Looking for New Wheels

S

senns32

Bronze forum user
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Hello Everyone,

This is my first post since becoming a CAT member.

The Tiger is getting closer and closer to being roadworthy after a 7 year restoration. :) We are now looking at wheels and tires. I have asked a few folks directly and read as many threads as I can find on the subject but still have questions.

When we bought the Tiger it came with period 13" ET wheels. The tires were 205/60R13 all around.

The rebuilt engine is putting out 325 HP at the crank. A previous owner cut the fenders larger and modified the front valance. As best we can tell the wheels are all 38 offset. With this setup we have 3/4" of space from the tire to the valance at full lock.

What would be a good wheel size/tire combination for a Tiger with 325 hp and these types of modifications? I can supply more information if needed.

Thank you,

Sheldon
 
15x6 front and 15x7 rear with 205-225 and 50-55 profile tyres are common, but they give a harsher ride.

14x6 and 14x7 with 195 - 205 and 60 or 65 profile tyres look period but before a better selection of tyres.

As for the 325 Hp.. you can run a skinny tyre with a soft compound and it will grip weel.. think dunlop derizia, falken azenis toyo 555's
 
Wheels

Check out the March issue of of Classic Motorsports for whats available for a 4x 4x 41/4 bolt pattern. Classic Motorsports went with 15 in VTO wheels on their Tiger restoration. ( check their web site ).
 
Thank you all for the advice thus far. I have attached a picture of the car before restoration.

As you can see the fenders have been modified quite a bit. We would like to try and fill the openings with wheel and tire a bit more than what you see in the picture. Would there be any signifigant problems if we went with a 15" wheel and then a 60 or 65 series tire?
 
A 15" wheel with 60 or 65 will fill it out.. only thing i would watch is the leading edge of the front valance when the wheels are on lock.

Another solution would be to run drop spindles on the front and lowering blocks on the rear springs to lower the body over the wheels.
 
I would get the wheels and tires that you like--then lower the car around them. Easier than doing it the other way around. IMO.
 
That is very good advice.

We are investigating a 15x6 front and 15x7 rear with 205-225 and 60 profile solution.

One thing that I forgot to ask about was offset. Right now our front wheel/tire combo sticks out past the fender a little over an inch while that rear is neatly tucked inside the fender. What are good offsets?

Thank you again,

Sheldon
 
Rather than thinking in terms of offset, I recommend looking at the so called backside measurement. That measures how far inboard the edge of the rim sits from the hub mounting surface.

A six inch rim and a seven inch rim with the same offset measurement will have a different backside measurement. So where a six inch rim may just fit on the front without suspension interference, a seven inch rim with the same offset will not because its backside distance is larger. As I recall, the maximum backside you can get away with on 15 inch wheels is about 4.75 inches on the front. That will put the wheel as inboard as possible and just clear the upper wishbone tip at full deflection. If there is any stamping flash on the outer tip of the upper wishbone, you might have to grind that flash off for clearance. And obviously a six inch rim will sit inside more than a 7 inch rim with the same backside.

Since you are going to larger tires and rims in the back, the limiting inboard factor is clearing the leaf spring. Sorry but I do not have a backside measurement number handy for that fitment.

Keep in mind that the Tiger comes with 7/16 studs and most aftermarket wheels are drilled for 1/2 inch studs, or the metric near equivalent. Also the Tiger hubs are not machined to center the wheel, i,e., not a hub centric design. The wheels are centered on the lugs. That can be a real pain when changing the wheels, if they are drilled for 1/2 lugs. Also you need 7/16 sized lug nuts that are big enough to properly center in a wheel drilled for 1/2 inch studs, if you end up with that type of wheel. Also note that the factory studs are pretty short. That is okay with a steel stock wheel with a thin steel center. But with a cast alloy wheel and a thick center section, you do not have much lee-way to add much in the way of spacers.

Gene
 
Thanks for the great advice Gene! We had not thought of it that way.

We will do our due measuring. :)

Sheldon
 
All right, my progress has slowed a little, I run a greenhouse and it's now the busy season. :) However I am trying to find someone that sells Superlite wheels. I have tried calling and emailing Superlite directly without success.

Does anyone know if there is a US or Canadian distributor? Searches online for this have also been fruitless. :(

Thank you,

Sheldon
 
Yeah, that's the number and email address I already tried. The phone was not answered, during their business hours, and multiple emails have not been responded to either.

Thanks,

Sheldon
 
Check out VTO's "About Us" at http://www.vtowheels.com/?page_id=18. As Pack Racing they used to import Superlite Wheels from Australia. These are different, I believe, than the UK company product.

VTO now have their own line of products that look very much like the Superlites they used to import. I got my Superlites from them back when they were Pack Racing.

Gene
 
LAT70 wheels

I have been offered 4 - LAT70 wheels in excellent condition with redline tires/90% thread. Anyone have an idea of value?
 
Sunbeam Specialties offers reproduction LAT 70 wheels. I would consider their prices for new and supposedly better quality wheels a point of reference. No affiliation.

Gene
 
CAPRI WHEELS

I HAVE A SET ON RED TIGER. They are not totally a bolt on deal. German Capri II wheels have the right bolt pattern but used metric lug nuts. Using 7/16 (MOROSO) aftermarket lug nuts, the OD is smaller than the Capri metric nut. A machinist friend made bushings for the aftermarket lug nuts so there is no slop.
OEM caps look good but are expensive. I found some Ford Escort caps that look pretty good. For a picture mounted on a Tiger, Google SUNBEAM TIGER , look through the GALLERY.
 
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