The cars and bikes thread!

[tribe125]

Personally, I don't like the rubber band and exposed brake look. The wheels look fragile, and colour-highlighted cslipers look like a bit gaudy, like a Halfords mod.

The racy look looks toy-like to me, but then I'm in my sixties.

[geoffbot]

Personally, I don't like the rubber band and exposed brake look. The wheels look fragile, and colour-highlighted cslipers look like a bit gaudy, like a Halfords mod.

The racy look looks toy-like to me, but then I'm in my sixties.

Fair point, except that these do come as a manufacture option. I won't be getting blue brakes, and I don't know how thick my rubber will be. Can you choose?!

[happyscrappyheropup]

Attachment 59926

How much better does this look. Admittedly he has the m performance blue calipers but still.

Are you not allowed to tint the front windows? £240 is a lot for just back windows - I paid about that for all the windows on my superwagon, plus I had them tint the panoramic sunroof darker. Definitely not a DIY job.

Fair point, except that these do come as a manufacture option. I won't be getting blue brakes, and I don't know how thick my rubber will be. Can you choose?!

You'll want to stick to the same overall diameter. So if your car came from the factory with 225/45R18 tires you'll want to get a tire that is around 26" tall.

225/45R18 = (225*.45)2/25.4+18 = 25.97"

If you went to a 17" wheel from there you'd have to get a taller sidewall to compensate for the shorter diameter of the wheel. The opposite is true if you upsized to a 19" wheel - you'd get a tire with a shorter sidewall to keep the overall height the same as the factory wheels/tires.

A non runflat tire without a change in size will likely be all you need to improve ride and handling.

[geoffbot]

I don't want the fronts done. I'll shop around for pricing then.

Thanks for the tyre info - that's useful.

[Seriously]

I don't want the fronts done. I'll shop around for pricing then.

Thanks for the tyre info - that's useful.

Visit the 'tyre bible' (google it) and check the tyre calculator (page3 probs, I've not visited recently) it will calculate the rolling circumference/rolling radius/diameter for any rubber size you tap into it, and also calculated any change in same when changing rubber or rims.
Most cars ABS/ESP systems will 'accommodate and adapt' with 5% changes, go any higher and it may flag an ABS/ESP error , but also bear in mind your speedo accuracy (and nippyness) will change depending on how far you move up or down.

There is also a 'safe size of rubber for a particular rim size' calculator in there too.

Don't forget you can buy the rubber online (amazing and eBay) and just get a (mobile if needed) tyre fitter to fit and balance for a tenner or so.
They prefer to supply the rubber themselves cos they can make extra margin on the rubber supply too, but most will just do a swap with just as easily.

[geoffbot]

Thanks Mike

[tribe125]

All the advice has been given. My choice would be smaller wheels and more rubber, which seems to be the standard recommendation given by motoring journalists.

Naturally, you need expert advice on the combinations for the reasons given above.

[Raza]

1. You'll be fine on 18s. If you go smaller, you'll likely be disappointed at how they look in the wheel wells.

2. Window tints make no sense in moderate climates. You give up a lot of night visibility for "looks", which attract the attention of thieves and the police alike, and unless you live in a hot climate, you don't get the benefits of tinting.

[tribe125]

1. You'll be fine on 18s. If you go smaller, you'll likely be disappointed at how they look in the wheel wells.

The same, really. The overall circumference of wheel and tyre would be no different.

And it would look like you had proper tyres.

[Raza]

The same, really. The overall circumference of wheel and tyre would be no different.

And it would look like you had proper tyres.

Same overall diameter, but with smaller wheels.

And it'll look like he's got balloons where tires used to be. Do you want 65+ tires on the car? The steering feel will go to shit, and the squishy sidewalls will hurt handling. 45s are fine.