Widest wheel/tyre combo for 197?

[Caveman]

Hi guys,

New on here so be gentle

Am considering a 197 for the wife (but really as fun for me) and went to see a few at the weekend.

We both liked the car, but I felt that the wide stance of the car was offset by the quite skinny 215 tyres, and that the wheels looked like they were sitting quite far inside the arches, rather than sitting flush.

Does anyone have any experience of fitting wider wheels and tyres on the car? It looks like a set of 235 tyres at least would fit, maybe even 245. Not only would these improve the grip and fit flush with the arch, but they would also weighten up the light steering too - double bonus.

Any experience or opinions appreciated.

Cheers,

Mart.

 

[Sheila’s’ Wheels’]

Just fit some spacers mate.

I wouldn't bother with the wider tyres, 197 rubber is expensive enough as it is!!

 

[Caveman]

Spacers would be a bit of a bodge to be honest, and the std tyres just look too skinny compared to the chunky stance of the car. Decent 235/40/18 tyres can be had for under £100 each if you know where to look, so cost isn't an issue. I was thinking that a set of Speedline Turinis in 18x8 would complement the car like on the K-tec197:

http://www.k-tecracing.com/show_demo_car.asp?id=2

Any other thoughts?

Mart.

 

[SkidMarx]

Id go for spacers, or maybe the same width rim in a smaller offset if your feeling flush.

 

[theduck]

197s are 17s as standard. As I see it though you have 3 options:

1) Decent spacers (H&R or eibach) on standard wheels and tires
2) Megane R26 wheels with suitable tires
3) Cup racer wheels which are slightly wider than standard.

Personally I would just stick with it as it comes out the factory!

 

[Dave..]

Wider tyres and more grip = Myth

http://www.carbibles.com/tire_bible_pg2.html

Explains it halfway down that page.

But Spacers should solve the problem easily enough, and are by no means a "bodge" fix.
With widening the track however, the camber will be out on the wheels slightly, and you'll get lots more tyre wear on the inside of the tyre.

 

[Caveman]

What size spacers would I need? And would I need hub-centric spacers with longer bolts or just generic spacers?

Cheers!

M.

 

[Dave..]

10mm spacers should nudge the wheels out far enough to make them flush with the panels. Might even get away without longer bolts.

If you are going to widen the track though, I'd get a garage to adjust the suspension, my old fiesta had 10mm spacers on, and when I took the wheels off after 6 months, the insides of the tyres were bald.

 

[BioHzrd]

spacers are what you want ! make a hela diffrence to a mk3s Stance !!

25mm (FK System B i think) Spacers and down 70mm on Weitec coils....more pics here

only a non sport but shows the diffrence !

After