WTB - Wheels that are NOT Prisoner OR Wagon

[gde31ff]

I'm new here (post count will be low.... but I'm not a scammer!) - just picked up 1995 Seven on BAT. I really don't like the wagon wheel look. I'm more of a minilite / panasport fan. I'm open to either 13 inch or 15 inch wheels. I'm thinking 6.5 inch width all around. My drives will typically be on small two-lanes around the Blue Ridge Pkwy foothills.... with an occasional VIR track day if I can swing it. I'm open to input / advice from this group and I'm also open to letting my 16-inch wagon wheels go to a new owner. THANKS

[Vovchandr]

Willing to sell your prisoner center caps separately?

[JohnCh]

There is a big difference in driving dynamics between the 15" and 13". Even going from 14" to 13" on my old Westfield was eye opening. Unless you have ride height issues or are simply unwilling to live with the limited tire options for the smaller wheel, get the 13".

[s2europa]

What is the PCD of your current wheels?

[IamScotticus]

What is the PCD?

You are either Triumph 3.75" or Ford 4.25".

If your live axle, long cockpit,  you're Triumph Ital Marina, its 3.75".  DeDion is Ford (except for very early '85-ish) is 4.25".

If you have Ford ( you should), the wheel gods have shown favourably down upon you.  if you are Triumph,  you'll be lucky to get Minilites, Revolutions, or Slot Mags from the vintage formula Ford and Spitfire scene.  Try Racingjunk.com.

Go 13" with 185/70 rubber for street. Don't donk your 7.

Give the link to the BAT listing. 

Here:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/caterham-seven-5/

Yes, finding 13" rubber is a Shitshow. Not much better for 14" either.  But it's no excuse to go larger. All the racers are on 13".

And your Tyre pressures are 20 psi or less.

 

Also know your spare tire carrier center bung is at a certain height for a certain radius. Go too far outside of this and you may have mounting issues. Measure your bunghole to rack distance. I reccomend using rubber trucker hold downs to secure wheel to frame so it doesn't bounce too much and as a 2nd hold down.

https://truckertowerstuff.com/products/21-tarp-strap-epdm-rubber-truck-tie-down

Edited 4 hours ago by IamScotticus

[Slonie]

We've got some pretty lively past threads on tire availability for our cars. Fresh in my mind because my R888Rs (in 13") are getting kind of worn and I'm about to try and figure out how much it would cost to get the 13" Advans here (thx @pethier for the reminder that they do exist in the right size for Caterham, but probably have to be imported...)

 

 

[gde31ff]

1 hour ago, IamScotticus said:

What is the PCD?

You are either Triumph 3.75" or Ford 4.25".

If your live axle, long cockpit,  you're Triumph Ital Marina, its 3.75".  DeDion is Ford (except for very early '85-ish) is 4.25".

 

 

I don't pick up the car until next week, but I believe the wagon wheels are on the 4x4.25 bolt pattern - right? I'm going to try hard not to ask the 100 questions that have already been answered in the forums, but I'm sure I'll miss a hot tip somewhere. Is there a US wheel vendor who is a "go-to" for these cars? I have yet to find a lot of good options that match up with diameter, width, backspace, bolt pattern, etc. (13x6 4x108 ET24 is what I'm coming up with).

[pethier]

5 hours ago, Vovchandr said:

Willing to sell your prisoner center caps separately?

The caps on those 16" wagon wheels do not look identical to Prisoner caps.  Whether they are interchangeable, I can't say, but I do know the fastener bolt does not align with the logo in the same way.

[pethier]

6 hours ago, gde31ff said:

I'm new here (post count will be low.... but I'm not a scammer!) - just picked up 1995 Seven on BAT. I really don't like the wagon wheel look. I'm more of a minilite / panasport fan. I'm open to either 13 inch or 15 inch wheels. I'm thinking 6.5 inch width all around. My drives will typically be on small two-lanes around the Blue Ridge Pkwy foothills.... with an occasional VIR track day if I can swing it. I'm open to input / advice from this group and I'm also open to letting my 16-inch wagon wheels go to a new owner. THANKS

I don't know if they are still around, but when I had my 1979 Caterham, I bought a new set of 15" x 7" Panasport wheels. They were really nice. 

 

I was contacted by a fellow who had acquired my old car, and he told me he had the green Caterham wheels that had come to me with the car, but the Panasports were not still with it.

[pethier]

1 hour ago, Slonie said:

We've got some pretty lively past threads on tire availability for our cars. Fresh in my mind because my R888Rs (in 13") are getting kind of worn and I'm about to try and figure out how much it would cost to get the 13" Advans here (thx @pethier for the reminder that they do exist in the right size for Caterham, but probably have to be imported...)

 

 

https://www.kitcardirect.co.uk/products/yokohama-advan-a052-tyre?variant=53701139235159

 

Both 205-13 and 195-13. I don't see these on Tire Rack.  I have seen 14" A052 tires on Tire Rack.

 

I have found that A052 (that is ay-ZERO-five-two) tires are great for street and autocross on light cars.

 

NOTICE:  maybe the 13" tires from KitCarDirect are not DOT in the USA.  I don't know.

[Slonie]

Not US-based but my car came with Compomotive MLs front and rear (13x6 and 13x8). You could ask for a quote on 13x6 ET24 all around

https://www.comp.co.uk/products/product.asp?item=ml1362-302-120

 

I am sure it would be fairly affordable, since their quote for 17x8 wheels (for another car) was shockingly inexpensive when I contacted them in the past. Granted, the shipping and tariff situation has changed considerably since then. I'm actually curious...

 

[IamScotticus]

This is a job for AI.

When you know the offset, back space,  inside spoke clearance etc, reqired, make an inquiry on Chat GTP, or other AI, and it will likely find good answers.

 

Here's measurement from my Two Gates 13":

Two Gates Minilite repros:  wt= 11.56 lbs

Offset +22mm/.86"

Backspace 122mm /4"

 

Another great source is the UK Caterham & Lotus 7 club

https://www.caterhamlotus7.club/.

There are some sites that list  wheels by PCD, but no extensive details

https://m.roadkillcustoms.com/wheel-bolt-pattern-cross-reference/

 

From my notes:

PCD 4.25/108

Width, Hub

14" 

1968> Alpha Romeo Spider 14x6, 69.1

Audi:

85-90 Quattro 14x6, 63.4

88-95 Quattro 80/90 14x6, 69.1

89-91 90/100 14×6, 57.1

85-90 Coupe 14x6, 57.1

FORD 

95> Contour 14x6  63.4

95-00 Countour ? , 63.4

81-90 Escort 13x5.5, 63.4

81-95 Explorer 13x5.5, 63.4

78-88 Fairmont /Tbird, 14×5.5, 63.4

78-88 Granada/ LTD2, Fairmont, Tbird 14x5.5, 63.4

79-93 Mustang 14x6, 63.4

74-78 Mustang 2, ?, 63.4

81-88 Tbird ?, 63.4

83-94 Tempo, 13x5.5, 63.4

Mercury

74-86 Capri, 14x5.5, 63.4

80-85 Cougar, 14x5.5, 63.4

99-02 Cougar ?, 63.4

82-83  LN-7, 13x5.5, 63.4

81-87 Lynx 13x5.5, 63.4

85-89 XR-4ti 14x6, 63.4

78-85 Monarch/ Marquis/Zepher 14x5.5, ?

95-96 Mystique,  14x6, 63.4

83-85 Topaz, 13x5.5, 63.4

86-94 Topaz, 14x5.5, 63.4

78-85 Zepher, 14x5.5,

 

You got the backyard hotrod builders

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/shop/weld-racing~1-10026_10116_10191_10844_11834_11905?facet=l_diameter%3a57541*l_wheel_bolt_pattern_%28in.%29%3a324613*l_wheel_diameter%3a224023*l_width%3a57382

 

Are these NASCAR steel types road legal?  Is anything we use road legal? Do we care?

 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by IamScotticus

[IamScotticus]

There's VTO

https://www.vtowheels.com/shop/page/7?search=Classic+8&attribute_value=3-9&attribute_value=3-2&attribute_value=3-17&attribute_value=5-31

 

These are the VTO 13x6 Minilite style in 4.25" PCD with +22mm offset:

https://www.vtowheels.com/shop/page/7?search=Classic+8&attribute_value=3-2&attribute_value=5-31&attribute_value=6-86

 

Offset is the spacing of the inside hub face relative to the centerline of the wheel. Positive is outward, negative is inward.  Backspace is the depth of the inside rim from the hub face.  Therefore,  the Backspace of a 6""wide wheel with a 0.0 offset is three inches.  The Backspace of a negative one inch offset is two inches.   This is the measurement that will keep you from hitting the sway bar.

I could be wrong. 

Edited 2 hours ago by IamScotticus

[IamScotticus]

7 hours ago, Vovchandr said:

Willing to sell your prisoner center caps separately?

Not Prisoners.  HPC maybe?

[gde31ff]

34 minutes ago, IamScotticus said:

 

 

These are the VTO 13x6 Minilite style in 4.25" PCD with +22mm offset:

https://www.vtowheels.com/shop/page/7?search=Classic+8&attribute_value=3-2&attribute_value=5-31&attribute_value=6-86

 

I think this is the jackpot!! Reasonable price too. I'll do some cross-checking, but these sure look like they'll work. Thanks

[IamScotticus]

9 minutes ago, gde31ff said:

I think this is the jackpot!! Reasonable price too. I'll do some cross-checking, but these sure look like they'll work. Thanks

Check for any caliper clearance issues 

[IamScotticus]

42 minutes ago, gde31ff said:

I think this is the jackpot!! Reasonable price too. I'll do some cross-checking, but these sure look like they'll work. Thanks

I measured my Mini's back spacing at 4".