Wide wheels

[stevex75]

When I needed new wheels for my 1963 Fhc I got the wider ones 6 1/2 I think with 205 white wall tyres from sc in Gatwick. I,d read somewhere that wider wheels could be fitted so long as the bump stops were left off. The new wheels were a bit of a squeeze to get on be we got there without too much sweat but one year later they are impossible to remove without disconnecting the shock obsorbers- not what you need on the side of the road. Anyone else had wide wheel experiences like this.

[christopher storey]

Yes, it is a common problem and just one of the many reasons why 205 section tyres are unsuitable on S1/S2 E types. If you really cannot get the wheel off even at full droop, try deflating the tyre temporarily

[Heuer]

Common mistake people make thinking it will make the E-Type look more modern or 'macho'. Unfortunately fitting bigger wheels and tyres brings with it many problems including increasing un-sprung weight, lowering ride height, removal of bump stops so bump stops must be put in the rear shocks to compensate, heavier steering, harsher ride, more noise, tram-lining and, as you point out, difficulty in removing the wheel in an emergency. Any improvements in road holding are an illusion on a road car. This is what Jaguar had to say on the subject:

[Moeregaard]

Jaguar just got it right when they specified 5" wheels for the E-Type. I never tried wider wheels, but in the "bad old days," when 185-15 rubber was as rare as unicorn manure over here, I fitted a set of 205-75 Pirellis (I don't remember the specific model number). They gave the car a "nervous" feel on the road and tended to follow rain grooves in California freeways, and they were noisy. In addition to David's excellent observations, larger wheels and tires also make carrying a properly sized spare damned near impossible.

Another point worth consideration, particularly for those owners running the original front subframes in their E-Types, is that the higher cornering forces generated by wider/stickier rubber transfer greater loads into some really old brazed joints.

[andrewh]

Interesting stuff. So what is the correct wheel size for a 62 3.8? And can one fit a 185 on those rims?

[Heuer]

5" rims, 185 tyres. However 185 tyres can be fitted to 5.5" and 6" wide wheels but you are increasing unsprung weight and increasing ride harshness. Absolutely pointless on a road car, especially given the average UK speed is now about 40mph (the truck or tractor in front)! I drive everywhere on 5" rims and 185 tyres and very few cars can keep up with me through the corners - a Porsche 911 on our last trip to France being the latest example.

With E-Type's getting into six figures all you are doing by fitting the wrong wheels/tyres is decreasing the car's value.

[andrewh]

Thanks David. I think Most owners are fitting wider wheels for aesthetic reasons rather than handling. I am with you on there being little advantage and the car not being designed for wider and heavier wheels and tyres.

I am about to buy a set of stainless wheels and am wondering whether to chose 5 or 5.5 inch and which tyres. I am thinking of Dunlop SP Sports

[neil4444]

Hi Andrew,

I went for 5 1/2" centrelaced with Dunlop SP Sports 185VR15. Very pleased with resultant appearance. Can't comment on driveability yet. Also the matching spare fits no problem in the sparewheel recess in boot.

Thread on the subject here...

http://etypeuk.com/forum/viewtopic.php? ... ll&start=0

Regards,

Neil

[Heuer]

I have 5" outer laced (standard Jaguar) wheels with Dunlop SP Sport tyres on my FHC and the car looks and sits well. The driving dynamics are also excellent although I have more confidence with Michelin XVS on my OTS (again outer laced 5" wheels, albeit alloy rimmed Borrani's) but that could be because I drive it more and harder. Some things you do need to consider carefully though:

1. Stainless steel - still as difficult to keep clean as chrome but it has a different tint compared to chrome. In other words they will not match the rest of the chromework on the car. Small detail perhaps but once it is pointed out to you they stand out like a sore thumb! It will really annoy you from then on.

2. Type of lacing - personal view here but I think the standard outer laced wheels look best. The centre laced make the rim look very big and clumsy. They draw the eye and make the car look unbalanced. Competition wires tend to look 'spindly'. Again Jaguar knew best and the way values are going you need to keep the car as near standard as possible. If you owned a Ferrari 365 would you be thinking "you, know I'm going to chuck away those Borrani's and fit a set of wider stainless steel Dayton wires of a different design"?

Pictures are in that thread Neil pointed out.

[jag68]

As usual I'll be the odd man out here, but I've run 15 x 7" 16 x 7" and 17 x 7" Dayton wire wheels on a '65 coupe race car, and on a '68 ots all with stock width wheel wells, but with bump stops removed, including the bracket that holds it. In this condition the wheel well will permit a tire that is up to 9.75"wide (tire width, not tread width). Currently on the 17' wheels I run Dunlop Direzzas at 245/45 - 17". When the wheel is at full droop there in very slight contact of the inner tire side with the inner fender. It's not so much that you can't turn the wheel and tire in the well, but you can feel it. At normal ride height there is ample clearance. The reason why you can't get the wheels off is that your shock absorbers are too short at full droop. What shocks are you using? Wider wheels and tires, will without question, make the car handle and brake significantly better than stock. I compete in JCNA sanctioned slaloms against E Types with stock tires and am typically 15% faster on the JCNA course and more on longer non JCNA courses.
I've had absolutely no issues with missing bump stops over the last 100,000 miles (my '68 has well over 100,000 miles on it.), but I don't do high speeds on gravel roads etc.
I don't notice any difference in the ride from stock tires - the 17" Dunlop tires are incredibly smooth in fact, which does surprise me.

[Heuer]

On the track anything that gives you an advantage goes, but for a road car there is little merit in doing it. I drive my car faster than most and have tried various combinations of wheels and tyres (all 15" though) and, on balance, the stock set-up gives us the best handling, steering and ride when touring on the roads of Europe. I have had this conversation with Jerry Mouton who also competes his car in slaloms but it is horses for courses - I don't do competition work but drive quickly through Europe on the back roads and up and down Alpine passes. After 50,000 miles of doing that I would suggest 185 tyres on 5" rims to anyone who asks. If you tried driving through France on your combo it would probably be quicker to walk as their speed bumps are regular and severe, so you would loose your exhaust or sump!

[jag68]

I have driven over most of France but sadly in a rental car - not an E Type. The most difficult part of larger wheels and tires is that you simply cannot get a lower profile tire that will both fit the width of the rear wheel well and have the same circumference that a 185 - 15 tire has. I think that the larger circumference looks best in a side view of an E Type - some wider profile tires can look way too small. That's why I eventually made my way to a 17" wheel. The 245/45 -17 Dunlop tires have a diameter of 25.7" - close to original specs of a 185 - 15. Living in Western Canada for the last 40 years, I effectively live in the mountains. Happily there are no speed bumps - at least not yet. I also have a fully adjustable suspension so I can raise the height of the car easily, though it currently sits within 1/2" of the stock height. When I tour I raise the back end a bit to compensate for two people full tanks and luggage. I've met Gerry Mouton and competed against him at a JCNA slalom in California a few years ago. He's very quick with his coupe. Sorry you live there, or I live here - I'd like you to try my car - maybe it would change your mind?

[PeterCrespin]

Pity not to have a name. You remind me of Art Dickenson.

Pete

[265bhp]

Currently on the 17' wheels I run Dunlop Direzzas at 245/45 - 17".

Hi Jag68
Would be great to see some pictures of your car.....
Thanks
Jonathan

[jag68]

Pete - My name is Terry Sturgeon. I know Art very well - did a JCNA slalom with him in Vancouver last weekend.
As to pictures of the car I'm not computer literate enough to post one (no interest in computers) but somebody posted a video of the car with 17" wheels at:

[Heuer]

Wow that looks good and the way it appears to handle is very impressive. Email a few photos to me and I will post them for you.

[jag68]

There are pictures of the car taken by a professional photographer at an autocross last year on:

http://imagesbytoddross.smugmug.com/Spo ... 925_fSLbrr

They are on pages 7 and 10 if you scroll down to them (you need to be hardcore to bother). Did I mention I like my car softly sprung!

David I'll try and get something to you. My Windows e mail program doesn't speak to my Photo Shop program or vice versa, a problem Windows refuses to fix. I need to change my e mail program - sometime!