15" wheels

[sgrant]

Is anyone running them? I'm thinking of doing so, but want to be sure i'm not going to foul the bodywork on full lock.

Just looking for that extra bit of sump clearance, plus a few less revs at motorway speeds....

s

[markblunt]

I looked into it in some detail over the summer. For the steel wheeled cars it is possible to get minilites made with the appropriate offset (I can look up what was recommended if you want) at about £100 a corner. They do need to run Dunlop Racing tyre (15 x 5.0 rear and 15 x 4.5 front) but although they are available on R5 rubber this is 'road legal' in 16" size but in 15" size they say 'NOT FOR HIGHWAY USE' and presumably would invalidate your insurance. I ultimately decided to try Michelin XAS FF 165s on my 13s which gives me more clearance. Tyres about the same price and saved the cost of the wheels.

Mark

[sgrant]

Thanks Mark. I was hoping to bump up to 15" wire wheels, and it looks like there's been some success with this in the US (see http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/wes ... ssage/2865). But, having said that, reading the US forum, there's been a lot of failure as well, with the spokes hitting the calipers and/or the bodywork and so on. MWS do a nice wire wheel, but the offset will end up pushing the spokes into the caliper (there's only 3.5mm clearance with the 13's). I'll have a rethink - it's not a neccesity, I was just hoping to get a tad more ground clearance and perhaps a few less revs on the motorway.

Does the Michelin get you any more sump clearance over the CR322's?

stephen

[markblunt]

I haven't fitted them yet but in theory it should give me at least 15mm more...

M

[erictharg]

Mark - tell me more about the minilite option. I couldn't find anything smaller than a 5.5" x 15 in alloy.

[11admire]

Better late than never. I run 15" wire from an AH 3000 fitted with 145/65 front and 165/65 rear

[sgrant]

Hi - greetings and welcome to the forum!

Did you have to do any fettling to brake calipers/bodywork/axle mountings/steering stops to squeeze those wheels in?

are they 60-spoke?

stephen

[11admire]

They are 60 spoke and I just fitted them. No problem whatsoever.
I go for the vintage look and will do all I can to get as near to the original as possible.
Thats why I got some used 15" instead of the 14" that still look as new. The spare have never turned since 1983 when fitted. Just stands there under the headfearing.
Still Michelin on all 5 wheels that came with the car.

[erictharg]

Go for it Stephen. The smallest alloy wheel I could find was a 5.5 x 15, which I think would work OK. But currently in love with my 13" ACB9's. May all change when I've actually driven on them.

[sgrant]

Not sure how 60-spoke would look on an eleven; do you have any photos you can post up?

stephen