Nova maximum wheel width

[garethcolley]

I've been talking to the Spanish company Braid about getting some one off wheels made for the Nova. I'm looking at a 16" rim in a Vauxhall offset but they are 7" wide!

Whats the maximum wheel width you can get on a Nova thats lowered around 60mm (actual) on the rear? Standard arches etc?

If i want a 16" x 6" its £100 more per rim!!!

Thanks in advance
Gareth :thumb:

[djbrowney]

16" 7j super touring wheels fitted on the back of mine :)

had a 10 mm spacer on the front to clear the coilovers

[mk1nova_rich]

Absolutely no chance on the rears!! 5.5 wides often rub depending on tyre profiles lol fronts will rub on lock and almost definitely catch the suspension

[garethcolley]

Absolutely no chance on the rears!! 5.5 wides often rub depending on tyre profiles lol fronts will rub on lock and almost definitely catch the suspension
Ok, well i've had a set of Allessio's which are 16 x 6 or 6.5 on 195/45's and they never rubbed? I am now using coilovers which i think will cause me some problems. I really dont have room to be spacing wheels out either as my current compomotive TH 15x6 ET49 are almost touching the rear arch.

The car has been painted so there is no option for opening out the arches anymore.

Thanks

[craig green]

6.5" is OK (speedlines) IMO 6" doesnt look right (soft stars) in that size.
Assuming the offset is correct & your tyre choice isnt a chunky sidewalled brand, you'll be fine at 6.5" width. Even 7x16's have been fitted in the past.

With a 195/40 tyre you should be good on a mk2's slimmer arch lips, but it wont handle as sharply as something on 15's or 14's.

[garethcolley]

6.5" is OK (speedlines) IMO 6" doesnt look right (soft stars) in that size.
Assuming the offset is correct & your tyre choice isnt a chunky sidewalled brand, you'll be fine at 6.5" width. Even 7x16's have been fitted in the past.

With a 195/40 tyre you should be good on a mk2's slimmer arch lips, but it wont handle as sharply as something on 15's or 14's.
Ok, lets assume i do the following on a MK2 shell with coilovers:

-lowered 35 on front and 60+ on rear
-16" x 7" rim
-Lowest Profile Tyre
-Zero tyre wall bulge

Then should i still spec ET49 or change it slightly?

[mk1nova_rich]

Ok, lets assume i do the following on a MK2 shell with coilovers:

-lowered 35 on front and 60+ on rear
-16" x 7" rim
-Lowest Profile Tyre
-Zero tyre wall bulge

Then should i still spec ET49 or change it slightly?

:confused: you really want to do that?!

[garethcolley]

:confused: you really want to do that?!

Yeh why not? I can't have the front end low as my downpipe catches too much. Plus i think it looks better having the front raised and rear down low. Maybe not 60+ but until the arch is covering half the tyre.

[craig green]

I woiuld keep to ET49 or maybe ET45 at a poush. This may help with keeping the tyres off the coilover spring cup at the front.

However, giving it some negative rake (higher at the fr) wont help your handling any. My guess is it will add understeer, which on a Nova, they have enough already.

[MK999]

I woiuld keep to ET49 or maybe ET45 at a poush. This may help with keeping the tyres off the coilover spring cup at the front.
Actually going to 7" will most likely require a lower ET to keep it off of the coilovers, 6.5" at 49 is very close.
However, giving it some negative rake (higher at the fr) wont help your handling any. My guess is it will add understeer, which on a Nova, they have enough already. Correct, in essence, obviously theres 101 geometry related things going on as well but it won't be adding any grip at the front, of course going lower you have an issue with bump steer etc, although I found 4-60mm produced quite a nice toe in on bump effect but that may largely be personal preference

.

[craig green]

IME having the fr a bit high in relation to the rear just makes the steering feel vague & a bit dangerous at high speeds. Not a good characteristic.

[General Baxter]

J7.5 et 38 on 225 - 45- 17


easy on a proper arched nova lol

[MK999]

IME having the fr a bit high in relation to the rear just makes the steering feel vague & a bit dangerous at high speeds. Not a good characteristic.

Sorry wasn't 100% clear there, I meant 40-60mm as a general all round height.

[garethcolley]

I woiuld keep to ET49 or maybe ET45 at a poush. This may help with keeping the tyres off the coilover spring cup at the front.

However, giving it some negative rake (higher at the fr) wont help your handling any. My guess is it will add understeer, which on a Nova, they have enough already.

In all honesty i cant see the front height making a huge difference. If i was to compare ride heights in a well balanced car that i'd probably pick up on it but the Nova's handling is already far from perfect. I just want the front to be stable (under braking) and have enough ground clearance so i can drive it hard.

I'm thinking a tad lower than this:

http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq205/colley340/A-Reg%20Nova%20build/DSC01620.jpg

[garethcolley]

Ok so back on topic, if i go 7" wide then i should maybe go to ET45 or similar to aid coilover clearance? If i got 6.5" then stick to ET49?

GC

[XEjames]

This might help
can input current tyre width + offset then new width + offset + it will then tell you how much further out + in it will be, that way you could play with the offset on there to get it close

http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible_pg4.html

James