THE ROVER SD1 FORUM

Ash · SD1 User Joined: 29 Nov 2007 Posts: 4 Location: London

Hello I'm a bit of a newbie here although i have been reading for a while this is my 1st post
Can anyone tell me the largest wheels i can squeeze under the arches of my VDP EFi its sitting on the -60mm Rimmer springs with standard wheels but i fancy something different
Will i get 8 by 17s under there? maybe wider? I really would like to avoid arch mods stock body is preferable
Cheers
Ash...

Lehto · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:29 am Post subject:

For rear you can go as wide as 8" easily im pretty sure and for front 7" is safe and 7.5" will fit but im not sure if it rubs at full lock?. Just measure and measure again and count the ET you need.

With 225/45 R17 you will have same diameter as 205/65 R15.

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Owner of 3 Rovers and 1 MG.

yonexsp · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 1:09 am Post subject:

5000SE wrote:

You can fit fairly large wheels under the arches with standard or Vitesse ride height but be very careful if you’re dropping by 60mm.

I had a set of 225/55/15s on standard Vitesse rims on a 60mm lowered car (225/55/15 gives a tyre radius just 1mm bigger than the standard 205/60/15).

I had to peen back the front wheel arch lips to about 45 degrees for the tyres to clear the outer wings if hitting a bump while turning and they rubbed the inner wings on full lock.

Top tip in general – unless you’re using the car for the track, or all the roads around you are billiard-table smooth with no speed bumps and there’s no dip or rise between the road and your drive, stick with 30mm lower – 60mm is hell to live with.

what would 30mm be equal to? in total if shopping for springs etc? I'm in N.A so buying from Rimmers is not an option

Ash · SD1 User Joined: 29 Nov 2007 Posts: 4 Location: London

5000SE wrote:

You can fit fairly large wheels under the arches with standard or Vitesse ride height but be very careful if you’re dropping by 60mm.

I had a set of 225/55/15s on standard Vitesse rims on a 60mm lowered car (225/55/15 gives a tyre radius just 1mm bigger than the standard 205/60/15).

I had to peen back the front wheel arch lips to about 45 degrees for the tyres to clear the outer wings if hitting a bump while turning and they rubbed the inner wings on full lock.

Top tip in general – unless you’re using the car for the track, or all the roads around you are billiard-table smooth with no speed bumps and there’s no dip or rise between the road and your drive, stick with 30mm lower – 60mm is hell to live with.

Thanks guys i'm gonna try to go for 8 inches wide hopefully i will get away with just tapping up the arch lip
I am looking for the pro cruising look like this

I know 60mm drop is tough its been like that for 10 or so years and I can find my way about avoiding speedhumps quite well
it has been neglected the last few years so i have been collecting parts and i have a good idea where its going now I will keep you posted on the progress, your input is welcome though

Thanks again
Ash...

Lehto · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:26 am Post subject:

-60mm front springs are easily identified as their so short you dont need any spring compresser tool to install or remove them Very Happy

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Owner of 3 Rovers and 1 MG.

chris_derby · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:28 pm Post subject:

I dunno about big wheels, but I've put 225/60/15's on my Vitesse on all four wheels, thought they would be ok, but they seem to be rubbing on the front when I turn the wheel....

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Auto Vitesse, gonna be a beast!

JayDeeVDP · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:55 pm Post subject: Pic?

chris_derby wrote:

I've put 225/60/15's on my Vitesse

Any chance of a pic mate? mainly the back, I'd like a chunkier tyre just on the back of my car, too much light between tyre and wheelarch Rolling Eyes

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Lifelong SD1 fan - 1983 Rover 3500 Vanden Plas

chris_derby · Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:26 pm Post subject:

Looks like I will have to get some standard tyres, as the 225's are far too big on the front, would I be ok with just 205's on the front or would it be best to do all 4 tyres?

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Auto Vitesse, gonna be a beast!

ramon alban · Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 7:32 pm Post subject:

chris_derby wrote:

Looks like I will have to get some standard tyres, as the 225's are far too big on the front, would I be ok with just 205's on the front or would it be best to do all 4 tyres?

The 205's on my vitesse only just clear the front deep chin spoiler when the steering is rotated lock to lock, so adding 12 mm to the diameter as calculated by 5000SE would kill the spoiler.

The lateral position of the antiroll bar and its bushes are a key part of the geometry so the ARB must be centralised and one might also see that adding a washer to the bush set might move the wheel/tyres rearward enough to make a small difference.

I dont believe there is a legal issue regarding tyre diameter or width on different axles (ie - front versus rear) as one often sees road-legal dragsters, and a wider rear tyre "footprint" would certainly add traction when the loud pedal is pressed.

Your tyre vendor would definitely know the answer.

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Ramon

Lehto · Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 9:05 pm Post subject:

There is no law that says front and rear tyres must be same size. If there were... it would outlaw all the supercars. That deep chin and wide tyres question is interesting. I cant put my deep chin on just yet.

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Owner of 3 Rovers and 1 MG.

Ash · SD1 User Joined: 29 Nov 2007 Posts: 4 Location: London

chris_derby wrote:

Looks like I will have to get some standard tyres, as the 225's are far too big on the front, would I be ok with just 205's on the front or would it be best to do all 4 tyres?

Would the 225's work with a greater inset how close is the tyre to the strut on the front and shock on the back?
the 225/55 is roughly the same rolling diameter as stock so should be ok if it cleared the suspension..

Vulture · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 12:10 am Post subject:

Hi there. I'm running 225/40/18 on my Vitesse with standard height. The deep chin spoiler does NOT interfere with the tires, but it's a close thing. I'm not sure about the dimensions of the rim, I think it's 18 by 7; I'd have to dismount the wheels and check width and ET.

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Mine's 18 inches. How big's yours?

chris_derby · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 1:13 am Post subject:

Ok, have gone back to 205/60/15's on the front, & will eventually do the same for the rear....
Nice wheels by the way Vulture

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Auto Vitesse, gonna be a beast!

Vulture · Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 4:04 am Post subject:

chris_derby wrote:

Nice wheels by the way Vulture

Cheers. If anyone is interested, that design is for sale on ebay from the same seller I got mine from 5 years ago.

I also spotted them in 17 inches on an SD1 on a meeting a couple of years ago. The owner confirmed that no bodywork whatsoever was needed to fit them, but I can recall neither the tire dimensions nor the suspension height he was running.

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Mine's 18 inches. How big's yours?