225 fronts on an SC?

spiff · 02-16-2006, 08:43 AM

Hi Folks,
I'm currently converting my SC to a C2 replica. I've got the MM wheels that are 7.5x17 et23 and 9x17 et15. The fronts have 225/45/17's. I believe the car is currently stock US height, but I'm eventually going to lower to Euro height.

I haven't had a chance to drive the car because of the snow up here. I'm trying to figure out how bad if any the rubbing is going to be in the front. The rears look fine.

I'm okay with rolling the lips, but will this be enough? Has anyone run this setup?

Would I be better off putting the 225's to the rear and putting 205's in the front? Should I leave the 255's in the rear and run 205's up front? Seems like that might cause far too much understeer.

Any feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

the 225/45 should be fine on the front and 255/40 fine on the back w/ those wheels

jasonlee · 02-16-2006, 01:05 PM

I'm running 225/45 up front and 255/40 out back on my 82 SC, no problem no rubbing. Just like Bill mentioned

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

I have 225/45/16 up front, rolled fenders, and I've had some rubbing over time...but my car is very low. Since adding more negative camber (2.5degrees i think) it isn't an issue.

Mookster · Mookster's Garage

I am running 75% worn 225/50 on a 16/7 Fuchs in the front. The suspension alignment has not been enhanced.

I do rub on the fender lip on a hard corner or big bump left side.

I will most likely go to a 215 in front when I replace my front tires.

Jeff Alton · 02-16-2006, 04:56 PM

The wheel/tire should fit fine in the front, however a slightly bigger front offset, closer to 30mm makes it fit even better.

Cheers

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by catca
The wheel/tire should fit fine in the front, however a slightly bigger front offset, closer to 30mm makes it fit even better.

Cheers

The 7.5s don't need more o/s the 8s would

Jeff Alton · 02-16-2006, 07:38 PM

Only going from experience with 7.5 on my car with a 32mm off set. That is now the standard front offset for 7.5's that they offer, or so they tell me.

Cheers

spiff · 02-17-2006, 08:52 PM

Thanks very much everyone. Did anyone with this setup have to roll the front fenders? Looks like I won't have to swap tires around. Yay!

rfuerst911sc · 02-18-2006, 02:09 AM

My 83SC has two sets of rims, 7+8x16 Fuchs and 7.5+9x17 Borbet with the same offsets you have, on the Borbets I'm running 225/45 and 255/40 Fuzion tires with no interference at all but I am currently at stock U.S. ride height. I too am planning on lowering to Euro height.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

7.5 on my car with a 32mm off set

7 - 8 w/ +23.3mm o/s fits the front fine, it is true that the wider they get the more o/s they want. A 7 @ 23.3ET is oem, an 8 @ 23.3 fits but becomes more comfortable @ 25 ET, as it goes to 30ET the lip is happier but the inner wall less so.

Jeff Alton · 08:25 AM

They even clear the coil springs on my car too! And they seem to fit fine on Eds car, though he is only running a 215....

Wouldn't an 8 with a 23.3 have about the same "inner wall" clearance as a 7.5 with 31mm? Give or take 1mm or 2.5mm.

Cheers

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

Wouldn't an 8 with a 23.3 have about the same "inner wall" clearance as a 7.5 with 31mm? Give or take 1mm or 2.5mm.

No, the 7.5 w/ 31 will have ~148mm of backspace, the 8 w/ +23.3 will have ~133mm of backspace

Lukesportsman · 02-19-2006, 08:18 AM

Am I still asleep?
7.5 +31ET = ~126
8 + 23.3ET = ~125

Lukesportsman · 02-19-2006, 08:20 AM

Hey, not that I'm picking a fight with the mod. or brake expert, but why isn't Jeff correct?

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

If the flanges were the same thickness then, yes, the back space would be 133mm for the 8 and 135 for the 7.5

but the flange thickness isn't the same for a Fikse 7.5 and a Fuchs 8, the Fikse flange is much thicker, your #s don't account for flange thickness at all.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

I do need to go back and check some of my numbers the 7.5@ 31 should be 139mm of backspace

spiff · 05-03-2006, 05:29 PM

So I've got the tires/wheels on the car and have been driving for a few days with them. I didn't hear any rubbing and there wasn't any marks on the fender lips in the front (backs are no problems). But there was some cuts on the driver side front tire that I'm trying to figure out how it happened. Anyways, when/if I lower the car, will these wheels "pull in" in the front? Would I be okay with simple fender rolling or is this not going to work?
Driver's side front wheel looking back:

Passenger side front wheel looking back:

Driver side from top front:

Oh Haha · 05-03-2006, 05:47 PM

Jeez, with that ride height you don't have to worry about rubbing. You have a good inch to inch and a half clearance. What is your ride height set at?

mshriner · 05-03-2006, 07:12 PM

Looks like the marks I have on my new Toyo RA1s with 16x7 Fuchs on a 73. For mine it was rubbing on the passenger side where the front fender meets the bumper. A file and some hammering provided a very non elegant solution. Then fender lips are already rolled back. What was the proper way to fix this problem?

Matt