The Tyre Thread

[gman]

TBH, 18's on a TS Astra are not a great idea IMHO. Sure they look really nice, but at the expense of usability and handling...

You don't really need the extra room for brakes, the tyres you will get to fit under the guards on an 18 are going to make the ride harsher and handling worse, 18's will increase the unpsrung weight and affect the handling again. I had 18's (they came on the car when I bought it new) and they looked great, but the 215/35/18 tyres were a pain, the rims were always getting damaged and the handling was OK but not great.

I now run 17's with various size tyres. 215/45/17 (racing slicks), 225/45/17 (AD08's, R888 & NT01) & 235/40/17 (NT01). All are much better than the 18's, its easier to get decent tyres and my 330mm brakes fit under the 17's with no problems...

[nick_sixx]

alrighty, just wheels it is then!

How much should i expect to pay to swap my current tyres over to the new wheels?

[lonewolf1983]

TBH, 18's on a TS Astra are not a great idea IMHO. Sure they look really nice, but at the expense of usability and handling...

You don't really need the extra room for brakes, the tyres you will get to fit under the guards on an 18 are going to make the ride harsher and handling worse, 18's will increase the unpsrung weight and affect the handling again. I had 18's (they came on the car when I bought it new) and they looked great, but the 215/35/18 tyres were a pain, the rims were always getting damaged and the handling was OK but not great.

I now run 17's with various size tyres. 215/45/17 (racing slicks), 225/45/17 (AD08's, R888 & NT01) & 235/40/17 (NT01). All are much better than the 18's, its easier to get decent tyres and my 330mm brakes fit under the 17's with no problems...

yep, screw using a 30-35 profile tyre, and only crappy nankangs etc that are available.
would be nice if i could find a 330mm disk (with easily sourced replacements), with a 4 pot caliper with good pad variety, that fit under factory wheels!

[gman]

To get a brake set to suit 17's I had mine custom made from parts I sourced (discs and 2 sets of calipers from a NASCAR team...Friends in nice places).

There was an Alcon setup that used approx. 330/332mm discs that fit under 17's, but now it seems that the 343mm VXR Alcon setup is all they do which required 18's. K-Sports are 356mm which is serious 18" territory and Tarox are a similar size. Courtenay used to have an AP Racing kit that was for 17's, but now its just listed for Corsa "D".

I think there is a 330mm K-Sport kit that you can get which will fit under 17's and the pad shape is available in good pads easily like the Ferodo RS2500 and RS300, Pagids and maybe even from GSLRALLYSPORT if you can cross reference a pad shape/number...

[gman]

alrighty, just wheels it is then!

How much should i expect to pay to swap my current tyres over to the new wheels?

$10 to $20 a corner for balancing etc. Depends on what sort of relationship you have with the tyre guy...

[JohnBu]

TBH, 18's on a TS Astra are not a great idea IMHO. Sure they look really nice, but at the expense of usability and handling...

I had 18's (they came on the car when I bought it new)

Are you talking about the TS Astra?

You've made so many mods to your car and prob can't remember that the SRiT came with 215/40R17s from the factory. haha

I now fun 215/45R17s on mine for the extra compliance.

[gman]

Are you talking about the TS Astra?

You've made so many mods to your car and prob can't remember that the SRiT came with 215/40R17s from the factory. haha

I now fun 215/45R17s on mine for the extra compliance.

Yep, my TS Astra SRi-T...Its almost totally stock I swear!!

I actually didn't have stock rims and tyres as I had aftermarket 18's from the stealer until recently when I bought a set off a member on here so have a set now. That makes five (5) sets of rims I have now!!!

Read the placard that said 215/40/17, but IMHO thats such an odd ball size. 215/45/17 is a much nicer tyre to drive on for handling and comfort.

[JohnBu]

yeah it's an odd tyre size, but I've most decent tyres come in 215/45R17s, but you're right, the 215/45/17 is a much nicer tyre to drive on for handling and comfort. It doesn't hurt it also little cheaper than 215/40R17s.

Very odd that a new car would have after market 18s on its.. maybe the stock 17s where stolen.

Not being bias her, or maybe I am, but the stock 17s seem to be one of the best wheels to suit the SRiT for some reason.

[gman]

Agree the 215/14/17's are the way to go.

The stock wheels are nice, look great especially when painted a nice charcoal or black on a black car, but they're heavy and clearance for aftermarket calipers is limited...

The Speedy Lite-7's are good and strong. The grey look nice and I love my green ones too
The TD Pro Race 1.2's look awesome, are light and strong too but hard to get in Oz.
The OZ rims look great on the car (only seen pics so far) and OZ are usually excellent quality. Once I get them out of storage in Vic and up to NSW I'll be able to get a good look at them.

[JohnBu]

Yeah I do like the TD Pro Race 1.2

also a big fan of the OZ Superleggera

I think of the best stock looking rims are the 19" Rays on the 370z