Stretch/tyre advice please

[Mystery Machine]

I've managed to source some nice alloys for the Rascal - and they do look NICE! (photos will follow)

They give about 2-3" of poke and will need some arches to cover them.....but in the meantime I ask you fellow Retro-ers for some advice on the rubber.

The wheels are 7x14's and due to the microscopic arches on the Rascal I need to fit the lowest possible profile tyre. The two sizes I have come up with are: 165/55/14 or 155/55/14

The 155's will give the lowest profile but will a 155/55 fit on a 7" rim? - and if so, will it look stupid (being such a narrow tread)

The best solution looks like going to 13" rims with 175/50/13's but these 14" rims look SO sweet that I really want to try and make them work!

Any advice on tyres for them would be really appreciated.

If you think 155's on 7" will look shitey, please let me know??

Many thanks,

MM.

[stealthstylz]

155/55 on a 7 looks really nice imo.

Matt

[Mystery Machine]

Thanks Matt,

Here are the wheels - I LOVE the style.....don't care if you guys hate them....I just want to get them to fit without the tyres looking shoite!





If these won't go then it's back on the hunt but for some 7x13's......gotta love the poke!

[HoTWire]

165/55 will give you the nicest stretch I think ... but then thats what I have

[Mystery Machine]

Sept 3, 2008 11:36:10 GMT HoTWire said:

165/55 will give you the nicest stretch I think ... but then thats what I have

Ooooh - any photos you can throw my way please?? ;D

[HoTWire]

Sept 3, 2008 11:41:33 GMT Mystery Machine said:

Ooooh - any photos you can throw my way please?? ;D

[street]

Those wheels look ace!! With the stretch will they fit inside the standard arches? I think it would look great like that. If they don't you could induce a little negative camber to get them tucked in there... but If you want arch extentions then fair enough
Wicked little van BTW

[leigh]

Oh yeah, go for the stretch man - the wheel look cool, a bit if polishing an ta daaaaa. Lovin' the width too, you gotta make it work

[Mystery Machine]

Thanks guys - esp. Hotwire for the photos. Those 165's make me think that 155's might be a little narrow (might make a RWD van with no weight a lot of fun though!)

Shame the Rascal is not on the road - I'd be tempted to pop over to BOA to try yours on for size/fit/clearance which would give me a good idea of how hard I can hit it with my stick.

Are those wheels Lotus Eclat wheel by any chance? Sweet looking rims.... :-)

[HoTWire]

Sept 3, 2008 12:45:09 GMT Mystery Machine said:

Are those wheels Lotus Eclat wheel by any chance? Sweet looking rims.... :-)

Yeah I got some new ones (from the later Eclat) which are lighter and going on the car in prep for it going racing... the tyres will be sensible though

[Deleted]

155\55-14 on 7x14 wheel




They didnt need any shocking with air, explosives or bike hoses to get on either, methinks they're pretty much made to be stretched, hehe

[reanimation]

I've just fitted 165/65/13's on my Fez, and love the way they look, not a lot of manic stretch, but thats a 5.5 rim a biggest, 165/55/14 is my vote bud.

[Robinxr4i]

Looks like your having the same problem I'm heading towards very quickly!

Anyway looks awesome, the wheels suit it sooooooo much. love it ;D

[Ratters]

hope you get it sorted as those wheels look simply great on that van

[Mystery Machine]

Thanks for all the comments and feedback guys - and for the photos of the 155's MadMaxx.

I think I'll probably go for the 155's because they will give me slightly more clearance (being approx 1/2" less in diameter) and also better clearance where the tread is narrower too.

I can only find THESE tyres in 155/55 but MadMaxx, I see you are running Nankang's - maybe we can't get them in that size here in the UK??

Any other suggestions for where to source some 155's in the UK or are the Federal Formoza FD1's OK?? I guess it's not too important on such a small/light motor?

Thanks again guys....

[g40jon]

i run federal formozas on both my car albeit 165/50 r15s and they are brilliant tyres for the money, last set i bought cost me £115 for 4! they handle the power from my polo g40 just fine (its running about 130bhp according to prev owner)
I've only heard bad things about those 155 section nankangs. A lot of polo users have been known to use them to get stretch, but they nickname then ditchfinders!
i've also run 165/55s hankook ventus k102s on my g40 before too and they were also very good tyres

[Robinxr4i]

Can't speek from a stretch tyre point of view, but Nankang NS-2's are better than Federal Formozas when not stretched IMO