15" wheels

[Westfield 129]

I believe that you can purchase 4.50X15 bias ply tires if you check out the vintage tire dealers, such as Coker in the US. I am sure that there are similar companies that may offer new manufacture vintage Dunlop Roadspeeds or an Avon in that size for the front, and a 5.00X15 rear.

The Dunlop vintage race tires are fully treaded, and work in the rain (as they didn't have racing rain tires back in the 50s). We don't have the safety inspections that you have.

Radials are not the best for these cars, as the narrow, sedan tires all break away too suddenly, and make the handling dodgy.

I already know from experience that the 155s are about two to three inches to tall for the front.

What you need to do is to check the 145 tire diameter and section width against the 4.50X15. If it is close, then try it. For the rear, check the diameter and section width against the 5.00X15. Note that the section width may be important with the later Westfield, as the shear plates for the rear suspension arms at the chassis end may just brush the side walls when cornering on some cars, or some wheels. If this seems to be a problem, go with a wider rear rim than 5" (5.5 center laced may work, or a 5.5 with an 85 mm backside spacing. This will flatten out the sidewall, as you will still be working with an 85mm backside spacing.

[markblunt]

I have finally sorted out mine. Not 15" (because of the road legal issue with the Dunlop's). I stuck with the 13" rims, but have changed to Michelin XAS FF (165/13). These have a rolling diameter of 600mm which is comparable to the Dunlop racing 450L/15 - 609mm. It has certainly improved the ride height - I can get onto my drive without gravel/sump contact and speed bumps now lack that familiar grinding noise!. It has also significantly improved the handling and the ride - softer ride (I guess I'm riding on more air) and definitely faster through some of the bends near home. Obviously has affected the gearing, though seems to have merely moved the range of each gear which doesn't seem too detrimental and will make motorway cruising a little quieter! (Speedo was calibrated to this size when I put it in so its now fairly accurate rather than reading garbage).

Mark

[Westfield 129]

On my 13" wheel set, I run 13X5 wheels, with 185/70/13 tires. These are wider, but fit fine. The only problem is that they provide more "modern" handling, with cornering forces approaching .9G. Other than that, the non brand name, $30 each tires are quite nice in predictability, giving a nice progressive breakaway. Far less expensive than the Michelins, within .2" of the correct height, and nicer to drive quickly.

The Michelins are fine tires, and do ride well due to the radial ply and the tall sidewalls.

If you have problems with dragging parts, re set the ride height, with the driver's weight in the seat. When you do that, you need to align the front end as well, with the driver's weight in the seat.

The real reason for running the 15" race tires is to get the same handling as the original 11. Nice drifts, predictability, and of course, the correct look with the right size wheels.

There are bias ply road tires available in 5.00X15, and 4.50X15. The vintage VW guys use them. Check with Coker Tire or other vintage tire specialist.

[chappy996]

Good afternoon everyone - I am a newbie to the Register, having ordered my new project from Westfield last week - I'm one of the five for 2011. I'm an ex-mechanic from another life, and have had a variety of kit and classic cars over the past few years - current owner of a RAM D-type. I met a few guys that I assume are from this Register with their XI's over at the Le Mans Driver Parade a few years ago, and was very impressed with the cars, so it was no surprise I'd end up getting one.

I have yet to source a donor vehicle, and at this stage I am trying to learn as much as possible before I commit any further. I'm interested in the 15" wheel discussion, and have been using 6.50 Dunlop racing tyres on my D-type here in the UK for many years. They pass MOT without problem and I love the handling characteristics (no squealing when things get lively), though they are expensive and don't last long - they are also very prone to tram-lining. Wet weather performance is OK, if a little 'interesting' at times.

It does look as though there would be a much greater variety of tyre widths if 14" wheels were fitted, and I have no idea if any XI owners have gone that route - it seems to be a compromise between the tiny 13"ers and the 15" clearance limitations. Overall, though, I'd have to say that 15" wires are certainly on the shopping list and thanks to Westfield129 for an education.

[erictharg]

Welcome "chappy". Nice to have you along. I too have heard that despite the markings on them, Dunlop race tyres are in fact road legal. I read an article in Motor Sport recently about a guy who runs his Ferrari 250 GT on the road on them, so as you say running them as XI129 suggests, is in fact feasible and legal here too. May even try mine on it's 450M x 13 race tyres on the road. Look forward to hearing about your build, and there's wealth of advice (some of it even good!) poised form the members of the forum should you need it.

[sgrant]

Hey - welcome. Did I bump into you at a service station in France on the way back from the Le Mans Driver's parade a few years back? Were you the chap who had done the parade about 4-5 times in a very beautiful D-type?

Welcome anyway - glad to have you on board and be very interested to see how the build progresses.

Didn't realise the Dunlops were legal, that does potentially make it much easier....

stephen

[Mknight702]

Another welcome from me.

I was one of the three musketeers at the '09 Parade so it is possible we met.

Have fun building, stripping the donor was probably the hardest thing, lots of odd size imperial spanners required!

[chappy996]

Many thanks for the welcome. In respect of the Le Mans Parade, which is slightly off topic for this thread, I go every year - there is a small group who always join in the 'British Racing Green' contingent - several C & D-type replicas and a few Aston DB3S's too. The only problem is, and I know one of your number found out, it's a killer for overheating. About 1.5 hours stop/start driving, and being egged-on by the crowd to rev the engine and spin the wheels doesn't help. I fitted a supplementary electric water pump to assist the twin electric fans, but still the Webers vapour-locked this year - the first time I have failed to make it back to the 'pits' (but I was only 100yds short).

To get back on topic, I attach a photo showing those fat Dunlop racers. The 'MOT' man said 'as long as they have legal tread, they're fine'. The main problem is they cost close to £1000 for a complete set (4) and last about 8k miles. Since I only do around 2k miles per year in the D I do get a few years out of a set. Driving back from Le Mans with the DB3S's that are shod with Avon tyres, I could hear them behind me with their tyres squealing around the tighter swoopy bends, whereas the Dunlops are silent and grip better, so I can recommend them.

I'm sure I will fit something similar to the Westfield when the time comes, but at the moment I'm wrestling with the first decision - I'm having it in polished gel-coat, but can't make up my mind between Westfield Green, Navy or Electric Blue. I have a couple of weeks yet to make up my mind, but every morning I wake up having made a different choice. At the moment the W/R Green with chrome wires (I know, tart's handbag) is the winner, but then again, Navy with wires would look so good too...................

[sgrant]

Yeah, so, I was the bloke who *just* made it back to the pits before the coolant system exited via the header tank! No harm done thankfully....

Choices choices......my car is in green, on wires (it's actually the car on the banner at the top of this page), but I didn't really like it gelpacked (mine was an ex-demonstrator, and Westfield hadn't done a great job with the gel coating), so I had it resprayed in Jaguar Racing Green. I must admit though, blue does look fantastic, especially with roundalls. There's a great thread on the WSCC site, documenting someone's rebuild of a real Lotus Eleven - he went for a blue and it looks great.

stephen

[erictharg]

Got to be Navy with red painted wires. Very racer...but then I'm biased. Maybe we need a new thread for "chappy's" build? More help than you ever wanted!