18" Wheels on a Chimaera?
Discussion
Go search the Chimaera forum for wheels and you will find out. Been covered quite recently. Some owners have made them fit by adding spacers, fitting blocks to prevent the steering rack from causing the wheels to hit the bodywork and so on. It also can affect the handling as well.
Also described in the bible as well.
PS Please don't shout and turn the caps lock off.
Also described in the bible as well.
PS Please don't shout and turn the caps lock off.
Sidewaysal,
Try this wheel offset calculator, might help
http://toy4two.home.mindspring.com/offset.html
cheers
David
Try this wheel offset calculator, might help
http://toy4two.home.mindspring.com/offset.html
cheers
David
sideways al
Well I have 18's on mine, no spacers, no blocks, and no adverse effect on the handling.
With the correct offsets and wheel widths then it's possible.
It's just finding a set that looks good, thats available in the correct fittings, that is the hard bit !!
2yrs of investigation was the result for me.
Well I have 18's on mine, no spacers, no blocks, and no adverse effect on the handling.
With the correct offsets and wheel widths then it's possible.
It's just finding a set that looks good, thats available in the correct fittings, that is the hard bit !!
2yrs of investigation was the result for me.
Like Monaco, I also did fair bit of research to get what I wanted, 17"f & 18"r but considered it worth it. As Steve says all covered in his book, and extensivly on the Griff & Chim forums here on P'Heads.
Rich... www.greenbear.org.uk
Rich... www.greenbear.org.uk
I would think twice before putting 18"s on a Chimaera, no matter what people say if you drive your vehicle to best of it's potential it WILL have a negative effect on the handling to some or other degree. I've put 17" Khans on mine, the correct offset and fitment, no spacers or locater rings and it DEFINATELY drove better on the standard set up. I do love the look of the 17s and wouldn't change them but I would not consider 18s.
monaco said:
sideways al
Well I have 18's on mine, no spacers, no blocks, and no adverse effect on the handling.
With the correct offsets and wheel widths then it's possible.
It's just finding a set that looks good, thats available in the correct fittings, that is the hard bit !!
2yrs of investigation was the result for me.
that is one of the coolest looking Chims I've seen and the wheels are superb. I'd have said 18" is a touch too much but definately works in this case (maybe not had they been silver?)
Don't do it. 18" rims will destroy the ride unless you intend to re-engineer the suspension too. Putting 18" wheels on these Chimaera's may look cool but that's max power talking. Under-body lights will be next. These are driving machines, don't go bigger than 17" or you'll significantly reduce cornering speed and general ride. This subject has been done to death, believe me I speak with the majority
tvrbob said:
Don't do it. 18" rims will destroy the ride unless you intend to re-engineer the suspension too. Putting 18" wheels on these Chimaera's may look cool but that's max power talking. Under-body lights will be next. These are driving machines, don't go bigger than 17" or you'll significantly reduce cornering speed and general ride. This subject has been done to death, believe me I speak with the majority
ah but sir might I point out that we run 18's on the race Tuscan's
combined with rose joints and four way shocks the ride is a little err.... lumpy i'll grant you but it works a bloody treat for the handling corner speed and all 
Apache said:My god it is Mr Max Power. These cars are cool because of the way the drive, looks are secondary. How can you possibly know a car is good by looking at a picture?
sideways al
Well I have 18's on mine, no spacers, no blocks, and no adverse effect on the handling.
With the correct offsets and wheel widths then it's possible.
It's just finding a set that looks good, thats available in the correct fittings, that is the hard bit !!
2yrs of investigation was the result for me.
that is one of the coolest looking Chims I've seen and the wheels are superb. I'd have said 18" is a touch too much but definately works in this case (maybe not had they been silver?)
People who have fitted 18" wheels will tell you they work. It depends what they mean. Obviously someone who spends 2 yrs trying to find a good looking set must be more bothered about looks that about handling. Chimaera's handle like crap if you fit 18"s without re-working the suspension. If you just want to crooooz then go get 18”s. If you want the best out of you car then be very careful who’s advice you take.
RichB said:Thanks Rich. No I haven't fitted 18"s but I do have a reasonable understanding of tyre technology. It is the activity of tyre side-walls that leads me to the conclusion that 18"s are bad. Hard ride isn't a problem but it becomes impossible to correct oversteer if your tyres aren’t flexing on the rim.
I speak with the majority
You may speak with the majority but then again do you speak with any experience?Rich...
tvrbob said:Well having established that, and as someone who has, I feel fully entitled as to offer my advice to Sideway Al.
I speak with the majority
You may speak with the majority but then again do you speak with any experience?
Thanks Rich. No I haven't fitted 18"s
Rich...tvrbob said:
How can you possibly know a car is good by looking at a picture?
He can know it looks good by looking at a picture, which is I believe what was stated.
Whether it is good was not in question. I have to say though, I agree, it does look good.
>> Edited by _dobbo_ on Thursday 4th December 17:22
tvrbob said:
Apache said:
monaco said:
sideways al
Well I have 18's on mine, no spacers, no blocks, and no adverse effect on the handling.
With the correct offsets and wheel widths then it's possible.
It's just finding a set that looks good, thats available in the correct fittings, that is the hard bit !!
2yrs of investigation was the result for me.
that is one of the coolest looking Chims I've seen and the wheels are superb. I'd have said 18" is a touch too much but definately works in this case (maybe not had they been silver?)
My god it is Mr Max Power. These cars are cool because of the way the drive, looks are secondary. How can you possibly know a car is good by looking at a picture?
People who have fitted 18" wheels will tell you they work. It depends what they mean. Obviously someone who spends 2 yrs trying to find a good looking set must be more bothered about looks that about handling. Chimaera's handle like crap if you fit 18"s without re-working the suspension. If you just want to crooooz then go get 18”s. If you want the best out of you car then be very careful who’s advice you take.
edited to remove previous response. Mr Max Power here, I've got 17" wheels and the only problem I had was when I fitted SO3s these have very stiff sidewalls and caused serious tramlining. In all other respects and keeping the geometry and pressures right, I find no discernable difference. If you want to piss people off for no other reason than to boost your own ego naff off to horseandhounds.com
>> Edited by Apache on Thursday 4th December 17:49
>> Edited by Apache on Friday 5th December 12:48
Well apache, It's either me, you or RichB he's getting at and I second your last quote !!!!! 
Maybe we should give tvrbob the benefit of the doubt, this is someone that also owns a fiesta, a mini one, and a Vauxhall Frontera, so he must know something about crap handling
I can't say that I have ever "croooozzed" in the chim, but I have done a fair amount of trackdays and thrashing about and it works just fine if you are more of a driver than a talker !!
Oh and it took me 2yrs to sort as it was in the early days before many people had even thought of improving the wheels ( not including apache and richb as they were a great help ) and not that many manufacturers produced anything that would fit.
It also has Nitrons and poly bushes, and a setup to match. I would not have spent this much cash if all I wanted to do was CROOOOOZZZZZZ ???
Maybe we should give tvrbob the benefit of the doubt, this is someone that also owns a fiesta, a mini one, and a Vauxhall Frontera, so he must know something about crap handling
I can't say that I have ever "croooozzed" in the chim, but I have done a fair amount of trackdays and thrashing about and it works just fine if you are more of a driver than a talker !!
Oh and it took me 2yrs to sort as it was in the early days before many people had even thought of improving the wheels ( not including apache and richb as they were a great help ) and not that many manufacturers produced anything that would fit.
It also has Nitrons and poly bushes, and a setup to match. I would not have spent this much cash if all I wanted to do was CROOOOOZZZZZZ ???
monaco said:
Well apache, It's either me, you or RichB he's getting at and I second your last quote !!!!!
Maybe we should give tvrbob the benefit of the doubt, this is someone that also owns a fiesta, a mini one, and a Vauxhall Frontera, so he must know something about crap handling
I can't say that I have ever "croooozzed" in the chim, but I have done a fair amount of trackdays and thrashing about and it works just fine if you are more of a driver than a talker !!
Oh and it took me 2yrs to sort as it was in the early days before many people had even thought of improving the wheels ( not including apache and richb as they were a great help ) and not that many manufacturers produced anything that would fit.
It also has Nitrons and poly bushes, and a setup to match. I would not have spent this much cash if all I wanted to do was CROOOOOZZZZZZ ???
Yeah it's pretty sad when fellow TVR owners can't debate without trading insults, just don't see the point myself in all this internet bravado. I guess I'll end up with nitrons one day but am quite happy with things as they are. Obviously we feel the cars looks are enhanced (IMO) by bigger wheels and, lets be honest here, TVR are selling a shitload of 16" spiders because they were binned in favour of 18" wheels
Apology for any and all earlier insults. Guess the creative keyboard fingers got the better of me once more.
I do however know enough about tyre technology to feel justified in saying '18"s? Well why not go the whole way and get 20"s that way you won't need tyres at all'. Tyre suspension is a fundamental part of this package and modern TVR's have suspension designed specifically to deal with reduced tyre suspension, Chimaera's don't.
I do however know enough about tyre technology to feel justified in saying '18"s? Well why not go the whole way and get 20"s that way you won't need tyres at all'. Tyre suspension is a fundamental part of this package and modern TVR's have suspension designed specifically to deal with reduced tyre suspension, Chimaera's don't.
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