Spend the wheel money on decent suspension (Leda B or C for instance), it will make a BIG difference to the cars performance. You are right to look into the unsprung weight increase, it is significant.

Moray

to all those thinking to upgrade...
I have been fancying a set of 17" speedlines as they look fabulous, however I have been debating the true performance advantage over the standard 16" as they increase unsprung weight by some 25kg or so, plus the tend to enhance understeer etc etc etc(I have standard suspension). So I tested (on track and smooth country road)a wrx with 17" and 215s and.....The standard suspension did seem a little less controlled, and understeer was remarkably increased as the car seemed much less adjustable and steer-sluggish.
Reluctantly (I love the look of 17s) I decided that as true performance tools the 16s are better (on standard suspension anyway). Particoularly so (I hope) with the new race/road dunlop-r tires I have on order. The closest thing to a track tire legal for the road, with such stiff sidewall there is no squirm nor squeal. The rubber grips like hell too (tested on a friends' porsche), pity they wear about 2-3 times faster than standard road rubber.

Wall

[This message has been edited by wall (edited 09-02-2000).]

Why not change your suspension settings to suit the wheels.

Up by 25Kg? What where the wheels off, a dumper truck? http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/wink.gif

Any substantial change in the wheel area needs some fine tuning, were the offsets substantially different? What tyres were fitted? What/how many different tyre pressures did you try?

Perhaps you would be better coming to a track day or meet and trying a car that has all of the above done correctly, you could still have those bigger wheels?


Mike. http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/smile.gif

Mr. wall,

Good to see not everyone just goes for the "styling" options! I've done a little survey of wheel weights. The standard 16" rims are 7.25kg according to my Salter spring scales. OZ SuperT Evos, which allegedly have a high magnesium content and are very light for 17" rims, weigh in at 8.75kg. Another set of 17"s that I weighed clocked up 10.25kg, which is probably pretty average for regular alloys. In any event, you want to see a real benefit for that increased weight, and the loss of feel and increase in tramlining that you can get with 215 width tyres aren't benefits.

Watch out with your R-rated tyres, however, as I've been told that 3000 miles is about average road life with these. At 600 quid a set, you better have deep pockets! I'm going to get a set for track days and special occasions, but will stick with my F1s for regular motoring.

TTFN

-= mike =-

PS. Mike, good to see you're back - hope the pistes were fun! Mail me when U get the chance -- cheers...

I found the handling improved hugely when I went to Prodrive 17 inch wheels. It may have had something to do with going from worn original tyres to P Zeros and Prodrive suspension settings all at the same time.

I too found that handling got better when i upgraded to 17' speedlines with P Zero's . It's now even better with the car being lowered. Ian