car s.o.s.? cowboy builders?

[Elanconvert]

I suppose lots of you guys saw the [presumably repeat] programme about the elan last night on more4.....
I noticed that the S4 was fitted with wider wheels [5" ? 5.5"?] which looked qhite good as they match the originals.....would these have been speciallly made? optional lotus items?
I know that wider tyres don't improve grip, but the extra track width would be welcome....do the wheel arches need modding?

fred

[gjz30075]

I didn't/couldn't see the show but they may be +2 wheels. I know they're wider, maybe 5 1/2?

[richardcox_lotus]

If you looked closely the arches were modded.

[englishmaninwales]

A good view of how to destroy a rear strut

[msd1107]

+2 wheels on a S4 is not uncommon and is a desirable modification.

Often, you have to be careful making sharp turns, especially up a driveway, as the front tyres can interfere with the wheel arch.

At the rear, some cars are fine. On others, the spring retaining perch needs to be flattened. Or else, fit small diameter rear springs. Sometimes there is interference with the inner fender. Grind away the lip where the wheel interferes. Sometimes you have to grind away on the inside of the fender. Be careful, since you can grind through the fiberglass and into the paint layer(s).

165X13 tyres are a natural complement to this. When matched to 28/33 tyre pressures it makes for a light, precise, better handling car.

The brave can go to 175/70-13 or 185/70-13 tyres. This makes the handling better, but clearance issues become more severe. Some have fitted 185/60-13 tyres, but these have too small a rolling diameter to be satisfactory.

[alan d bell]

our car which is an in period series 2 gts had wide steel wheels 5.5 inch which were original equipment, the body was factory 26r the chassis , sadly , was not.