16" Wheels All round

[CodfishRick]

Hi,

Been umming and ahhring at getting 16"x7j all round.

Thinking Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2 or OZ Racing Superturismo GT in anthracite. Wondering if it will have a negative effect on the handling. Also what offset to use, 35 front 45 rear?

Codfish

[Ardent]

umm 'n' ahh no more. Stick with stock
What are you trying to achive or desire to satisfy?

"Wondering if it will have a negative effect on the handling" yes it will.

Loads of stuff on here re wheels n tyres etc. keep you reading for hours.
As a starting point have a read through the posts from @Petrus these are some of the newer posts, but the topic, views, insights experinces go way back.

[shnazzle]

Hi,

Been umming and ahhring at getting 16"x7j all round.

Thinking Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2 or OZ Racing Superturismo GT in anthracite. Wondering if it will have a negative effect on the handling. Also what offset to use, 35 front 45 rear?

Codfish

I don't think there's anything fundamentally wrong with a square setup. You wouldn't be the first to do so, especially on a track car. 

Better yet, 15s all around. Nippy pickup. 

Take it from me, do NOT run your front offset wider than your rears. That's the mistake I made. A mistake during ordering means I have stock et45 on the rear (7j,et45, 16in with 225/45/16) but et35 in front (7j,et35,15in with 195/55/15). 
So despite my rear tyres being wider than front, my front track is wider. 
It removes a lot of the responsiveness of thr 2 that we love so much. You have to work harder to get around corners. Luckily my car is braced up to the nines and on coilovers so it compensates but the moral of thr story is.. 
Stick with stock or as close to it as possible. 
I can recommend the 1.2s. They're rather brilliant. And currently rather nicely priced. 

If I had to redo it on stock suspension but wanted a little bit "more" I'd do as a max:
15x7jxEt38 + 195/55/15
16x7jxEt38 + 225/45/16

[1979scotte]

Why do you want bigger wheels?

My car is knocking on the door of 290 ft lb of torque on pfl 15" wheels. Very responsive and plenty of grip.
In the dry.

[Topdownman]

I have team dynamics pro race 1.2s and had no problem getting them as 2 15"s and 2 16"s, only difference is the front is 7" wide so wider than 6.5 stock.

I agree with what shnazzle says about sizes and ETs.

[McMr2]

Also depends on what tyre you fit - can keep approximately the same overall wheel diameter with different diameter wheels, obviously higher/lower profile will affect steering feel.

I agree with what others have said bout stock setup, especially for road use.

[CodfishRick]

Why do you want bigger wheels?

My car is knocking on the door of 290 ft lb of torque on pfl 15" wheels. Very responsive and plenty of grip.
In the dry.

I didn't think I could get the either wheels in 15", so thought 16" front and rear would be my only option.

[CodfishRick]

(7j,et45, 16in with 225/45/16) but et35 in front (7j,et35,15in with 195/55/15). 
So despite my rear tyres being wider than front, my front track is wider.

I though a lower ET rating means closer into the car, unless im understanding it wrong would your front track be thinner at it's et35 and 195?

[shnazzle]

(7j,et45, 16in with 225/45/16) but et35 in front (7j,et35,15in with 195/55/15).
So despite my rear tyres being wider than front, my front track is wider.

I though a lower ET rating means closer into the car, unless im understanding it wrong would your front track be thinner at it's et35 and 195?

The lower the number, more the wheel sticks out. Putting on wider tyres hasn't helped either but as I'm on 7j (as Simon says, the 1.2s aren't available in 6.5j) thr lowest I could go were 195

[CodfishRick]

(7j,et45, 16in with 225/45/16) but et35 in front (7j,et35,15in with 195/55/15).
So despite my rear tyres being wider than front, my front track is wider.

I though a lower ET rating means closer into the car, unless im understanding it wrong would your front track be thinner at it's et35 and 195?

The lower the number, more the wheel sticks out. Putting on wider tyres hasn't helped either but as I'm on 7j (as Simon says, the 1.2s aren't available in 6.5j) thr lowest I could go were 195

So 16x7j ET38 Rear, 15x6.5j ET38 Front then?

[shnazzle]

(7j,et45, 16in with 225/45/16) but et35 in front (7j,et35,15in with 195/55/15).
So despite my rear tyres being wider than front, my front track is wider.

I though a lower ET rating means closer into the car, unless im understanding it wrong would your front track be thinner at it's et35 and 195?

The lower the number, more the wheel sticks out. Putting on wider tyres hasn't helped either but as I'm on 7j (as Simon says, the 1.2s aren't available in 6.5j) thr lowest I could go were 195

So 16x7j ET38 Rear, 15x6.5j ET38 Front then?

If you're sticking with stock diameter and width, why not stick with stock ET as well? Any particular reason for going wider? (says he...)

[CodfishRick]

If I had to redo it on stock suspension but wanted a little bit "more" I'd do as a max:
15x7jxEt38 + 195/55/15
16x7jxEt38 + 225/45/16

I was just going of what you mentioned earlier, ET45 recommended then?

[shnazzle]

If I had to redo it on stock suspension but wanted a little bit "more" I'd do as a max:
15x7jxEt38 + 195/55/15
16x7jxEt38 + 225/45/16

I was just going of what you mentioned earlier, ET45 recommended then?

Ah I see. I did say "max"

I mean, if you have a particular reason for going wider, then I'd stick to what I said above. If you just want new wheels and are wondering what size to get them the answer is as stock as possible. So for the 1.2s that's
Et45, 7j 15 and 16in. Tyre-wise you could go 195 and 225 or stick with 215 rear
The stock setup makes for very nice turn-in. It's very responsive pointy-shooty. Once you go wider it's a weeee bit more laboured on corners although (in the dry!) I've found that 225 rears are a bonus.
One hand gives, the other takes. Stock is the best balance

[CodfishRick]

If I had to redo it on stock suspension but wanted a little bit "more" I'd do as a max:
15x7jxEt38 + 195/55/15
16x7jxEt38 + 225/45/16

I was just going of what you mentioned earlier, ET45 recommended then?

Ah I see. I did say "max"

I mean, if you have a particular reason for going wider, then I'd stick to what I said above. If you just want new wheels and are wondering what size to get them the answer is as stock as possible. So for the 1.2s that's
Et45, 7j 15 and 16in. Tyre-wise you could go 195 and 225 or stick with 215 rear
The stock setup makes for very nice turn-in. It's very responsive pointy-shooty. Once you go wider it's a weeee bit more laboured on corners although (in the dry!) I've found that 225 rears are a bonus.
One hand gives, the other takes. Stock is the best balance

Would ET43 make a huge difference, im struggling to find the OZ's in ET45.

I think the TD's are out as I can't get them in 15".

[Carolyn]

I would echo Ardent.  Stick with stock.  They're light, they suit the car and the dimensions are exactly right for the car.

If you MUST spend, have yours refurbished.  They look lovely when they're done.

Ok, I'll shut up now....

[Topdownman]

(7j,et45, 16in with 225/45/16) but et35 in front (7j,et35,15in with 195/55/15).
So despite my rear tyres being wider than front, my front track is wider.

I though a lower ET rating means closer into the car, unless im understanding it wrong would your front track be thinner at it's et35 and 195?

The lower the number, more the wheel sticks out. Putting on wider tyres hasn't helped either but as I'm on 7j (as Simon says, the 1.2s aren't available in 6.5j) thr lowest I could go were 195

So 16x7j ET38 Rear, 15x6.5j ET38 Front then?

If you are going for the 1.2s then it would be as you say for the rear and 15x7 ET38 front. This will fill the arches more than stock.

[ManInDandism]

If I had to redo it on stock suspension but wanted a little bit "more" I'd do as a max:
15x7jxEt38 + 195/55/15
16x7jxEt38 + 225/45/16

I was just going of what you mentioned earlier, ET45 recommended then?

Ah I see. I did say "max"

I mean, if you have a particular reason for going wider, then I'd stick to what I said above. If you just want new wheels and are wondering what size to get them the answer is as stock as possible. So for the 1.2s that's
Et45, 7j 15 and 16in. Tyre-wise you could go 195 and 225 or stick with 215 rear
The stock setup makes for very nice turn-in. It's very responsive pointy-shooty. Once you go wider it's a weeee bit more laboured on corners although (in the dry!) I've found that 225 rears are a bonus.
One hand gives, the other takes. Stock is the best balance

Would ET43 make a huge difference, im struggling to find the OZ's in ET45.

I think the TD's are out as I can't get them in 15".

Notice a few slightly wide of the mark bits of info posted above - I have a text book entitled 'Performance Wheels and Tyres'....so I know everything 

ET43 vs ET45.  Difference is 2mm (which is nothing).  'ET' is for the German word einpresstiefe which translates loosely to 'press in depth', otherwise meaning offset and is expressed in millimetres.  For the same width of wheel the smaller offset will actually stick out less. Offsets are generally positive so say +ET45 but can (rarely) be negative. 

And you can't consider offset in isolation but have to look at it together with wheel width and do a simple calculation (Google will explain better than I can). So stock 15J x 6 ET45 is not identical to 15J x 7 ET45 in terms of where the wheel will sit in the arch.

[m1tch]

I have some Silverstone Performance 17s fitted which might help with clearance and width as these fit the stock car (probably maximum specs):

7.5 x 17 ET45 front
8.0 x 17 ET50 rear

With these specs they are pretty much maxxed on width but still within the body but doesn't foul the suspension etc.

Note - the reason for my upgrade is my overall power and torque output planned/estimated so needed a wider rear tyre that I couldn't get in a 15 or 16.

[shnazzle]

You need to run some serious 400+ hp power btw to warrant 17s. Even that is debated. 
Anything before that is just styling in my opinion. 
So, take m1tch's comment as evidence of room for play, not motivation to go to 17s

[Alex Knight]

(7j,et45, 16in with 225/45/16) but et35 in front (7j,et35,15in with 195/55/15).
So despite my rear tyres being wider than front, my front track is wider.

I though a lower ET rating means closer into the car, unless im understanding it wrong would your front track be thinner at it's et35 and 195?

The lower the number, more the wheel sticks out. Putting on wider tyres hasn't helped either but as I'm on 7j (as Simon says, the 1.2s aren't available in 6.5j) thr lowest I could go were 195

So 16x7j ET38 Rear, 15x6.5j ET38 Front then?

If you are going for the 1.2s then it would be as you say for the rear and 15x7 ET38 front. This will fill the arches more than stock.

I'm running 15x7 Pro Race 1.2s with an ET35 offset all round. I think it fills the arches perfectly. No rubbing issues ever.

195/50/R15 Front
205/50/R15 Rear

[shnazzle]

Yup on 15s all around the world is your oyster

[m1tch]

You need to run some serious 400+ hp power btw to warrant 17s. Even that is debated.
Anything before that is just styling in my opinion.
So, take m1tch's comment as evidence of room for play, not motivation to go to 17s

It's why I needed to go to 17s, but might go with a set of 15s at some point - might go with the 15x7 route with the tyres listed above to keep a slight tyre width stagger.