The Lotus Grand Tourers

Hi All,

I just have a question regarding wheel offsets. Please correct me if I am wrong but I believe the 1984 Excel had a +8 offset. Has anyone fitted a +15 offset to an Excel? Is this correct, is a +15 offset only 7mm over standard?


Thanks,

Jimmy

Should be OK, but do not go anyfuther.
Wheels will be 7mm deeper in the arches.
Also depends on the width of the rim you want to fit.

Lotusbits has 15" compomotive with the right offset.

I am running on konig rewind 16X7 ET 0 so

Someone is even running 17X7 ET 15 on this forum.

I am not sure if offset was the same on narrow body and widebody's.

Thanks RRHANS,

These are the wheels I like they in 16 x 8 they have a +15 offset http://www.aaimotorsports.com.au/xxrwhe ... _501.shtml#

Good news! I believe that narrowbody's have 14mm offset.
I will try to verify that in the service notes.

I am worried about the 8" width of the wheels.

1st problem does it fit in the arches?

These are the tech details of my setup.

Wheels are Konig Rewind Graphite 7 X 16 ET 0 4 X 114.3
Hubcentric rings 73-60
Bolts conical 12 X 1.5
Front tyres 205 45 16 Uniroyal Rainsport 3
Rear tyres 225 40 16 Uniroyal Rainsport 3

So compared to my setup yours would be:

Inside of wheel arch.

standard ET 14 new wheels ET 15 so 1 mm more inboard
mine std ET 8 my wheels ET 0 so 8 mm more outboard

mine are 7" wide and yours would be 8" wide so rim lip will be 13 mm more inboard.

So difference between your set up and mine would 21 mm more inboard.

outside of wheelarch.

our difference in ET is 9mm + your rim is 13mm more to the outside so yours would stand 4mm wider than mine

There should not be a problem on that side as long as you do not exagerate in tyre size,
(225 40 16 works for me) and if cavity under the arches on a narrowbody is the same as under a widebody

I will check on my car if I have 2cm of space left between the wheel and the chassis, ARB, on full lock.

2nd Problem

I think you can not go wider than 225 40 16 (especialy on the front).
This size will look streched on 8" wide wheels.
So wheels will be very exposed, no rubber to protect the lips.

This topic might be of intrest to

http://www.lotusexcel.net/phpbb/viewtop ... 5&start=15

Thanks again RRHANS, for some strange reason the wheels fitted to my Excel are 14 x 8 (that is what is stamped on them). Most readings suggest they should be 14 x 7 so I think all this in mind the XXR wheels may be a goer....

I have measured behind the wheels @ full lock and it should be ok.

I have also found out in the Service Notes that standard 14" 4 spoke speedlines have a offset of 19
Optional '84 14" 8 spoke have an offset of 8 .

I found this pretty cool site it takes the trouble out of picking the correct offset: www.rimsntires.com/specs.jsp

RRHANS wrote:
Lotusbits has 15" compomotive with the right offset.

Worth giving Mike a call on that as i run his compomotives and i think they are some thing like 15 offset and thus sit a bit further in the arch.....and in my veiw look better all though i have an SE it might be different on the narrow bodied

My Photoshop vision of XXR501, 16 inch wheels:



My Photoshop vision of ROTA D2, 17 inch wheels:



My Photoshop vision of OZ Esprit Wheels on an Excel:

I am seriously thinking about changing the wheels. I think bigger would look better (16") and with the state of the roads around Lincolnshire, the OZ alloya ar egetting a bit bent out of shape. I've got the worst as the spare but I'm paying a fortune in balancing...

I think the OZ Nova as fitted to Esprit's about 2001 look good. The Konig Foil looks similar, although would need a 25mm adapter.
http://www.wheelbasealloys.com/16_Inch_ ... heels__726

Can I justify about £1000 all in though?

Ted

ttedj wrote:I am seriously thinking about changing the wheels. I think bigger would look better (16") and with the state of the roads around Lincolnshire, the OZ alloya ar egetting a bit bent out of shape.

Don't forget, larger wheel = lower profile = more easily damaged

these are the Compomotives from Mike Taylor, they are 15" i think they look great, i would have probably gone for 16" if i had thought about it, but i think the 15" look good, especially as they site slightly further in to the arch

They are a good looking wheel. I'm still undecided. I may get some adapters shipped from the states so I can fit any wheel 4*100 et40 as there seems to be a lot of choice.

Ted

I have found these:

http://www.wheelheaven.co.uk/wheel_Imol ... _index.php

Is 17* 7.5 too big? Fitted with 215/45/17 the total size is almost exactly the same as the original OZ with 215 50r15. Anyone fitted low profile tyres? Does it affect the handling greatly? When I went to low profiles on the midget for sprinting, it became a pig on the road, although they were a lot wider.

Ted

This is what 16" looks like.