Time for new wheels & Tires

[Riker1]

hello! I'm working on my '82 Spider 2000, and need new tires. If I spend $ for 13" tires, I'll be stuck with my 13" wheels for a while. I'd like to go to 14" wheels, so this would be the best time. Any of you Spider experts have a suggestion on what 14" wheels I should get? Know of any bargains? Thanks for all your help!

[rlux4]

I think a PO pulled a funny on you, Riker1, if I'm not mistaken, the 82's had 14" wheels stock. Mine has the "Turbo" wheels,(14") which I see on quite a few 80's cars.
Ron

[Riker1]

That would explain why the speedo is off. Thanks, rlux4.

[dcorder]

82 Spider came with 14" rims

[ga.spyder]

I have 15'' wheels w/205/55/15 tires on my 82.They are almost exactly the same height as my 14'' spare ,so I dont think speedo error is a factor.The tires are wide ,but no rubbing in the fenderwells.I like the stance w/ the wider tires but its a personal thing.
Craig

[rlux4]

Craig, do you still have the plastic inner wheel well liners? My 185/60R14 will just barely touch the liner under just the right conditions.
Ron

[ga.spyder]

Ron ,the plastic inner fenders are intact.The only problem I have had w/ rub was when I first got the car.Under hard left hand corners it was scraping a little.The inner fender was bowed in a little ,and I added a screw to hold it tight.Nothing since then.I put the wrong size in the prev. post ,they are 50 series not 55's.They are tight in the wheelwells,but no rub.The wheels are 15x7.The tires dont stick out of the fenders ,but I did away with the spacers.
Craig

[FiatColombia1]

Can you post pics? I would like to see your setup...

Do you know the offset of your 15' wheels ?

Did you lower the car or your running stock springs?

Thanks.

[ga.spyder]

O.K. here goes.I dont know the offset or how to measure it so this is kind of crude.The wheels are Team Dynamics 15x7 and are made in the U.K.I bought the car w/ the wheels installed.The springs are stock w/ new KYB shocks all around. Here is a pic of the car. I also took 2 pics w/ my spare wheel. The measurement from the back is 4 3/4 inches, from the front it measures 2 1/2 inches to the mounting plate.I am metric challenged so you will have to convert to mm's!! I hope this helps.
Craig

[Tappy]

Wheel Offset

A wheels offset is the distance from the centre of the wheel to the face of the bolting plate

Effectively the offset is also the distance from the centreline of the wheel to the hub face.

Therefore :

If you put a wheel on the same hub with a bigger offset, the wheel will sit further inside the wheel arch because the wheels bolting face will have to move further in to meet the hub.

Alternatively if it has a smaller offset it will sit further out from the wheel arch.

For sports purposes grip would be improved by increasing the width of the wheel(and tyre) and using a smaller offset to allow for the extra width on the wheel in the wheel arch.

More information on wheels

Vehicle wheels are usually described with a designation of something like '13-5.5J' and this is decoded as follows.

The 13 is the diameter of the wheel in inches from edge to edge, measured inside the flange with sizes ranging from 10 inch on the original mini's to 23 inch on 4x4 vehicles.

The second number is the width of the rim, again measured in inches between the flanges. The original mini used 4.5 wheels and sizes range all the way up to 12 as used on some supercars.

The letter, in this case J refers to the shape of the rim. Rim contours are standardized by the Tire and Rim Association, so that tires will fit.

Another important thing is the wheel offset, which is the distance between the middle line of the centre of the wheel width and the mounting surface of where the wheel bolts to the hub on the vehicle. The offset is described by the term ET, which is from the German word 'Einpresstiefe' translated as 'insertion depth'. Most wheels have a positive offset which means the mounting surface is further outboard than the wheels centre. If you reduce the amount of positive ET on the wheel the the vehicles track is widened and vice versa if the ET number is reduced. Straying too far from the original offset can be detremental as fouling to the suspension and bodywork can occur as well as eccess strain on wheel bolts or studs




I'm also looking to get some 7j x 15" wheels Only offset i wasn't sure , but bruce sells 3 kinds of 7j x 15" and there ET or off sett is 21,23 and 25 So i'd stay with ofsett 20-25 on 7j x 15" ....

Also look @ your centerhole (stock 56.7mm) but most wheels have bigger centerholes that can be adjusted with plastic or metal rings

Dont forget bold pattern of 4 x 98 mm , you can also go 9 x 100 and use springnuts

you can also read this topic on them http://www.fiatspider.com:16080/f08/vie ... f=3&t=2865

[ga.spyder]

Tappy...you are the man!I really never understood offset. It makes sense to me now ,and I copied the article. Also(with the help of my 17 yr. old son),I have proudly calculated that I have wheels w/ a 21mm offset.Bottom line,I like the wide wheels and tires. Now I am going to drink .946 liters of beer and go to bed.
Craig