Wheels for an S3

PostPost by: Greg Foster » Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:06 pm

Has anyone used these for an s3 with no mods tothe wheel arches? I will be installing the 2.5" perches and spring set up in the rear.
http://www.gbcarparts.com/proddetail.as ... atorTRAnth
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'67 s3 SS
'72 +2 S130
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PostPost by: Old English White » Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:38 am

Greg Foster wrote:Has anyone used these for an s3 with no mods tothe wheel arches? I will be installing the 2.5" perches and spring set up in the rear.
http://www.gbcarparts.com/proddetail.as ... atorTRAnth
Greg


... I don't know much about the wheels you choose , Greg ... but I recommend to carry out your suspension mods first , then check for clearance before ordering .
Problems on S3 with original wheel arches comes from larger tyres if wrong wheel offset , wheel machining "A" frame bolts when they are original sized , the tyres's profil , etc...
On "OEW" , the problem was similar having central fixation on top ... I made the 2.5" perches mod , then order a set of real Minilite's ...
Had to use a file on "A" frame bolts , in some areas of inner wings , and change my originaly choosen Yoko's for Dunlop's tyres ...
This could be weeks before having the car back on road ...
Christian.
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PostPost by: Greg Foster » Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:49 pm

Christian,
Thanks for the good advice. I will do my mods and then check all clearances.
Greg
'67 s3 SS
'72 +2 S130
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PostPost by: Jolly Jumper » Thu Mar 05, 2009 5:40 pm

I have just replaced the wobbly steel wheels on my two Elans with Minilites and, as Christian says, it is a very tight fit. The perches are one thing, but you may also find the tyres will rub the wheelarch. All Elans are slightly different... The 5inch Minilites can be made to fit. They are available in different offsets, too. (95mm and 100mm).
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PostPost by: Lincoln62 » Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:39 am

The softness of the sidewall of the tyres also affects the clearance you need. I switched from Michelins (165/70) to Avons (165/70) and found the Avons rubbed the spring perches quite badly. Not because they were wider but they had softer sidewalls and when cornering hard they deflected more than the Michelins. With the car static they had about 1/2 inch clearance. I switched back to 155's.

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