Non-metric wheels for 512BBis

tires are limited for sure w/ the 17" option. I am going to cast a wider net and look at DOT race rubber from Lee Chapman Racing. I also don't like the idea of the 255's on a 10" wheel. Not enough tire for me.

pcb

 

Use 245's in front and 275's rear. A BBI came stock with 240 front and rear. The slightly wider front is irrelevant and the rear comfortably accomodates the 275.

 

285 on the rear is what I have.
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I have just now caught this thread and I haven't read through all of its content yet so please excuse me if I seem misinformed as to the state of the present conversation, but I am definitely an interested party in any production of non metric wheels for BB's. So if anyone is keeping a tab on interested parties- I would be one.


That said- I am posting an HRE wheel that I was considering as a point of interest to anyone looking for a substitute to keep the look of the original wheels, yet offer the advantages of up to date wheels & tires.

Perhaps they are a candidate to develop a one piece wheel.

Again, if you guys have covered all this already, please excuse me...I'm about to do the reading on what's been said on this subject...

 

HRE's wheel
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Why is so many of you obsessed with having non original rims made to look original and think that the diameter of the tires if the same as TRXs would accomplish what?
There is no originality doing this or an improvement in performance....so what is the point?
I can picture a car with 235/55/17s will look funny and it will not even perform as the originals as it will have less sidewall and the same diameter theoretically but in actual performance it will roll very different .

This is all pointless.....I can see having the rims look similar but all this scare about diffs blowing and why wider tires are no good for the BBs show nothing more but the fact that owners of these cars know very little about what they are.

In back in the old days they were running these cars with wide rubber if they had to perform.

The TRXs are a great tire back then for all around all weather use.

If you want performance go to modern tires size and all and if you want original look and do not care or understand performance buy some more TRXs .....if can not afford TRXs while you do not want real performance get another car.

There is plenty to choose from out there on rims and 285s are the minimum to run at the rear and if I was doing it again I would go for 315s

Mario

 

Mario, parli italiano?

As you know, the TRXs today are a problem. They dont make them. Full stop. Will they make them again? Yes, BUT when is a big mystery.

In the meantime, I have no tires left. What do I do? Do I go for the TRX /45 front tires as used on the early TR and put my /55 front tires on the back? (my front tires still have some life in them) or

Do I change the wheels?

I want my car to be as original as possible. I dont care if she drives better with modern tires, as I can drive modern cars which I am sure drive better than the BB.

The wheels produced by that Group4 co look really nice because, in my honest and very humble opinion, they do not look as vulgar as many other non stock larger wheels that I saw on other BBs.

Those guys seemed to be pretty clueless. They still dont know what measure to produce (something that look closer to original size or larger?) and they think they might be able to make them in 4/5 months. Which is great timing indeed as most of our cars will be going back to storage for the winter by then.

I cannot help by agree that the correct measure should be 17x7 ½” fronts and 17x8 ½” rears.

Again, at the phone they did not feel very motivated, and this is somewhat worrying.

 

Jolly good Speer!

May I suggest that you insist with Group 4 that they make the wheels painted in the exactly same colour code of the original wheels for the BBi?

 

I might be interested in picking up a set if they offered them in 18" size as that is what I need to clear the larger brakes on my Boxer.

 

Since I first bought my BB, I have been hoping for a set of non metric wheels/tires I could use and put my original set-up away because newer tires are far superior than TRX's in exploring the car's potentials.

I, for one, have kept my eye on the aftermarket designs that are reminiscent of the original Boxer design for this reason only.

If a set of non metric wheels/tires were produced mimicking the original wheels/tires- I'd very well be interested in a set.

 

Bill has some good points but what size would you run on 16s

I think 17s is the only option.

Something like 7.5 and 9.5 would allow to run the same rubber for skinnier and wider tires in different profiles.

I think the proposed 8 and 10 is the best compromise and there should be the original color added to the choices of finish.

Personally I wished they run the 10s at rear and some even wider ones for the ones like me that like the car to look good and handle.

Mario

 

The problem is that a lot of guys want the most original looking set-up with the taller sidewalls, while others want something more modern & aggressive.

I agree with you about the 8 & 10 set-up with 17" rims & lower profile tires, but I question whether that's better for an aftermarket set up.

I think from reading the discussion there's a large component of people who just want a wheel as close to the factory original in size & profile as possible.

I for one would at the very minimum, like to see a wider tire in the rear- The car is begging for it.

I think it's going to be a very hard consensus to get everyone to agree on what to order.

 

Razzo 17" wheels by Carobu Engineering. Too much bling in my opinion but they do work well on s/n 35411.......which has a lowered suspension.
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There is no modern tire at any size that would give you the sidewall width and exact tread size at exactly the same diameter as original TRxs and also same revolutions per mile.

Take the bling out of those Caribu rims and you have a hot looking car.
Is not that I do not like bling....on my car for example being white the extra shine on part of the rims makes the car look better.

I have never seen a BB lowered to factory specs that does not look a thousand times better than stock even more so if the wheel wells are filled in.

When the big gaps go away the eye gets occupied by the awesome lines of the BB.
Look at the 365s they all look better being lower at the rear and the BB and BBi even better if set the same way since they have the extra room at the rear in width ....some 365 also look really goofey with rims that would fit a BB or BBi since the rear tires stick out of the fenders.

Another reason that these new rims should be for the BB and BBi not 365s and done right at the rear so 10 rears is marginal depending on of set.

Also look at all the factory drawings on every manual or repair manual for all BBs.
I do not see any drawings showing the cars being lifted up with big gaps under the fenders to the tire and instead they all look with very little gap and even front to rear.

So what the car gets in the middle of Ferrari not being able or willing to make it US legal, so here come the extra height ....bumper laws in the US.....has anyone take notice where these cars have the front bumper at, if lowered to factory specs?

Lets get all these cars out there quit looking goofey and enjoy the extra performance as icing on the cake.

For the ones concerned be aware there is plenty of tires out there that are not super sticky and ride great and very inexpensive (as continentals DW)

Lets all talk about an ideal set up that would give these cars versatility in tire selection and the look that makes them show what they are when engineered and not what they became to satisfy demands and regulations that are meaningless today.

Trying to keep diameters original is silly....there is no such a thing...they all different on 365,BB and BBi and BBi with wore out TRXs ....I see no point.

Anything close to 26 inch at the rear should be good enough.

It will be a mistake to build these rims with wrong of sets and wrong widths trying to creat the best compromise for marketing reasons.

Try to picture the Caribu car photo with original looking 17s in factory color and the same size tires.

Maybe we should create a poll and have all interested to buy a set post what size tires they would like to run on their car and why.

Mario

 

I agree with the bling on that color car.

Why do they not work well with the lower suspension.

Please mention the problems the car has in performance as we might be able to differentiate between goofs in suspension set up versus the point of this post as it relates to size of tires ,rim specs and car height and looks.

Mario

 

Yes, and I am ready to try those rims. It would also be intersting to see if the car be lowered a little bit. But nothing nasty, just a little sportier. No bling, no vulgar things on her.

Actually, I am ready to test those wheels now, but if Group4 goes on in not deciding, then we will get the rims in ... 2014? Please chase them Speer!!

 

MICHELIN TRX 240/55 UPDATED:

Just called Michelin Classic at Customer service : + 33 (0)4 73 41 75 00

And...

Nothing. Maybe in May - Maybe in June. Maybe in July, I added. So, they have not a clue. Allegedly Michelin moved their classic production to Serbia and there they have some omologation problems for the 240/55 TRX. I tried to investigate a little bit, but the guy knew nothing.

So... GROUP4 are you going to make those wheels, or not?

 

Hi Mario........Sorry my comments might have been a bit confusing. I do like the style and the way the wheels and tires fill the wheel well. What I don't like is the polished shine.
From a performance standpoint the lowered suspension works very well. I had the car up to 150 and it felt glued to the pavement. I had the car on the track at Sebring and it has a confident feel. I think the suspension set up is a vast improvement over stock.
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Great cars,,Im wondering if you TR/Boxer guys change springs and where do you get them? Thanks ,Pat

 

That is fine ,this car looks awesome and I love this photo.

Even though the rear looks worse on the photo than it should being at full bump on that side the rear still looks like it can use more tire.

What are you running for size in tire and rim and are the of sets on the rims stock?

I would love to hear what spring rate do you run front and rear also .

Nice to see a BB being built and doing what it does best!

Mario

 

i think the rear needs even more wheel than is pictured from the sebring shot. the 10's do not fill out the rear fender flare.

i think 17" x 11" for the rear and try 315/35/17 like i have on my porsche.

 

I have carobu rims without bling. Tate had the metal lightly media blasted. The slight frosty. Finish is natural and looks close to stock if a little darker.

My rear tires are 275 pland fronts245, Michelin ps2's which may be overkill. Consider many put later tr tryres on bbi and those are 280's the stock front are 240's.

I used some suspension setup ideas from Mario. My steering is infinitely more alive direct and lighter than stock. The car is so much more planted, alive and responsive that I think anyone running stock tryres is missing half the car.

If you're thinking 16's then why not just put bb wheels on your car.
17 is optimal and has great tyre choices.
I am traveling but will post some pics in 2 weeks.

Finally there is a stock looking wheel, no reason not to do the upgrade. It's like refusing to
Update the ignition.
Frankly I think there are a lot of talking heads here on this subject, mostly too cheap to do the upgrade.

Lets stop the pointless debate that has gone on for years. The wheel size is 17 try match the stock color, and offer bronze or charcoal finish for those who want it.

Next winter I am going to do the carobu shock rebuild upgrade so I can set ride height.

Would you like your bb to steer more like. A lotus or gt3. Would you like really good steering feedback, a more reactive car, plus the whole thing feeling more planted. want you boxer to run as it should, having that race bred suspension work with proper tyres instead of a 70's sedan car compromise. stop whinging and debating, there is no debate, get on with it and get the wheels.

 

sean...the wheels are not even available yet. they have not even completed a proof of concept as far as we know.