Wheel Advice

[opelfruit]

Hi,
I know this is probably a very common question, so my apologies for bringing it up again.
( At least some of this post is to canvass aesthetic opinion. )

My GT has a set of 13" slot mags - don't like them much & the tires are shot, so time for a change:

1) For nearest rolling radius the closest options seem to be:
205/50/15 tires on a 6.5x15" rim
or
205/45/16 tires on a 7x16" rim
Questions:
-I'm pretty sure the former will fit a standard GT, but what about the latter?
-Comments about whether such sizes ( esp the larger rims ) will adversely effect handling / ride quality. ( UK roads are VERY poor )
-Opinions as to which 'looks better'.

2)
I'm intending to go for something with a polished rim & darker ( poss gun-metal ) center. With that in mind, aesthetic opinions on these:
This company:

Image BRM 16

Image BRM 6

Keep in mind that details of colour and mount-type can be specified.

My thanks.

[RallyBob]

1) For nearest rolling radius the closest options seem to be:
205/50/15 tires on a 6.5x15" rim
or
205/45/16 tires on a 7x16" rim
Questions:
-I'm pretty sure the former will fit a standard GT, but what about the latter?
-Comments about whether such sizes ( esp the larger rims ) will adversely effect handling / ride quality. ( UK roads are VERY poor )

In truth, a 215/50-15 is a near-perfect match for tire diameter. But 205/50-15 is a more common size and more commonly used therefore. I'd tend to veer towards a 7" x 15" rim, it's a better fitment for the 205mm tire width, and will improve handling and appearance.

If roads in England are any bit as bad as roads in New England (likely they are!), then 16" wheels are also a bad idea. I destroyed a 16 x 7.5" TSW Evo wheel last autumn thanks to such roads, while fitted with 205/45-16 Continental tires with rim-guards. They didn't help much! Bent the hell out of the wheel, and holed the tire. Fortunately I found a shop to repair the wheel, but it cost me nearly as much as the wheel cost 10 years ago! It had a solid 3" dent, but the hole I hit was only 2" deep!

HTH,
Bob

[opelfruit]

Thanks for the advice - 7x15 it is then.

Sorry to hear about your 'incident'.

[StefanLee]

Too bad to hear about your poor roads, and your bent rim RallyBob.

I was in your situation last autumn, trying to find a nice set of wheels. I also found Image wheels, but I remember them being pretty expensive. Nice wheels though. I was looking for something like those BRM 6´s that you posted an image of. Dark center with polished lip, Ford GT40 style. Anyhoo...

Finding wheels with the right offset was pretty difficult, and I also spent a lot of time thinking about diameter.

At last I found these: Sportmax racing 501, in 16". Offset 15 and 8" wide. I went for the ones in black, 16" with 225/45R16 in back and 205/45R16 in front. They are available in 15" also, but still 8" wide. They are not expensive either. I bought mine from bbist.com, here is a stock pic. If you are worried about potholes, buy five rims at once!

http://www.bbist.com/501%2015X8%20BLK%20S%20bBist.jpg

I´ve tried to insert pictures from my photo album but it just wont work, the best I can attach are thumbnails. Img tags doesn´t work either. Go to my photo album and look at my car, you see the wheels there.

I find the 16" to be perfect, offering a nice ride. It is 45 profile, that is pretty standard nowadays. I have a very little rub on the inside of the front fenders at full steer to the left, but I don´t really feel a need to do something about it since it is very minor.

Anyway, if you go with 15" you get pretty much the look you are after.

Best of luck,

Stefan

[opelfruit]

@ StefanLee:

Thanks for the reply, & the very intersting link.

Hmmm, 8x16's eh? Nice to know there's more room than I thought.

Yes, nice though they are Image do seem to be pretty expensive - a large part of the reason for my question as I don't want to make a very expensive mistake!

Been away from the forum for a while, hence the slow reply.
Regards.

[StefanLee]

You know what? I´ll go out and measure everything for you, actually I haven´t done that since I got the wheels. I´ll measure the clearance on the inside, and see what parts of the front wheel rub at what location.

Don´t worry though, there is no contact between either front or rear wheels when the suspension compresses at all. I have driven over some major bumps and everything clears fine.

I´ll post again when I have the numbers.

Stefan

[opelfruit]

Thanks for the helpful comments: Most useful.

Been away for a bit, sorry for the slow reply.

[GoinManta]

These are what I am looking at for my Kadett

eBay Motors: 15 x7 *4-New! Voxx MG Wheels 4x100 ET 20 (item 270163747993 end time Oct-08-07 02:46:10 PDT)

[GoinManta]

Image BRM 16

Really like these..

Charles

[opelfruit]

Really like these..

Charles

Yep, very likely the ones I'm going for & d*mn the expence!

Thanks to all for the advice.