Wide rims or narrow rims and spacers?

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Pascal Zundel
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Wide rims or narrow rims and spacers?

#1 Post by Pascal Zundel »

Hi,
I am contemplating changing my current 5.5 Brazilian chrome rims for alloy wheels (new Chinese model displayed on the forum a few weeks ago).
Should I keep 5.5s or revert to 4.5 with wheel spacers?
I would spontaneously be inclined to chose the latter option that should make the steering feel lighter. For the record I plan to keep 165 tires.
Testimonials are most welcome. :)

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Pascal Zundel
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Re: Wide rims or narrow rims and spacers?

#2 Post by Pascal Zundel »

Same subject, different question: what was the rim width on Carreras? I only know they sported 20mm spacers.

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Bil Brown
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Re: Wide rims or narrow rims and spacers?

#3 Post by Bil Brown »

[*]Pascal..........356 Carrera GT cars were fitted with 4 1/2x15 alloy/steel wheels with the Carrera offset for the 60mm front brake drums. These wheels do not fit over 356/356A 40mm brake drums without the 20mm spacers. Here`s one of those wheels.
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Edwin Ek
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Re: Wide rims or narrow rims and spacers?

#4 Post by Edwin Ek »

Pascal,

Consider 5.5 in the back, 4.5 in the front. That way you don't mess up the delightful, mechanical steering feel- the best part of a later 356. Cuts down on oversteer and softens the on-stilts look at the rear. Porsche started doing the same thing a few years later when it figured out what was going on. Plus you can carry a spare (4.5 - 165) which fits in the front, and half of the time can replace a wheel and tire of the same size.

Very subtle modification you can reverse in 5 minutes.

165/78 and 185/70 for the tires. Vredestein makes the Sprint Classic in both sizes.
Last edited by Edwin Ek on Tue Jan 10, 2017 11:46 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Bil Brown
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Re: Wide rims or narrow rims and spacers?

#5 Post by Bil Brown »

I run the Vreds 175/70/15.....perfect size.
Bill Brown

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Pat Daily
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Re: Wide rims or narrow rims and spacers?

#6 Post by Pat Daily »

Me too!
Pat Daily
Midlothian, VA
356B coupe (121123 aka "Fast Frieda") 

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Pascal Zundel
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Re: Wide rims or narrow rims and spacers?

#7 Post by Pascal Zundel »

To Bil and Pat,
I am surprised that you chose 175/70 tires as this means your cars are geared even lower than standard US cars that were originally geared low.
Not necessarily much of a problem with a standard 60hp car used exclusively on twisty B roads or mountain passes. Bigger issue on more powerful cars or for highway use.
I would have thought that the more sensible upshift from the standard 165 would be 185/70 as was offered by Porsche as an option on early 911s.

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