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#1 (permalink) |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 29
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17s/18s VS. 16s/17s Elise
Hi all,
Really suffering now with new wheels/tyres since i wrecked my standard 5 spoke elise wheels. So the question is any pros cons for 17/18 setup? i am thinking of: Kumho V70 205 40 17 front 245 35 18 rear And what alloys to go for? The only "more or less" alternative i've found are the Team Dynamics. Really wanted the Dymag, but the Magnesium one's(they don't do in 18's), and the carbon one's, despite the price, don't really do 17'(delivery time 3+ month)... Help appreciated. Cheers, Ilya |
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#3 (permalink) | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 29
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Quote:
Image:Elise2000silver.jpg - SELOC TechWiki |
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#4 (permalink) |
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 714
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yeah larger diameter rims are inherently heavier for equal strength and it's not just their static weight there is a separate component of energy associated with spinning them and that's also worse. A 16" rim can actually weight MORE than a 17" rims and will take the same amount of energy or less to get it up to speed. Plus you have less sidewall so the ride will be even worse. If you're decently in-tune with your cars performance it's quite possible that you'll actually be able to feel that you car is slower accelerating.
Larger rims i would argue are the anti-thesis of the lotus philosophy... the sport pack cars should have been delivered with 15/16's... and leave the 16/17's on the base and touring cars. Even 15's all around would be great but there's no proper tire sizes for 15" rimmed rears.
__________________
2006 Aspen White Elise. Hard top (never left it's shipping box), LSS, LSD, Traction control, Red leather. |
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#5 (permalink) |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 29
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Theoretically you are correct.
In my case, i have S version(n/a) and installing on it komotech's SC, which will give appx +100hp, so i guess it will be compensated there. Keep in mind, that at read its 35 - and not 45, so in the end its not THAT bigger. however, i just love to have a feeling that the ride has 18s at the rear end. stupid me. |
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#6 (permalink) |
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User, Registered
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Leesburg, VA
Posts: 1,827
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To maintain the handling you'll have to seriously restrict body roll with 17/18s. Shorter sidewall tires may give better transient response, but do not tolerate being cambered like taller sidewall tires do.
__________________
Francis 2006 Chrome Orange Elise: LSD/TC, Nitron SAs with 425/650 springs, BWR 7/8" Front Bar, Eliseparts bumpsteer kit, VF Stage 2, 2bular Header + Sport Cat + 8x24 GT3 Muffler, ECU Tune by Jermaine, Smaay's fuel rail, ACT XT clutch, Saikou Michi dual catch can, Moroso pan, Manly's mount inserts & FF Engine Damper 2000 Black Integra Type R: - 213,000 miles...running again! |
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#8 (permalink) |
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 714
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A super charger wont help you keep from bending a rim on a pot hole.
Increasing camber (tipping of the top of the tire inward) is one of the ways you see most cars improve handling because it lines up the tire better with the road during cornering. That's the first thing many people do on the front wheels to reduce understeer. The principle implies that the sidewalls are flexing so that you still have full contact patch on the ground when you're going straight, and sidewall flex is part of how the car maintains tire contact through a variety of body/tire angles to the ground. The less sidewall the less compliant the tire can be to match the ground (whether it's matching bumps or angle difference between the tire and ground for what-ever reason), the narrower the window of traction you have (or better stated the wider the variation the car will have), the less predictable your car is going to be at the limit. The reality is the car should have been delivered with 15/16's so going with 17/18' is really quite a difference... maybe not from stock, but from what it could be... and to keep the ride compliant on big rimmed cars what they do is make the sidwall thinner which makes it all the more prone to damage (the tire and rim). Don't get me wrong, i'm sure people have set-up larger rims and have really fast cars... it's just not going to be nearly as plug and play. oh, don't forget that not to mention the rims, the tires cost a fair bit more for 17/18's than 16/17's, and tires for 15/16's are correspondingly cheaper than for 16/17's.
__________________
2006 Aspen White Elise. Hard top (never left it's shipping box), LSS, LSD, Traction control, Red leather. |
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