Wheel sizes

Talk about the E-Type Series 1

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johnj
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#1 Wheel sizes

Post by johnj » Tue Nov 12, 2019 1:36 pm

Hi just finishing a restoration on my series 1 1/2 e type and want to know if 6 1/2 j x 15 rims will fit or 6 j x15. and what size tyres to use
Also were to get white wall tyres

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Heuer
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#2 Re: Wheel sizes

Post by Heuer » Tue Nov 12, 2019 3:27 pm

Jaguar specified 5" wheels with 5.5" for the rear only for competition. The best combination for ride and handling is 185VR tyres on 5" or 5.5" rims. If you fit 6.5" rims you will find it very difficult to remove the rear wheel without dropping the suspension, which can be a bit awkward on the side of the road after a puncture! Also certain combinations of tyre and wheel width will not fit the spare wheel well which means using a stock 5" wheel as a spare but then you will not be able tom accommodate the flat tyre/wheel in the well.

Stick with standard laced 5" wheels and 185 tyres as you will gain absolutely nothing with alternatives, other than lower ride height, heavy steering, compromised ride quality, poor handling and getting very acquainted with your preferred recovery company.
David Jones
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red

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Sarthe72
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#3 Re: Wheel sizes

Post by Sarthe72 » Wed Nov 13, 2019 1:48 pm

I second wholeheartedly David's comments above. Might I add that while it is a personal choice I find the painted rather than the chrome wheels suit the car better. And they are much cheaper!

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Heuer
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#4 Re: Wheel sizes

Post by Heuer » Wed Nov 13, 2019 3:37 pm

Concur with the painted "Stoved Aluminum" (Metallichrome Aluminium - ICI: P0-2358) wheels which really suit solid colour cars whilst chrome works perfectly on the Opalescent colours IMHO. As chrome wires were a 'special order only' cost option back in the day a great many E-Type's left the Factory with low maintenance painted "Stoved Aluminum" enamel wire wheels.
David Jones
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red

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chrisfell
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#5 Re: Wheel sizes

Post by chrisfell » Wed Nov 13, 2019 6:51 pm

Painted wires look better on solid colours?
Image
Not sure I’d agree with that.
And wouldn’t the car look that much better with wider tyres on wider wheels? Just imagine 205s on a 6” wide rim. I mean, even my daily driver shopping trolley Toyota wears 225s. And that’s no sports car or GT.
Chris '67 S1 2+2

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abowie
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#6 Re: Wheel sizes

Post by abowie » Wed Nov 13, 2019 8:46 pm

The 6.5 MWS wheels fit fine with 205/65/15 tyres. They will fit in the boot as a spare. I have been able to remove the rears without difficulty with a jack on my cars but I've never changed a flat with them. I originally had them on my (now sold) 1.5, and have rotated them onto all 3 of my other E Types.

I have removed all the bump stops on my cars.

Prices seem to be around $650 per wheel on Oz; the thinner wheels are a little cheaper. I have found that it is marginally cheaper to get them from OS than here. ON 2 occasions I have bought sets of wheels from SC Parts, who I never otherwise use. On both occasions they posted for UKP20 per wheel and staggered the posting a couple of days apart so I could avoid duty.
Andrew.
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
Adelaide, Australia

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peters3103
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#7 Re: Wheel sizes

Post by peters3103 » Fri Nov 15, 2019 8:13 pm

My 61 arrived to me 12 years ago riding on 6” chrome wires with 205/70 XVX Michelin tyres. As the wheels were incorrect with the later easy clean, flat hubs I bought a set of MWS 6 1/2” centre-laced wires to which I mounted the 205’s. I always complained that my steering was very heavy and in the interest of originality and the promise by Heuer of a much improved drive I bought a set of MWS 5” chrome wires shod with Michelin XVS 185’s.
Absolute transformation and I’d never go back to big wheels/tyres again. I love the period look of my car now too. Just as intended.

Cheers,
Pete
Pete
61 E-Type FHC Opalescent Golden Sand
69 XJ6 4.2 MOD Old English White - one previous owner
16 XE R Sport 25t Polaris White - shopping trolley
63 MGB Roadster Aintree Green - my dads from new

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GSR 54D
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#8 Re: Wheel sizes

Post by GSR 54D » Sat Nov 16, 2019 12:20 am

For my tuppence worth... 6” rims with 185/15, the extra 1” rim width protrudes outwards reducing the tram like carriage appearance. I have 2 sets, SP sport Aquajet and XVS, the 185 XVS’s speak for themselves with regards to precise steering etc... They just look & handle right for the cars period....

John H.
John H

1962 OTS
1965 FHC

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abowie
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#9 Re: Wheel sizes

Post by abowie » Sat Nov 16, 2019 2:56 am

Of my wheels I too like the 5 1/2" rims with 185 80 profile tyres the best.
Andrew.
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
Adelaide, Australia

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chrisfell
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#10 Re: Wheel sizes

Post by chrisfell » Sat Nov 16, 2019 7:43 am

I don’t have the money to waste on another set of wheels, but if I did.......

.... 6” wide 16” rims wearing 205/65 tyres. This wheel/tyre combination looks very good under E-Type wheel arches. And a Litesteer system under the dash to help SWMBO with the low speed steering. I’ve never had an issue with heavy steering. Even in my daily driver I alway have the car moving as I turn the wheel, it reduces the effort required and reduces tyre wear.

BTW I have no affiliation with Litesteer, but I did drive a friend’s 67 OTS fitted with this system. It is impressive. (His car was fitted with 185s on standard rims, but as he gets older he finds he needs the assistance to enjoy driving the car.) Other power steering kits are available.
Chris '67 S1 2+2

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max-it-out
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#11 Re: Wheel sizes

Post by max-it-out » Sat Nov 16, 2019 10:41 am

RE. power steering - I just pumped the tyres up to 36 psi - its now much less effort when parking , only downside is it feels a bit light at speed.
Mark

1968 series 1.5 roadster

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MarkRado
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#12 Re: Wheel sizes

Post by MarkRado » Sat Nov 16, 2019 11:53 am

Depends on what you are aiming for. For standard spirited driving (ie not track), 185s are perfectly ok and will go with 6x15 rims (which fill the arches a bit more, stay with oe backspacing (97mm)). 185s are comfortable and quiet too. If you do a lot of slow speed driving around town and parking in confined spaces as I do, steering with a 205/70 will be heavy. Personally I use Avon turbosteel 185/80x15 up to date, classic looks and not very expensive, but wet grip is definitely below par (might be no aspect in your country ; )). I found that roadholding is very sensitive to tyre pressure (31psi frt and rear for the Avons)
A company from Munich (MOR) will add whitewall strips (narrow or large) to some of the top quality tyres, but at a price
https://www.oldtimerreifen24.de/DIVERSE ... hparam=185
Mark
1963 OTS 880436

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Sarthe72
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#13 Re: Wheel sizes

Post by Sarthe72 » Tue Nov 19, 2019 1:49 pm

I would tend to disagree with David about painted's and metallic, but again, it's a personal choice. I've had my car over 30 years and find the combination correct for an early car, but it's your car so you choose. But don't moan about the time it will take you to clean the chromed ones ;- And after all this time, with many a rally, hill climb and track day behind me, I still find the standard rims quite adequate and, as aforesaid, much lighter when parking. I use Blockley 185/15 tyres by the way.


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Heuer
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#14 Re: Wheel sizes

Post by Heuer » Tue Nov 19, 2019 2:02 pm

Your car does look good Tony helped by the fact the Opalescent Gunmetal body colour is fairly close to the Metallichrome Stoved Aluminium paint on the wheels. With Golden Sand or the maroon, green and blue Opalescent colours maybe not so good a match?
David Jones
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red

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#15 Re: Wheel sizes

Post by Sarthe72 » Tue Nov 19, 2019 2:17 pm

You're probably - as always - right David, but what I love about this forum is that we are all E-type people and know our cars in depth. The contributions are on the money, not wishful thinking. Before I restored my car (for the second time) in 2013 she was Ford Glacier Blue (rather like Opalescent Silver Blue but a bit brighter), a colour I chose in 1987 for the first rebuild, and she then had chromes. I later changed them to painted because it was impossible to keep them clean with the car doing so many miles per annum, and the painteds are perfect I find. But you might prefer this photo of her then. Used for the Beeb's "The Car's the Star" in the mid 1990s.
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Heuer
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#16 Re: Wheel sizes

Post by Heuer » Tue Nov 19, 2019 2:38 pm

Another option?
Image

I would never have thought that combination would work, but wow what a statement!
David Jones
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red

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peters3103
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#17 Re: Wheel sizes

Post by peters3103 » Tue Nov 19, 2019 8:03 pm

My Golden Sand FHC has worn 3 different sets of chromes but I lean towards stoved aluminium now. I saw this OTS below in the Revival car park and thought it looked fab. If $$ weren’t a factor I’d have a alternative set of stoved aluminium wheels - 5 1/2” competition rears and 5” fronts shod with Dunlop R5’s. Just for show of course...
Actually the Avon’s on this car look pretty good.

Image

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Pete
61 E-Type FHC Opalescent Golden Sand
69 XJ6 4.2 MOD Old English White - one previous owner
16 XE R Sport 25t Polaris White - shopping trolley
63 MGB Roadster Aintree Green - my dads from new

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