wheel widths

genieman17 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-28-2004, 03:11 PM

I've read the other post regarding the wheel diameters and why it may not be useful to increase the diameters. Is it possible however to increase the width of the rims and tires? By that I mean is it physically possible to fit wider rims and tires into the wheel wells? There should always be a benefit to having more rubber contacting the ground, and if you don't increase the diameter of the wheels, the sidewall will not be affected. The sizes of the wheels in the sports package are 195-55r16 and 225-45r17, this corresponds to 215-50R16 in the front and 255-40r17 in the back. These changes would lead to no changes in the overall tire diameter, and would only result in an inch increase in diameter for both front and back. Any opinions on this?

**mapes** · #2 (**permalink**) 06-28-2004, 08:15 PM

Lotus has done a pretty superb job of tuning the suspension/wheels/tires, but that is not going to keep people from trying other options. I'd say in about 6 months or less, you'll get some solid answers/opinions from those of us who have experimented.

Of course, there is no assurance that anyone will have find a better set-up than stock! ;)

genieman17 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-29-2004, 08:16 AM

I agree. I understand how altering wheel diameters may change certain characteristics, but I'm not sure how changing only the width would change anything other than the contact patch with the ground. It shouldn't alter anything else. So there shouldn't really be a downside. So if it were possible to physically fit it in there....might be worth trying.

**mapes** · #4 (**permalink**) 06-29-2004, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by genieman17
...So if it were possible to physically fit it in there....might be worth trying.

Therein lies the 'rub' (pun intended). ;)

There are some reported clearance concerns with the suspension. We'll know soon enough!

genieman17 · #5 (**permalink**) 06-29-2004, 04:30 PM

if they don't fit, i say a huge wide-body kit, and then 20s....i think 20x12s would work, CHROME!!!!!!..no wait....spinners...in chrome!!!. HOT!!

But in all seriousness, if they don't rub, they will weigh more, but I think the added couple of pounds, which might slow the car slightly would be made up with the fact that the car would pull like 1.1+ lateral Gs?
Just speculation though.

**mapes** · #6 (**permalink**) 06-29-2004, 06:30 PM

The SCCA racers are hoping the 205 Hoosiers fit on the front rims. Too bad Hoosier does not make a narrower tire...

Gedi · #7 (**permalink**) 07-12-2004, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by genieman17
I've read the other post regarding the wheel diameters and why it may not be useful to increase the diameters.

Playing with the rolling diameter of the wheels will play havoc with the ABS unit and the handling.
There are however loads of options for changing the wheel design keeping inline with the 16" 17" setup.

**mason** · #8 (**permalink**) 07-12-2004, 01:10 PM

I convinced a friend overseas to import a set of Hossiers for his S2. He roadraces the car and had been previously using Yokohama AO48. He got a set of Hoosier A3S04 205/45/16 front and 225/45/17 rears.

He loves the grip and will be reordering more tires soon. He also told be that he doubts that you could get any more front tire under the car with out rubbing the fenders.

Tom'R · #9 (**permalink**) 07-13-2004, 11:40 AM

For road car, I reckon Yokoham A048LTS, much more grip than the factory Bridge Stone RE040. Many S2 in HK crashed because of using stock tires (not ABS system in the standard S2) & many Elise drivers here thought they are Michael Schumaker.

I've tested the Hoosier A3S04 in my Elise S2 recently & they are wonderfully. I would say they are even better than Yokohama A005 slicks. The Hoosier A3S04 is for competition only, not suitable for road use.

Elise4Laps · #10 (**permalink**) 08-07-2004, 11:57 AM

... He got a set of Hoosier A3S04 205/45/16 front and 225/45/17 rears. He loves the grip and will be reordering more tires soon....

Emphasis probably on "soon" for Hoosiers! They have very little rubber and virtually no tread also..... dry track only.

The car is very light and low power... I hope it is relatievly easy on tires? Personally I'm tired of changing wheels/tires at the track anyway, so for a road car that you can drive to an event and drive home again on the same wheels and tires.... I hope the LSS option fits the bill perfectly.

Lotus and Lotus Dealers...... please stock lots of those Yokohama tires! Elise owners will be totally pissed if tires backorders become an issue. Perhaps Lotus USA should consider a national tire distributor... Yokohama!! ... Tire Rack, etc???

genieman17 · #11 (**permalink**) 08-09-2004, 08:29 AM

going from 175 in the front to 205 and leaving the back at 225s will cause too much oversteer no? I'm thinking if you can fit 205s in the front then it might not be the best thing unless you can change the backs to 245s or something...just a thought...

Tom'R · #12 (**permalink**) 08-13-2004, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Elise4Laps
... He got a set of Hoosier A3S04 205/45/16 front and 225/45/17 rears. He loves the grip and will be reordering more tires soon....

Emphasis probably on "soon" for Hoosiers! They have very little rubber and virtually no tread also..... dry track only.

The car is very light and low power... I hope it is relatievly easy on tires? Personally I'm tired of changing wheels/tires at the track anyway, so for a road car that you can drive to an event and drive home again on the same wheels and tires.... I hope the LSS option fits the bill perfectly.

Lotus and Lotus Dealers...... please stock lots of those Yokohama tires! Elise owners will be totally pissed if tires backorders become an issue. Perhaps Lotus USA should consider a national tire distributor... Yokohama!! ... Tire Rack, etc???

Yokohama A048LTS will be the best fro road & track use. Hoosier A3S04 will be the est for winning trophy;)
I am the winner using Hoosier A3S04 in the Supercar Challenge Hong Kong

jsrsx · #13 (**permalink**) 08-26-2004, 07:03 PM

I've seen an Elise 190 running 8.5" wide wheels in the rear, so I'd assume the Fed Elise would be able to run at least the same. Won't know for sure until someone tries it tho. So who wants to be the guinea pig?

trinydex · #14 (**permalink**) 07-17-2007, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mapes

Therein lies the 'rub' (pun intended). ;)

There are some reported clearance concerns with the suspension. We'll know soon enough!

i did a similar calculation to the op.

there should and shouldn't be differences in handling. the increase tire patch and track might lead to some extra loads (gs) that the car can apply to the ground and that might lead to some subtle suspension differences, mainly body roll. however overall capabilities will be increased... just with the slight addition of this roll

my question is if there is solid evidence of clearance issues with either fenders or suspension.

my preliminary calculations of wheel widths and more importantly offsets have shown:

stock front tires 195 -> bigger tire 225 is about 30mm increase in overall width increase

225 -> 255 similarly 30mm of overall width increase

stock wheel front 6.5 +31 add 15 or so = +46ish

stock wheel rear 7.5 +18 add 15 or so = +33ish

common wheel sizes front 17x8 +42 or so
common wheel sizes rear 17x9 +30 or so

the ratio of track difference is minimal. there is a significant amount of overall track increase front and back.

question is will these wheels hit something?