No_6 Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 Looking to get a set of 15" wheels + tires for everyday driving, and would like something that wouldn't spoil the classic look, and not be terribly expensive. I have no idea of where to look. Also, would like a decent set of tires, middle-of-the-road compound that will provide decent grip but more importantly a quiet compliant ride. Currently, I've got the stock 13" with sticky Yoko tires. Suggestions? P.S. I'm hoping to spend around $1,500 (or less) shipped for the wheels with tires mounted. P.P.S. My reasons--I am hoping to get a tad more ground clearance for city driving, as well as a marginal improvement on gas mileage (1-3 MPG). Besides, I think the speedo was calibrated for 15" wheels (85MPH indicated is about 62MPH actual). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solder_guy Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 I've got Konig Rewind rim wheels which have a classic look. They are cheaper than Panasport. Check eBay for 15". Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 I didn't realize Konig was offering the correct PCD for Caterhams. That's good to know. It seems most new wheels available in the States just work with the Honda and Mazda PCD. Another option is >Compomotive. They also have the correct PCD with multiple offset options and the prices aren't too bad. One thing to keep in mind as you contemplate the switch is that you are going to increase the unsprung weight which will affect ride and handling. You will also slow it down a bit with the taller effective gearing. Assuming you are going from a 185/60-13 to a 205/50-15, you will gain about 5/8" of ground clearance and increase your gearing by 6%. The Toyo T1-S and the new T1-R are decent road tires for se7ens. They are very light compared to most of the competition (Avon CR500 is the champ here, but a bit pricey) and have a softer sidewall which is good for a very light car like a se7en. -JohnJohnCh2006-11-12 07:44:25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
locostv8 Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 By spending a bit of time I got 5 (3 17x9, 2 17x10.5) 95 Cobra Rs for $325 on Ebay in 3 deals.locostv82006-11-12 11:37:06 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No_6 Posted November 13, 2006 Author Share Posted November 13, 2006 I suppose what I need to do is find out what bolt pattern I've got... also, what is this offset thingie? Does that matter much? One last question: what is a good width to go for? As again, the 15s are not as much for performance as they are for a comfortable ride, so I don't need anything agressive. A size that would afford a large selection of rubber would also be a plus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 also, what is this offset thingie? Does that matter much? Definition of OFFSET - The distance from the centreline of the wheel to the mounting surface of the wheel. Yes, it is very important... Worst case, you won't be able to put the wheel on, because it will hit the caliper. Edit: not the caliper, but possibly a suspension component like a ball joint -- in our cars it's very unlikely to hit the fender http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/smile5.gif. If you clear everything, you still want to have the correct offset. the offset basically determines the center of the contact patch. If you draw the line from the upper A-Arm mounting point, to the lower A-Arm mounting point, to the ground, and mark that point, and then compare it to the center of the contact patch, the further those two points are from each other, the higher the steering effort. There are more factors involved, but those are the ones that pop in my head. slngsht2006-11-13 11:45:44 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 Lot's of information >here on offset, backspacing, and bolt patterns. 205/50-15 is probably the most popular 15" size for Se7ens. 195's are available from some manufacturers, but the choices in that size are more limited. Each tire manufacturer will provide an optimal range of rim width for a specific tire size, but 7" is what most people run with 205's. -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No_6 Posted November 15, 2006 Author Share Posted November 15, 2006 Thanks for all the info, John! Kinda makes my head hurt... Any other good online retailers? I liked the 15" Alpha replica wheels, BTW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 No 6, whatever retailer you end up with, let us know who it was, and how your experience was with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 I've ordered from >Tire Rack, >Online Tires, and >Discount Tire Direct in the past and have no complaints about any of them. -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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