11 replies to this topic

[Mickz]

I know this subject has been done many times but cant seem to find a straight answer so was hoping for help.

 

I have a NA which is fitted with Nitrons 1-way adjustable suspension and now looking to fit 18" alloys , I like the TD imolas ,my question is , can it be set up without modifying the arches and if so what width wheels, offsets and tyres should be fitted ?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks Mickz

[Nev]

18" wheels on an NA? Surely it would be better to switch to smaller wheels so it accelerates (faster)?

 

If you really do want to fit 18" wheels do the calcs by measuring up your current wheels, then measure the tyre to chassis gap (with max upward travel of the wishbones). Measure both side independantly as the gaps may vary.

Edited by Nev, 30 June 2014 - 11:32 AM.

[Rosssco]

This is one of the few cars I've seen that ran 18's, so may be worth searching / contacting the former owner to find out wheel specs / fitment issues etc...

 

http://www.vx220.org...trol-blue-sold/

[slindborg]

You will probably want to have the same widths as the 16/17 combos, and as such you might find that the tyres are a pain in the ass to buy... This is postulating though.

[Mickz]

I find getting tyres for the standard wheels a pain as it is , surely it couldn't be worse

 

 

You will probably want to have the same widths as the 16/17 combos, and as such you might find that the tyres are a pain in the ass to buy... This is postulating though.

 

[slindborg]

It was merely a point to consider if you wanted to get wheels to fit without mods.... I did make it an assumption, never mind

[Mickz]

Any help is welcome , I was also wondering why there are such little choice out there for 18"

 

is it really such a no in the way off mods ?

[slindborg]

The lack of it happening is a bit of a clue.

[Arno]

Any help is welcome , I was also wondering why there are such little choice out there for 18"

Few people use them. Also by going to 18" all around and keeping the correct wheel/tyre diameter you end up in some pretty oddball tyre sizes, so availability becomes (even more of) an issue. Wheel arch size limits means you can't go very wide and the number of 'narrow' 18" tyres is quite low.

 

Tyre sidewall also becomes very small, so it also becomes quite easy to ding/damage wheels on potholes and road imprefections.  

is it really such a no in the way off mods ?

It's simple.. On a lightweight sportscar like the VX most modifications tend to focus on either make it lighter or at least keep it around the same level.

 

Bigger wheel+type combinations (unless you go for expensive fully forged wheels) tend to be heavier and they often put a negative impact on the ride and handling of the car (heavier, smaller/stiffer sidewall, etc.) unless a decent amount of time and money is also invested in a new suspension setup that can cope/use with the change.

 

VX'es are mostly 'driver'/track/road cars and not 'show'/bling/boulevard-cruiser cars. There are a few around, but they are rare and not many people go that way.

 

Of course anyone is free to do to/with their car as they see fit, but 'big wheels' is a modification that's not done often unless for specific reasons (eg. huge power needing very wide tyres) and usually with (lots of) additional bodywork and suspension work to make it fit and work.

 

It can be done. No question about that, but there's no 'commonly used' solution as there's usually little interest in it.

 

Bye, Arno.

[alexb]

I have 18" wheels on an NA (SC now). Wanted to get two things out of them: looks and less weight. OEM is terrible. Looks is subjective, but weight wise you can use them as anchors. I went from the usual 175 front and 225 back to 215 front and 245 back. At the front the weight is a little less than OEM, at the rear it's about 3 kgs per wheel less. OZ Superleggera's and used to run Michelin Pilot Sport, now Kuhmo KU39.

 

I never experienced a lack of choice. You can either go for good road tires (like the Michelins) or for more track oriented, like the Federal 595RS. Most are available in 215 and 235 or 245 (/40 both front and rear).

 

I didn't want them to rub, so I had a good look around on the German forum, as these Germans like big rims. Consensus there is that in most cases it doesn't rub. That might be true in Germany, not so in Holland. Issue is that there are many things that make your tires rub or not. Width obviously, but also ride height, camber, caster, spacers, the exact way the tire is made, the sprint rate etc. No way of telling before you have specific tires on specific rims and a specific set up. Let's say there is not too much room for wider tires. I've set up my car such that they don't rub. I'd like to get it a little lower, but find it annoying that heads turn whenever I have to park the car because of the rubbing. And btw, I have these arch extenders or whatever they're called. And you will need them.

 

Can't say anything about track performance. There's probably a good reason that most (99.7453%) use smaller rims. I probably wouldn't do it again and go for the 16/17, as that's playing it safe. Having said that, the car on 18's and wider tires just looks so much better ....

 

 

[Paulus H]

Just my opinion but 18's or 19's look great on Audi diesels..... A lot of the sales guys I see with A4''s have these now. 16/17 work great compared to std 17/17 in my experience over the last 90,000 miles Which ever way you go make sure you scrub your tyres in before making judgements. Not trying to be a pain in the neck, just offering my idea of a reality check. Kindly, Paul

[Rufatiwe]

My set up now is 18" x 7.5 wheels, 204 40 front and 225 30 rear tires. They look perfect and feels more responsive but I have done few kms.