Having read about the differnces in UK/Jap cars, and having just bought a Jap NA, with the original Japanese tyres, I thought maybe I should change them, if they are 12 years old, and more suited to Japan in the first place. If I do that, I would like to change the alloys to 17s. Can anyone recommend the right alloys. What size/width of tyres should I have if I have new 17in. alloys? Will any 5 stud alloys fit?

 

Any recommendations?

If the tyres are indeed the original then change 'em;

they'll be a bit 'tired' (;) ) now.

 

('Though mebbe you'll never drive above 40 m.p.h., yeah, right!)

 

The 5 stud must be on a pitch circle diameter of 114 mm and

have the enough offset.

 

At least 245 rear; 225 ok for front.

 

18" wheels look better - more, less tyre, but 18" tyres

cost more.

 

This site will let see how your choice of wheels looks on a Zed:

 

http://www.tirerack.com/index.jsp

Thanks-

 

Will 18x8 wheels fit in the wheel arches OK? Is this the size that most people here have? What profile of tyres would I have with 18 inch wheels?

 

I will have a search again through the forum for any more wheel-related info.

 

I thought 17s would be a reasonable trade-off between size and price, especially as my (new) z is a shorter 2 seater.

 

Really useful wheel site too- cheers

 

Rich

front 18"x8" or 7.5" and 235 or 225 respectively, profile probably

45/50

 

rear 18"x9" as 8" is too mean (8.5" is std) then 255 - 275,

profile 35-40.

 

17" would be cheaper; there will be tyre+wheel dealers near(ish) you in L.Spa. (btw I used to live in Long Itchington and Ettington b4 moving oop North.)

 

Fit/stand some real wheels n'tyres on/by yr motor - see what

looks right!

I've just bought a set of 17 inch Azev "A" wheels with Goodyear GDS3 tyres from DT Motorsport in Essex. (01708 630528, ask for Dave)

 

Front 8X17 with 235/45/17

Rear 9.5X17 with 255/40/17

 

All in cost with locking nuts £1004 delivered.......:)

could I use the same larger sizes as you on a swb non-turbo at the rear?

also- do you buy two sizes of alloy? two 17x8 and two 17x9.5, or do the bigger tyres go on the same rims? Sorry to ask thick questions. I have had a look at various tyre/wheel sites without finding an answer to this.

 

Rich

You would need to buy two different sizes of rims for the tyre combi I used (ie 2 of 8X17 and 2 of 9.5X17).

 

I would expect that arrangement would fit a SWB zed, assuming hubs and axle components are the same for both models.....

Wider tyres go on the wider rims.

 

Some use the same width, some don't!

 

1 inch = 25.4mm

 

7.5" good for 225

8".............235, 245

9"..........245, 255

etc

 

There is some tolerance of course.

 

Informative site here:

 

http://www.chris-longhurst.com/carbibles/index.html

great site. I am studying it now. Basically I have been used in the past to Tyre Sales sticking on the same Firestones (with monotonous regularity) to the old car and not thinking about new alloys.

 

I am still confused about the offset. Am I looking only for a wheel with a positive outset? Do I need to buy some kind of spacing kit? Will the alloy place be able to reliably tell me what I need?