Newbie wants Advice!!

[PhillyT]

Hello everyone!

I've jus joined (after months of looking at all your car pics! smileys/smiley17.gif ) and was hoping for a bit of advice!

I had a 2003 VTR (Un-modified exterior), and the first mod im planning is getting some Alloys! My question is, how big can i go without modding the arches (trying to avoid informing the insurance about arch mods). Ideally i'd like 17"s on but do any of you guys know how big i can go without modifications? And then the next size up.. how much modding work is involved to fit those?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks smileys/smiley8.gif

[GazOpti]

Think this may be answered in the FAQ section...try there mate.

[Dan]

there is a section called FAQ's which has the answers to this as it gets asked on a regular basis! smileys/smiley17.gif

without lowering it then you probably will get 17's on but it'll look like a 4x4 so it wil need lowering! but then you'll need arch work!

id say 16's with 195/40/16 tyres and you should get away with a drop of upto 60mm! i have 16's with those tyres on a 60mm drop and dont get any rubbing! smileys/smiley2.gif

but at the moment i think everyones going for the 'less is more look' so have a think about some 14/15" euro style wheels and slam the suspension! smileys/smiley4.gif

[PhillyT]

.

[PhillyT]

"there is a section called FAQ's which has the answers to this as it gets asked on a regular basis!

without lowering it then you probably will get 17's on but it'll look like a 4x4 so it wil need lowering! but then you'll need arch work!

id say 16's with 195/40/16 tyres and you should get away with a drop of upto 60mm! i have 16's with those tyres on a 60mm drop and dont get any rubbing!

but at the moment i think everyones going for the 'less is more look' so have a think about some 14/15" euro style wheels and slam the suspension! "

...Thanks Dan!

Im not wanting to slam it at all at the mo (Insurance costs more than anything).

So what would you recommend? Im wanting some FOX Evo 1's and to minimise the gap between the top of the tyre and the bottom of the arch. I dont mind doing a little filing to fit the bigger wheel, but ive been told 16's are the biggest i'd get.

Oh!, and i dont want to compramise ANY speed or handling, cos i love bombin around!!

[GazOpti]

but at the moment i think everyones going for the 'less is more look' so have a think about some 14/15" euro style wheels and slam the suspension! smileys/smiley4.gif

Its what ive been telling everyone smileys/smiley4.gif totally agree!

[Dan]

well to keep speed n handling then 16's are the best bet! smileys/smiley2.gif

[PhillyT]

low profile tyres or nomal?

and what would you say in the number format, as i dont really undertsand it, (eg: 195/40/16): xx/xxx/xx ??!

Jus so i can take that info along to a dealer or someone.

[Dan]

low profile tyres are best 195/40/16 are the ones id suggest but if your not lowering it yet then you can also go for 195/45/16 which will be cheaper! smileys/smiley2.gif

[PhillyT]

and then if i want to lower it in future i can get the lower profile tyres right????

Also you mentioned;
"id say 16's with 195/40/16 tyres and you should get away with a drop of upto 60mm! i have 16's with those tyres on a 60mm drop and dont get any rubbing!"

..do you have any pics or a small gallery of pics of your car so i can see what the 195/40/16 looks like with a 60mm drop?

[oz_borne]

look in the photo gallery forum, at the bottom of the page there is a forum jump bar, choose photo\video gallery, plenty of photos in there to keep you going for hours!!!

smileys/smiley14.gif

[PhillyT]

Thanks but i want to know what im looking at; ideally id like to see some 16s 195/40/16 & 195/45/16 on a mk2 VTR (the later of which Dan has! lol)

[Dan]

look here (http://www.sax-p.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13340&PN=1&TPN=3) mate! these were taken last week! my tyres are 195/40/16

[Simo]

Brief summary...

You cant fit 17's without scrubbage.

Bigegst you can fit with no scrubbage are 16's. If you fit 195/45/16 tyres you have to do minimal mods. (bumpoer bracket) Even if not lowered you will need to make this mod for the situation when you have a few people in the back of your car.

THe simplest solution is 16's with 195/40/16 tyres. No scrubbage will occur as the rolling diamater is only about 3mm bigger than a std set of 15's.

If you fit 16's and dont lower it though, it will look a little odd.

[Simo]

I forgot to mention that the 195/40/16 tyres are currently only available from 3 manufacturers...

[oz_borne]

yeah just confuse the poor guy DADDYO!!!

LMBO! © sax-p

smileys/smiley14.gif

[PhillyT]

I think i understand! smileys/smiley5.gif
So, im going for 16" alloys (Evo 1's in Titanium)

...with 195/45/16 tyres (as the thicker tyre will help fill out the gap between the alloy and the arch (because im not lowering it for a while))... right? A no scrubbing, 16 inch solution!

But now Simo's saying they will scrub! (All the time or just with ppl in the back?) and that i SHOULD go with: 195/40/16 tyres to avoid scrubbing 100%

Can you also explain what you mean by they will look a bit wierd without lowering? (is this the 40 or 45 tyres, and with or without ppl in the back?)

- Hoping to get there!! lol

[Simo]

Nope smileys/smiley17.gif

That tyre is a 'new' profile current only available from Continental (sport contact 2), Pirelli ( P Zero Nero) and Dunlop (SP9000)

Toyo are releasing the T1-R in a few months...

See, I'm a fountain of bollocks smileys/smiley17.gif

[Simo]

OK, keeping things simple again - you need to ensure you have the correct citroen offset, or use the correct spacer. Doing this will minimise chances of scrubbage if you use the 45 profile tyre.

Any way you look at it the 40 profile tyre is a better choice now they have started making it...

The 45 will help to fill the gap betweenthe wheel/arch but it will also raise the car higher up from the ground.

My comment about it looking weird is known as '4x4 syndrome' Fitting larger alloys attracts attention to the wheel area... if you fit larger alloys and dont lower the car it will look out of balance.

Anyone got any pics to support this?

I lowered my car when it was about a week old, so I have none smileys/smiley17.gif

[PhillyT]

ok, well now im completly lost, could you do me a favor n re-read my post (or the previous ones too if you need to) and try n tell me wot i need!

Basically theres these few points;

- i Dont wana loose any speed/handling!
- i wana avoid extra insurance for arch mods
- biggest wheel possible (ive decided on 16's now tho)

[Simo]

ok, well now im completly lost, could you do me a favor n re-read my post (or the previous ones too if you need to) and try n tell me wot i need!

Basically theres these few points;

- i Dont wana loose any speed/handling!**THEN go for 194/40/16**
- i wana avoid extra insurance for arch mods**THEN go for 194/40/16**
- biggest wheel possible (ive decided on 16's now tho)**THEN go for 194/40/16**

[PhillyT]

OK, keeping things simple again - you need to ensure you have the correct citroen offset, or use the correct spacer. Doing this will minimise chances of scrubbage if you use the 45 profile tyre.

Any way you look at it the 40 profile tyre is a better choice now they have started making it...

The 45 will help to fill the gap betweenthe wheel/arch but it will also raise the car higher up from the ground.

My comment about it looking weird is known as '4x4 syndrome' Fitting larger alloys attracts attention to the wheel area... if you fit larger alloys and dont lower the car it will look out of balance.

Anyone got any pics to support this?

I lowered my car when it was about a week old, so I have none smileys/smiley17.gif

right that helps alot!

So i should go for 195/40/16 tyres on my 16 inchers! ..and i can get my mechanic to apply a spacer if needed right? Next Q: Do you reckon ill need a spacer? Its a mk2 2003 VTR - im hoping you'll know the space available without modding to be able to answer this.

And then assuming i go ahead with all the above, i can get it lowered upto about 60mm - Like Dans if i want to?

[Simo]

The offset is insimple terms, the amount the wheel sstick out sideways.

If you buy alloys of the correct citroen offset you wont have a problem.

It is common for places to sell alloys in FORD offset, and sell you a 22mm spacer, which you need to fit to each wheel.

Your alloy wheel place should be fully upto speed on what you need. Just make sure they sell you Citroen offset, or supply the correct spacers.

[PhillyT]

What about to INCREASE Handling? would that involve increasing the 195 figure? ..but that would lead to more arch mods needed right?

[PhillyT]

The offset is insimple terms, the amount the wheel sstick out sideways.

If you buy alloys of the correct citroen offset you wont have a problem.

It is common for places to sell alloys in FORD offset, and sell you a 22mm spacer, which you need to fit to each wheel.

Your alloy wheel place should be fully upto speed on what you need. Just make sure they sell you Citroen offset, or supply the correct spacers.

Excelletn - cheers mate!!

*** Can i just say to everyone who has posted in this thread (mainly you & dan) your knowledge and info is GREATLY GREATLY appreciated!! Thank you both so much! smileys/smiley4.gif

[Simo]

What about to INCREASE Handling? would that involve increasing the 195 figure? ..but that would lead to more arch mods needed right?

The best choice for handling is 15's, using 195/45/15... but the best option in 16" size is the 195/40/16.

YES, to increase handling you would increase the width (the 195 figure), BUT you would be hunting for quite an exotic tyre, which would cost a fair bit more.. and like you say, youd further increase the chance of rubbing (allbeit in a different plane).

[PhillyT]

OK LAST Q:

Going for 16's on 195/40/16 tyres.. the gap between the top of the tyre and bottom of the arch, at its highest point, what would you expect it to be in mm?

So ive a rough idea, or do you have a pic to help illustrate this size gap? In short will it be bigger or smaller than the current gap using the Standard VTR Alloys (btw, do you know wot the spec is of those tyres?)

Once again - thank yo so much!!

[Simo]

From memory I would expect the gap to be about 7cm.

When measuring the gap I tend to use finger widths... A lowered car should in my opinion have a gap of two finger widths or less... an un-lowered one tends to have between 4 and 5 finger widths.

All approx I know... you could calculate the gap.

I think the 14" tyres are 185/55/14 although that could be wrong... anyone???

[PhillyT]

there actually 15's im sure!

whats your formula for calculating tha gap?

And out of; Continental, Pirelli, Dunlop & Toyo which would you say to go for, for speed & handling? (If toyo, which one as second choice with the toyo'snot coming out for a bit)

[Simo]

my girlfriend recently bought conti's for her rallye, but we wanted tohe toyo's...

You said it was a std vtr... which came with 14" alloys. Easy enough for you to go outside and check though?

[PhillyT]

yep - cheers mate, thanks alot!! smileys/smiley14.gif