Do wide wheels affect handling??

NickgG · Postby **NickgG** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 9:57 pm

Question for all you guys running wider wheels (7' or wider). Do you notice that your steering is a lot heavier? If so how do you deal with it? Is there some type of aftermarket power assist that can be used or do I just have to suck it up? (specifically relating to NA models without power assist) I had 7' wide wheels and swapped back to stock and noticed a massive difference. It just made the car so much more user friendly. Just wondering if anyone else has this problem?

StuwieP · Postby **StuwieP** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 10:22 pm

not yet. I switch between stockies and a set o 15x7" (+35 maybe?)for track work.
I notice it tends to fall from 80% lock to full very readily, and there's a different feeling in terms of the steering (can't describe it well, clearly) but I don't notice too much a difference in steering weight and I'm pretty much the opposite of built.

Of course, if your wheels are 7 feet wide (7' :wink:

) i suspect steering would be quite difficult. Interference might be an issue too... how much of a guard roll did you need?

my advice is suck it up

i think it feels great, PS takes so much sensation out of the drive.

cheers
Stu

Postby **Okibi** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 12:28 am

I've noticed more bad effects with heavier wheels than wider ones but usually the tyres have been the same width anyway.

I have 225s on 15x8s currently, perhaps a little less grip than the 205s, that could be because i've over tyred the car, because they're 2nd hand tyres and perhaps a little hard or because I need to learn to be a better driver.

Beelzeboss · Postby **Beelzeboss** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 1:02 am

I find my 13x8+20 with 205/60/13 tyres has MUCH lighter steering than stock, it's almost like it's powered. Of course when you're stationary it's heavy-ish but when you're moving it's definitely lighter than with the stock rims and tyres.

The increased grip is also great compared to the stockies, though that's probably just as much a result of the tyre compound as the extra width.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 11:11 am

of course wider tyre contact will affect steering effort / resistance. If you take a look at old cars and trucks with no power steering the tyres were typically relatively narrow compared to current vehicles. . Cars without power steering are essentially things of the past i.e. its really obsolete- sure there are exceptions but excessive steering effort is not something which is accepted and everyone has to park and manoeuvre a car at slow speeds. The US had their own fix - if you could call it that- on their large cars of the 50's /60's ( e.g. Customlines) to have manual racks with atrocious steering i.e. how many turns was that lock to lock. Incidentally an interesting benefit of power steering in off road vehicles was that power steering was a great bonus in negotiating ruts etc at slow speeds and not having a finger or hand broken by a strg wheel being wrenched out of your hands

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 11:13 am

I switch between 205s for DD and 225s for trackwork and the 205s definitely feel sharper.

16bit · Postby **16bit** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 3:09 pm

yes, offset effects it more though.

if have a problem with the weight of the steering i suggest you invest in a book called 'Starting Strength'.

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 7:32 pm

Postby **Okibi** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 8:40 pm

Lokiel wrote:I switch between 205s for when its in the garage and 225s for the workshop and the 205s definitely feel sharper.

Fixed.

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 10:38 pm

Lokiel wrote:I switch between 15" for when people are looking and 17" for when I actually want to enjoy myself and appreciate the style of my car and the 17" definitely look sharper.

FIXED!

*Moves into the witness protection program*

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 2:34 pm

Nevyn72 wrote:
Lokiel wrote:I switch between 15" for when people are looking and 17" for when I actually want to enjoy myself and appreciate the style of my car and the 17" definitely look sharper.

FIXED!
*Moves into the witness protection program*

Awww c'mon, now you've gone too far, nobody's going to believe that!

Okibi's comment is more accurate than I'd prefer though

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 2:40 pm

Lokiel wrote:Okibi's comment is more accurate than I'd prefer though

Is your car drivable yet?.... or are you still waiting on more parts....?

Rasputin · Postby **Rasputin** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 5:45 pm

Yes they do affect handling.

They improve it, due to the ability to house wider tyres.

In the wet, wider tyres are.. debatable. But in the dry, go for gold!

Trackphotos · Postby **Trackphotos** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 6:56 pm

Rasputin wrote:Yes they do affect handling.

They improve it, due to the ability to house wider tyres.

In the wet, wider tyres are.. debatable. But in the dry, go for gold!

There is a limit, as there is with everything. People think wider means a bigger contact patch, but it doesn't. Same weight on the tyres, the patch is wider side to side but narrower front to back (assuming same tyre pressures). The benefit comes from having more area in the direction that needs it most during cornering. The trade off of course is more weight, more rolling resistance, and potentially heavier steering because of it. There's no point increasing those things if you don't have enough power to make use of 245s say, instead of 225s.

zero00 · Postby **zero00** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 7:45 pm

I'll chuck my 2 cents worth in and i'm definately NOT tech minded!

I have 15 x 7.5 6UL's with 205-50-15 KU36's - the car does 'tram track' a little when UNDER 70-75kph but over that it's fine - I run 36psi cold, but last Friday by accident I injected 38psi unintentionally and thought 'OK, bleed them back down when cold Saturday' - I didn't and the car handles the best ever, tram tracking has vanished! BTW the ride is definately NOT lumpy or bumpy!

OK Simon, am I to assume I will see 'Miss Gina' on track at Lakeside 28 July? :wink: