Going back to Phase II wheels on my 16v!

[Ben H]

The deal is done and very shortly I swap my anthracite Motorsport 16" wheels for some original 15" Phase II ones! So its goodbye to the bad-boy style of dark wheels to compliment the black bodywork and leather - and its hello to the "original" unmodified look. I guess some who know my car will think Ive gone mad, but I want to make a real effort to have a concours-Clio over the winter.

Question for you all, if you please:

What size and what brand of tyre should I go for? I was thinking of some 195/50/15 or 205/50/15 Yokohama A539s as theyve served me well so far. But Im open to suggestions!

Cost no object if the performance is good, but they need to last about 10,000 miles.

 

[lofty]

Ben couldn;t agree more, keep it original, shame the P2 wheels come on the R19, unlike the P1s which are a real cult wheel! they arent pretty but they are specific to that car and thats why they will stay on my car forever! but it wont get any less annoying when people say "nice car, shame it hasnt got alloys"

Its got to be 195/50/15s 205 are too mch and are significantly more chunky the the 195s, (50% of the aspect ratio remeber, not 50mm tall) also 195s are cheaper and there are alot more differnt brands avalible,

Decide what you would like and i will get you as keen a price as i can, i cant be botheredsuggesting brands because good advice will get lost amongst "my toyos on my clio stick loads better then the Wanlis on my fiesta" differnt car, differnt size, tottally useless comparison IMHO

But i am running goodyear eagal NCT3s all round, they are the best all rounf tyre on offer as i do a good deal of wet & motorway driving, and these ae the best all round, but sadly they are no longer avalible and have been replaced the the slightly inferiour NCT5,

IMHO B/stone S02s & SO3s are the very best but we might not be the cheapest on that particular brand, try Protyre and Cabot,

are you getting the wheels re-furbed?

 

[Ben H]

Cheers Lofty. The wheels are not stunning, but dont really need a refurb - no peeling lacquer or anything nasty. Just better than average; theyre coming straight from a local 16v enthusiast I know. Ill see how they come up with a bit of elbow grease and Miracle Wheels!

It sounds as if 195/50/15s are the way to go. My mum has some 205/50/15s on her Volvos 15" wheels, and I have to agree that they look a bit too bulky - especially as the Phase II wheels are 6.5 J.

If you could get me some prices on some Goodyear Eagle F1s (hear theyre good), maybe some Toyos, and some Yokohamas Id be grateful.

Luckily, 195/50/15 seems to be a popular size: Yoko A539s are £42 per corner in this size, but cost me £82 a tyre in 205/45/16.

I actually love the turbine Phase I wheels, but theyve got to be on an original looking car and a metallic colour.

 

[Ben H]

Forgot to add that I like a really sticky tyre that just grips and grips on my favourite Welsh mountain switchbacks!

 

[Matbrown]

Good man!



Mat.

 

[PaulRobo]

So what ya doing wiv ya 16s?

 

[steve a]

Maybe some 195/45s would be inorder to further compliment acceleration?

 

[Ben H]

Im doing a straight swap of my 16s for the original Clio ones.

Might not seem like the best deal at first (especially as the 16s have newish Yokos on there), but the Phase II 16v wheels are genuine Speedline and are of much better quality than most aftermarket wheels.

Im going to be keeping my 16v for a long time, so I wanted to get the original wheels before they become rare or knackered. Some standard wheels really suit a car: like BBS cross-spokes on late Mk2 Golf GTis or the ones on 1.9 205 GTis. Some dont: like the 106 GTis standard ones.

I want to keep my car looking standard as I reckon Renault got it so right the first time. There arent many older cars that look particularly good on aftermarket wheels in my opinion - even the GT Turbos diddy 13" ones look respectable in the wake of 3-spokes, Venoms and the like.

 

[PaulRobo]

even the GT Turbos diddy 13" ones look respectable

lmao, you wouldnt say that if you saw my car, them on the front, RST wheels on the back! lol

 

[BenR]

nice one ben!!!

I must say, when Lofty suggested teh RE-720s...not bridgestones best by far BUT,.......boy are they great, extremely progressive an fab in teh wet.....although, i do only get 1800 miles out of the fronts!!! maybe i should buy in bulk from lofty eh!

and to be honest, i didnt like your anthracite wheels....not the colour, the actual wheels.......now i can say that! hehe......

and 195/50/15 A539s are 98 quida SET from top gear........Not trying to rain on your parade lofty....but they are!

try bridgestone if you can, i love them now!

And for a GTT, nothing looks better thana set of 7x13" superlights on them! wow!

 

[Ben H]

Cheers Ben. Where are Top Gear? Are they web only?

 

[BenR]

top gear on........08009825338

mention cliosport cause i setup a 10% discount thing with them.....but not on special items such as teh yokys which are already dirt cheap!

they also delivered 2 235/35/19 (i think) by accident too!!...jesus they were big!