Wheel and tyre choice

[surf-blue-850]

Time has come to choose some wheels and tyres.

Need some with S offsets and do not want wheel arches so limited to 4 1/2" or maybe 5" rims.

Thinking about re-pro S rims but don't want to mess about with tubes.

Minilites and rose petals are too common (wheel snob, sorry).

What are my options for a period rim (60's) that's not too common and very expensive?

As for tyres want a good all rounder that's not going to give me nasty surprises in the wet?

Thanks

[minitravellerman]

More '70s but how about 1275GT Rostyles? Same offset as S so no arches needed.

[surf-blue-850]

Yeah could be a possibility. Black with silver cross?

Got to be 10" though.

[Dr S]

A nice set of original d1's with a bit of patina

[Andrew1967]

I've got one very good 4.5x10 Rostyle if you go along that route.

[IAIN]

A nice set of original d1's with a bit of patina

Nice wheels but they are 5" and stick out too much, would require arches to be legal. ( in UK ) Assuming you are running with S disc brakes.

[surf-blue-850]

Yes, I'm using S brakes. Really do not want to fit arches.

Did think about D1's but if they're only available in 5", then that's a no.

[Pete]

Yes, I'm using S brakes. Really do not want to fit arches.

Did think about D1's but if they're only available in 5", then that's a no.

I've driven a few S's around on D1s over the years and never had an issue...






Yes they stick out a little like early Cosmics do but make such a change from the usual suspects!

[Nick W]

Mine went through the test with D1s , as Pete said they do stick out a bit , but I don't think enough for arches

[IAIN]

yes I agree Pete and Nick. The wheels sticking out isn't an MOT point its a legal point. I had 165's on my S but prefer the original 4.5's with 145's nowadays.
It must be an age thing.

[foxy52]

Yes, I'm using S brakes. Really do not want to fit arches.

Did think about D1's but if they're only available in 5", then that's a no.

I've driven a few S's around on D1s over the years and never had an issue...






Yes they stick out a little like early Cosmics do but make such a change from the usual suspects!

...have to agree.. they look nice.. and like my D1,s with Yoko,s they just stick out to give the car a meaner more purposefull look.. !!! and never an issue re M O T,s... foxy52

[surf-blue-850]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Regarding tyres would Falkens be OK?

Not going to be ragging it around Castle Combe, and probably won't get driven very often plus it's only a 850.

[java gt]

They are grand in the dry but interesting in the wet but that is with 100bhp+,I would think with an 850 they would be fine.

[minitravellerman]

I've been using various tyres over the years, but for me I prefer the Falken. A good all-rounder as far as I'm concerned

[surfblue63]

I have recently put a set of 165/70 10 Falkens on my Mini Sprite. I'll just say that the wet handling is a bit unpredicatable and a very light throttle is required. If I keep the car any longer my a008 shod D1s will be going back on.
I had 145/80 10 Falkens on my '63 SDL and I could provoke understeer on wet roundabouts even with it's lowly 34 bhp.

[minitravellerman]

When on the subject of tyres (apologies for piggy backing on this thread), I was considering getting 165/70 Dunlop Aquajet SP Sports for a set of BWA alloys I got for my Traveller. They are quite pricey so are they really worth it just to get a period looking tyre?

[foxy52]

When on the subject of tyres (apologies for piggy backing on this thread), I was considering getting 165/70 Dunlop Aquajet SP Sports for a set of BWA alloys I got for my Traveller. They are quite pricey so are they really worth it just to get a period looking tyre?

...Try GPM Services in Cambs....01354 688111...180 plus VAT for 4 Yoko AO32R,s..delivered to me by courier next day thru 3 counties !!! brill.... foxy52

[java gt]

I found the A032 to be excellent in the dry but aquaplaned like crazy in heavy rain as well as removing all the paint on the sills with the gravel they threw up.I changed to A008 and they are a much better all round tyre without going for the more expensive if more period looking Dunlops.The Falkens also stick out a bit more than the Yokos with a bigger sidewall bulge.

[carbon]

I have recently put a set of 165/70 10 Falkens on my Mini Sprite. I'll just say that the wet handling is a bit unpredicatable and a very light throttle is required. If I keep the car any longer my a008 shod D1s will be going back on.
I had 145/80 10 Falkens on my '63 SDL and I could provoke understeer on wet roundabouts even with it's lowly 34 bhp.

I'm running the 145/80 Falkens on std S 4.5 inch wheels, agree that they are not great going round corners in the wet but it does behave very predictably.

So what other options would people recommend for 145's which have better grip in the wet?

[Old English White]

I have 145 Falkens on my 850 which is mostly driven in fine weather. I think they're perfectly OK. I fitted 165 Yokos onto my "S" though.

The question of wheels sticking out/needing arches etc is as much to do with tyre choice as the wheels themselves.
Any 4.5" wheels on an "S" are a bit marginal if you fit 165 section tyres..... I've never had an issue at MOT time but WAS pulled up by the police once in the 1970s for exactly that