Griffith: standard alloys or uprated

[gerjo]

I've been thinking about getting new alloys for my Griff 500, but I keep doubting whether this is a good idea or not. On one hand 17" or maybe even 18" would look very cool, more agressive. On the other hand one could pick the wrong alloys which would give the car a wrong sort of "GTI" look. Also, I'm very pleased with the way it is handling at the moment (specially set up) which could be lost with new alloys. Further, I reckon that lower profile tyres would increase tramlining.
What do you guys think?
If in favor, what do you think are the best looking alloys (I've seen a few here on PH but not a lot)?

cheers
Gerjo (Holland)

[IPAddis]

I've never found any really nice ones to fit.

Kerniki's Chimaera has some nice alloys which make it look pretty good for a Chimaera (ducks and runs)...

www.pistonheads.com/members/showCar.asp?carId=1255

What I really want is...

www.ozracing.com/products/wheels/monoblock/ceres.html

"You'd be lucky my son" is the best I have got out of a dealer.

[JonRB]

I've always thought that the ones on Apache's Griff look rather nice:
www.pistonheads.com/members/showProfile.asp?memberId=456

[shpub]

Leave it as it is.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[JonRB]

quote:I've always thought that the ones on Apache's Griff look rather nice

.... but that doesn't mean I'd change mine. As Steve said, I'd lieave them as they are.

[gerjo]

quote:
Leave it as it is.

Steve

Why Steve?

[shpub]

You said it yourself. The car is set up and handling well and part of that is the fact that the suspension is in harmony with the wheel/tyre size. Go change that and the handling characteristics all change.

Typically, tramlining will increase as will ride harshness and so on. One of the other issues with 17 and 18 inch wheels is that they bend easier when bumped or curbed because the lower profile tyre is harder and has less give which means that the force from the bump has to go somewhere.

I know people have done it and not had problems. I know some then complained about the s03 causing handling problems. I also know that predicting these changes can be very much trial and error.

If you want to do it for a cosmetic reason then a lot of the issues will be ignored. If you want it from a performance perspective then it requires a lot of careful thought and you may need to adjust the suspension settings to compensate for the new wheels/tyres.

If it is any comfort, my Griff 500 is reasonably modified but the wheels and tyres will be staying the same as I don't want to make the ride any harder than it is.

Steve

[richb]

quote:
I've always thought that the ones on Apache's Griff look rather nice:
www.pistonheads.com/members/showProfile.asp?memberId=456

Or in silver, www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0&memberId=74 Rich...

[apache]

steve's absolutely correct, as usual, I found the tramlining ok with the SO 2's but impossible with the SO 3's......I now use Toyo's and they are excellent for my set up. It depends what you want from the car, Steve is your man for dynamics and performance, I want a visually exciting car, I felt this wasn't achieved with the original wheels, but everyone has their own view. I have to add I get enormous grip with the wider tyres.

>> Edited by apache on Wednesday 17th April 23:05

[gerjo]

o.k. one last question to get this topic off my mind:

if I would replace my standard 500 wheels with the 5-spoke "Ferrari like" wheels of the early Griff 4.3 (no, not the Chim wheels), would I still run into the same trouble you guys described or would that be o.k?

[richb]

Presumably if you go for 4.3 style wheels they will be 15" and 16" with standard 205x15 (or 225x15) and 245x16 size tyres. Perhaps that is not your quetsion? Rich...

[gerjo]

Rich,
The ones I am referring to are named Griffith 4.x 5 spoke in Steve's bible. These were standard TVR issue for the early 4.x Griffs. My reasoning is that in this case the wheels are the same size as are the tires so possibly this could work.

[shpub]

What this word standard? I don't understand?

The wheels are the same size as all the others that they fitted so they will change the looks without changing the handling. Only problem will be finding them...

Steve

[tivhead]

Gerjo, if you are going to upgrade your alloys, are you going to sell the ones coming off?

Let me know if you do. I am considering buying a set.

Tiv

[PlenumPete]

quote:
The ones I am referring to are named Griffith 4.x 5 spoke in Steve's bible. These were standard TVR issue for the early 4.x Griffs. My reasoning is that in this case the wheels are the same size as are the tires so possibly this could work.

Gerjo,if you do find a set of original Griffith 4.x 5 spokers have a good look round, you might come across the Holy Grail as well Good luck with your search.

[gerjo]

thanks guys, these will be my target then

Pete, what do you mean by the holy grail?

[PlenumPete]

quote:
Pete, what do you mean by the holy grail?

Gerjo, you've got as much chance of finding a full set of original Griffith 4.x 5 spokers as you have of finding the Holy Grail, or hens' teeth...in other words they are extremely rare.

A lot of early Griffiths now sport the 7 spokers from the 500, see the Autocar editor's 4.3 Griffith for example (which BTW also has a 500 front end).

A few years back I looked at replacing my 5 spokers with aftermarket look-a-likes, but without success.

Once again, good luck with your search.

[richb]

Would these do the job? (in silver obviously) Rich...

[ross]

have a look on the hhc website, they've got a 500 limited ed. on oz crossspokes. yum.

[richb]

Can't see that, can you put a link here?