17" compomotive MO's with 215/40 17 ... 18's would be a bit extreme!!
Borbet A
Moderator: Board Moderators
- Lotus-e-Clan
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 4462
- Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 13:25
- Model: Excel SE - EWP/Waterless!
- Colour: Not Blue or Green
- Year: 1989
- Location: Swaledale
The 17's ride better than I expected and turn in is nice and sharp.
Now I've got the AVO kit, I'll probably run the dampers softer than others with 15" wheels since there's less "give" in the sidewalls.
ps. The car looks a *LOT* better in that photo than in real life ... if you look carefully you can see half the lacquer missing! I've just got a diesel focus runabout so hopefully will get time to spray the car over the summer - I've got a big compressor so am going to have a go myself, I can't make it look any worse than it does already!
Now I've got the AVO kit, I'll probably run the dampers softer than others with 15" wheels since there's less "give" in the sidewalls.
ps. The car looks a *LOT* better in that photo than in real life ... if you look carefully you can see half the lacquer missing! I've just got a diesel focus runabout so hopefully will get time to spray the car over the summer - I've got a big compressor so am going to have a go myself, I can't make it look any worse than it does already!
- Lotus-e-Clan
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 4462
- Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 13:25
- Model: Excel SE - EWP/Waterless!
- Colour: Not Blue or Green
- Year: 1989
- Location: Swaledale
Steve
I can't remember if you had also uprated springs or is it only a change to adjustable dampers?
Be interested to know what effect softening the damper setting will make. If your wheel and tyre combination are lighter or heavier than standard then this would make a difference ie heavier set up would warrant an increase in damping (as would wider track due to offset change) and visa versa (assuming spring rates are unchanged). Nightmare!
I wonder if anyone makes a progressive spring for the Excel? That is, a spring with soft primary and hard secondary characteristics?...That possibly would help improve the ride and mechanical grip (less skipping on uneven roads) with the change to larger rims and lower profile tyres? But it could prove a bigger nightmare with too many variables changed!
sorry ramble over
I can't remember if you had also uprated springs or is it only a change to adjustable dampers?
Be interested to know what effect softening the damper setting will make. If your wheel and tyre combination are lighter or heavier than standard then this would make a difference ie heavier set up would warrant an increase in damping (as would wider track due to offset change) and visa versa (assuming spring rates are unchanged). Nightmare!
I wonder if anyone makes a progressive spring for the Excel? That is, a spring with soft primary and hard secondary characteristics?...That possibly would help improve the ride and mechanical grip (less skipping on uneven roads) with the change to larger rims and lower profile tyres? But it could prove a bigger nightmare with too many variables changed!
sorry ramble over
Peter K
-
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 227
- Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2007 17:07
- Model: Excel SE
- Colour: Pacific Blue
- Year: 1986
- Location: Kent
Pictures of Wheels
I've got a few pictures of steve's wheels on my car before they were sold to him, compomotive 17's Standard new lotus suspension, Blue car. Posted on facebook under Lotus excel owners group. Can email if wanted!!
Oli
Oli