff.
Click to expand...

Now that looks like fun :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom