Ok, so I put the wheels on the car.
I had arranged to see a few friends earlier today so I had to leave the car for abit.
When I got back, I put the car in neutral and rolled it back and forth a few feet.
I could hear a slight ticking, so I figured the rear bolts were contacting the brake mechanisms slightly
Not wanting to be defeated, as I really wanted to take the car for a drive to settle the suspension, I made a few calls.
I got in touch with Steve (Loveday) who lives just down the road from me.
Being a bit of a wheel junkie himself, he happened to have a stash of wheel bolts!
So I bopped over to his and he lent me some shorter bolts so I could at least take the car for a drive to see how the wheels sat after the suspension settled.
The bolts he lent me worked a treat and there was no ticking when I rolled the car back and forth again
I'll have to wait until my replacement bolts arrive and then I'll swap the bolts over.
So I fired up the beast and took it down to see Steve to show him the new shoes
I was (and still am) alittle nervous about whether the rear tyres will rub on the bit where the rear wing meets the top corner of the rear bumper. this is nearly always where you will get rubbing.
Rolled the car out of the garage and headed to Steve.
Car drove well and no rubbing so far!
After getting to Steve's, the suspension had settled and I could finally see how the wheels sat.
It's strange, the Michelins seem to have filled the gap between the tyre and arch alittle more than my old wheels and tyres. This is good because it may get Alps and Paul off my back! lol
The wheels sit very nicely and I am extremely happy with them.
They look great. Especially in true light
I'm used to seeing my car with multi-spoke wheels, so it'll take alittle while to adjust and get used to seeing different wheels on the car.
Steve and his girlfriend liked them very much too.
Steve's monster Jag was sitting on his drive, which was awesome to see too
We chatted for a while and then I headed back home.
Happy that the rears weren't rubbing, I was alittle more relaxed and experimented alittle on the way home. Not too much mind as I was tired after a long day and also because it's only a short drive from Steve's.
There is some debate as to whether it is really noticeable having lighter wheels on your car.
But I can certainly say that in the short driove home, the car behaved differently...
I didn't give it full beans so I will have to wait for another time before exploring whether accelleration is improved. But I am assuming it will be, if only modestly.
The 2 things I noticed were:
The car was happier pulling in higher gears. It feel alot less hindered by heavy shoes.. lighter on its feet.
Richard Hammond said that putting bigger wheels on a car has the effect of gearing your car up, where 2nd feels like 3rd etc.
I can confirm this.
The other thing was steering.
Although only doing moderate speeds and not pushing it in the corners, it felt alot more sharper. More eager to change direction. Perhaps the Michelins also played a part here.
I am very happy with these observations as these wheels were as much about improving the car's dynamics as looks.
On the subject of tyres, the only thing I can say about the Michelins so far (as I have yet to push the car) is that these softer Michelins certainly pick up alot more dust and gravel. They were peppered with small stones when I parked it in the garage. Like blu-tac, picking up stuff as I drove
Very happy with the wheels!
Finally, after so long, I have them and they are impressing me.
I need to take them off the car again tomorrow as I have my MOT and service on thursday. No way are they having my car with these wheels on!
So I'll take them off, get the MOT and service done and then pop them back on.
Then I can enjoy!
Just want to say thanks to Koolvin and you other guys for persuading me not to lower the car. It really does look fine as it is and I think lowering it would only have invited problems.
Alps, Paul, I don't want to hear a word! lol
Few pics...
The pictures don't give a true representation of how the car sits, but they'll at least give you a look at the car with its new shoes
