Thinking of going wider

[steel]

Hey all,

I am thinking of fattening up the car's footprint and would like some feedback on what I have in mind.

At the moment I have SSR Type Cs 16x7 +42 on all 4 wheels with the stock Advans on, which have done 10000km spread evenly between 2 rotations 5000km each and are feeling a bit mushy/dead-zoneish since the last rotation. I am guessing that the tyres I gave a bit more to when I first got the car are back on the front wheels again. To look at them at least from the side of the car they don't look visibly worn.

I rather like the light weight and the look of the SSRs and what I am thinking of doing is getting the exact same wheels again but wider - in 16x8 +35 and putting some 225/40R16 Toyo Proxes T1Rs on (one of the few tyres you can get in that size and very close to stock rolling diameter).

To do this with all 4 wheels will cost a pretty penny though, so anyone who might want to take on the SSRs please make it known to me.

I would not have thought to deliberately stagger the tyres, but one thing I noticed about the Full Blast Colt is that it has 215s on the back and thought that perhaps they have set it up this way for better turn in / more neutral handling. Not sure if they have more or less offset on the back wheels than the front though.

I think I have a rough idea on what to expect, but may be wrong.

Can I please get opinions on these scenarios, like what I can expect eg limitations on lowering, wheel guard rubbing, traction, straight line acceleration, dry/wet performance, ride quality, tramlining, cornering, camber, wheel alignment, stress on wheel studs, etc etc:


16x8s with 225/40R16 T1Rs on all 4 wheels
16x8s with 225/40R16 T1Rs on front and 16x7s with the better Advans on the rear
16x8s with 225/40R16 T1Rs on front and 16x7s with the worse Advans on the rear
16x8s with 225/40R16 T1Rs on front and 16x7s with new 215/40R16 T1Rs on the rear
16x8s with 225/40R16 T1Rs on front and 16x7s with new 215/45R16 T1Rs on the rear
Something I haven't thought of


Will I also need to go and get an engo cert for 16x8s on the front? The RTA documentation I read seemed to indicate that.

Thanks in advance.

[Corosith]

I'd say for front wheels drives you can no wider than 26mm over the factory rims, but don't listen to me, read this - it could be helpful!;)

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi09_rev4.pdf

[husky510]

my opinion, 225/40/16 all round on 16x7's...

I have 225/50/16's all round on my std 16's and its great

[filofaith]

215/45/R16 KU36s on 16x8 + 30 all round would be best :D

[Macca]

Correct you can't go wider in track than 26mm total. I would go 16x7 +35

[Zadok]

I personally don't think you should alter front/back wheel diameter/widths without talking to someone who really knows their stuff when it comes to handling (such as finding a race team like TMR who are willing to give you advice). If all else fails I'd suggest doing something like what filo suggested with the KU36's all round on 16x8's.

[steel]

Thanks for all your input. It seems that the RTA really are a bunch of party poopers about keeping wheel track less than an inch wider than stock, which is a bit of a shame. I guess it goes without saying that your insurance is invalid if you are found to have noncompliant wheels in the event of an accident?

By that reasoning, I couldn't go 16x8s full stop because that is putting wheels more than 1 inch wider than the widest optional wheel available for the vehicle at 1.5 inches wider, so there goes that idea.

I could only do 16x7.5 if I could somehow find a wheel that had an offset of +43 or higher, as the front wheel track would have already been rendered 1 inch wider due to the increase in wheel width.

In keeping with 16x7s, If I went to a +30 offset, that would end up widening the track by 38.7mm over stock, which is just on 1.5 inches wider so to stay within legal boundaries, I guess I would need 16x7+37 or higher.

BORING!

I guess some of us here have not been so worried about the legalities when changing wheels.

[bunnybash]

husky owns a friggin tyre shop... far as i am concerned, when it comes to tyres, his word is gospel, cause the chances of me buying from him are very small as freight to perth would be a BIATCH!!! but he has given me good tyre advice in the past...

shout out to husky!

[Zadok]

That's generally how it goes unfortunately steel, anything that appears fun is likely to be illegal and/or void any insurance claims. If I were you I wouldn't bother looking for new rims, as any 'upgrades' would be marginal for the cost and hassle associated with it. Personally I'd be looking into spending that money on some new tyres and other mods as you already have some nice lightweight rims :)

[Macca]

Other downside is I dont think we can roll out guards due to the over fenders.

The set of wheels I have my eye on are 16x6.5 +35

[Zadok]

That reminds me, I'm running KU36's on 16x7" rims (+43 offset) and TMR springs and my front tyres very occasionally just touch the front guards. With lowered springs (despite the slightly reduced rolling diameter resulting from a wider rim) clearance definitely could be an issue with 8" on the front as Rowan said.

[Nic85]

my opinion, 225/40/16 all round on 16x7's...

I have 225/50/16's all round on my std 16's and its great

Clearly you're kidding about 225/50/16 because the overall diameter is increased by 40mm which well outside the legal +-15mm, meaning your tyres are completely illegal. Not to mention your speedo will be out by 7km/h.

[husky510]

i tend not to let the law dictate such things when it comes to "over-tyring" your car. I would never "under-tyre" are a car, but in my case i have increased the load capacity and increased the speed rating capacity. In actual fact i have over compinsated the legal requirements.

As far as insurance is concerned, in past experiences I have only seen my inspectors check if i have tread and thats it.... they have NEVER been technical when it comes to a claims on my cars.

And as far as the speedo is concerned, it doesn't take much to adjust to the likely-hood of being 5klm over... its quite easy really.. if your doing 100kl/m.... you do 95kl/m... not a big issue... but then it could be for some who can't do their math!!!!

[Nic85]

i tend not to let the law dictate such things when it comes to "over-tyring" your car. I would never "under-tyre" are a car, but in my case i have increased the load capacity and increased the speed rating capacity. In actual fact i have over compinsated the legal requirements.

As far as insurance is concerned, in past experiences I have only seen my inspectors check if i have tread and thats it.... they have NEVER been technical when it comes to a claims on my cars.

And as far as the speedo is concerned, it doesn't take much to adjust to the likely-hood of being 5klm over... its quite easy really.. if your doing 100kl/m.... you do 95kl/m... not a big issue... but then it could be for some who can't do their math!!!!

That's fair enough if you don't care about the legalities, that's your decision. Just aslong as people are aware that 225/50/16 tyres are illegal to have on our cars and your insurance company has every legal right to refuse any claim.

[husky510]

exaclty, It is the same sin if you gauges are on your dash board... or loud BOV, etc etc