wheels and handling

Hi all,

I have just fitted:
2.0 16v turbo engine 250BHP
a full kit of Powerflex bushes,
v-maxx coilovers,
porsche brakes,
front bottom and top strutbrace and rear strut brace.
new anti roll bar
LSD

Any way, i have been told that if you put wheels larger than 14" on the mk1 it tends not to handle well. Would it make a difference if i put my 16" alloys on it even with all the above? i don't want the car to handle like crap so i will keep 14's on if i have to, its just i have 4 new 16" wheels with avon tyres from my other car and don't really want to have to go buy a new set of 14's. Plus i thought with a larger wheel it would minimise wheel spin a little on the take off as before i had the lsd it just spun like mad and i couldn't get traction. it is much better now but still spins a little with the 14's on.




Thanks

8O  8)

Love the idea of a cheeky 16VT with LSD…

Bigger wheels 'should' help, try 15s?

Yeah, 15"s are probably the best choice here - leaves a useful amount of tyre to absorb bumps, etc. With 250bhp you're going to have to accept that you can only use a proportion of the power, in the lower gears. Also its going to help to go to as soft a compound as possible.

For track days/drag racing, I'd seriously recommend a second set of "dry" tyres, with decent slicks on them. These could be 16", since you could run a lower profile and tracks are smoother than roads and don't have tramlines, etc. If its a wet (track day) just leave it on your road tyres on 15".

For drag racing, obviously a good burnout on soft slicks is going to get the tyres nice and warm. Select 2nd gear and come off the clutch sideways, at full throttle and handbrake hard on. If you find the car drives forwards anyway (even with the handbrake on), there is another technique you can use but its quite difficult to get right.

Oh yeah, what porsche brake setup have you got under those 14s? are they 4 pots or summit, easy to fit?

For MK1 handle about the best wheel size is 15 by 7 with a 195 45 or 50 tyre these arent any rounder than the standard 185/60/14's if you have to go bigger to fit over brakes try not to go wider. you can get away with 16's on a mk1 just the probably with the larger diameter wheels is the way they effect things like the relationship between the king pin inclination's point and the centre of the tires contact patch also you start to lose sterring lock,

Rich

ManicGTI said

Oh yeah, what porsche brake setup have you got under those 14s? are they 4 pots or summit, easy to fit?

 

 exactly my thoughts

How is the ride?  How much did you pay for these and from who?