Kev946

So fitting 19 " nismo wheels will be an improvement because even though they are bigger, they are 4-5LB lighter than the standard GT4 wheels?

 

Yes.....and no, its not quite that simple, although the wheel is lighter the rotating mass is further from the hub, so it affects the handling, acceleration and braking performance.

 

I know it is the extreme but ever notice that F1 cars and karts dont have low profile tyres (but they dont have much suspension travel either and much of this movement comes from the tyre).

 

Touring cars on the other hand have fairly low profile tyres but on *very* lightweight magnesium rims, try finding these in 20"s though.......

 

If you want performance stick with the 18's, for looks go bigger. If you want both, have both and swap them for track days, trying to compromise is exactly that, a compromise.

 

+1 and well put..

 

BTW; do you live at your own circuit? Looks like a tyrewall in the background? :envy: or are they haybales?

That's the Hethel Test Track....

So fitting 19 " nismo wheels will be an improvement because even though they are bigger, they are 4-5LB lighter than the standard GT4 wheels?

 

Yes.....and no, its not quite that simple, although the wheel is lighter the rotating mass is further from the hub, so it affects the handling, acceleration and braking performance.

 

I know it is the extreme but ever notice that F1 cars and karts dont have low profile tyres (but they dont have much suspension travel either and much of this movement comes from the tyre).

 

Touring cars on the other hand have fairly low profile tyres but on *very* lightweight magnesium rims, try finding these in 20"s though.......

 

If you want performance stick with the 18's, for looks go bigger. If you want both, have both and swap them for track days, trying to compromise is exactly that, a compromise.

+1 and well put..

It uses a Gixxer thou (Suzuki GSX-R 1000) engine which is midly tuned to produce around 170 bhp. The gross weight of the car is 320 Kgs and with me being a fly-weight of around 65 Kgs, the power-to-weight is pretty impressive.

Trev,

I know someone who could re-map the Gixxer engine for a lot more power. Pm me if interested. One of his customers has 221 bhp at the rear wheel of his bike...

Some good advice already. Must remember to wear ear plugs, got some but I always forgt to take them.

I use ACF50 for corrosion protection. I've just had some paintwork done on my R1 to get rid of stone chips, so I've put some Paintsheild paint protection film on the leading edge of the fairing. Just a 1 inch strip.

PM me if you want me to explain more.

someones nicked your steering wheel.

 

Might be doing sprinting this year with the 7 @ LoT.

May need some tips as normal do not go out unless others on track, will be lonely out there.

 

PS you ever come across Steve Butts in a stripped down elise.

 

Can't say I know the name. Maybe see you out there sometime

Looks immac Trev. Keep us posted on your events. Went to an hill climb a couple of years ago for the first time and really enjoyed it...

my 20s are heavier than the standard rays but the handling is superb. probably more to do with a decent set of matched tyres and the eibach springs, but i cant fault it. ride doesn't feel any different. its the same overall diameter as the original wheels/tyres so the only difference should be sidewall flex and the width of them.

But the point is lighter wheels will improve handling, less weight means less stress on the suspension, less gyro effect so quicker turn in etc.

When I fitted 19's to my Zed they were heavier and the ride and handling was noticeably worse when the car was pushed. Normal driving was fine. I had to compensate by upgrading springs and dampers, so the overall gain was purely cosmetic.

My 2p.

 

If it's performance you are looking for then go lighter. 18's are more than adequate for handling with modern tyres, in fact 17's would be equally fine. Weight is the enemy, particularly unsprung. If it's looks then, 19's are probably the limit. When I had my Zed and upgraded I was so dissapointed with the effect wide 19's had on the standard suspension, I upgraded the whole lot, springs and dampers.

 

I've just upgrade my Lotus to forged rims and saved around 12kg unsprung weight which is a lot.

 

Pics of the lotus with new rims Kev?

My 2p.

If it's performance you are looking for then go lighter. 18's are more than adequate for handling with modern tyres, in fact 17's would be equally fine. Weight is the enemy, particularly unsprung. If it's looks then, 19's are probably the limit. When I had my Zed and upgraded I was so dissapointed with the effect wide 19's had on the standard suspension, I upgraded the whole lot, springs and dampers.

I've just upgrade my Lotus to forged rims and saved around 12kg unsprung weight which is a lot.

Thanks guys.

So where are you Jonanthan in the UK?

Saph Cossie. You'd then have a car quicker than the zed....

That's disgraceful. I could end up in prison if they put one of those near me....

Cool. Make sure you are watching qualifying today at 12:45 on Eurosport and the race is on BBC2 tomorrow.

Why's it got a tow bar on...

I like the stylying but like all american muscle cars it will weigh 2 tons so will be slow and won't be able to go around corners..

IMHO is all just a political statment, the government wanting to be seen to be green.

You could of course beat the barstewards by driving something like a lotus, e.g. small engine and light. My Exige S is £205 pa.

As the thread?

Cheers

Kev,

 

that looks really good, your wheels are gorgeous!!!

 

Was yours the fiberglass lip or urethane....ive heard the fitment can be a struggle.

 

how did you find yours?

 

cheers,

CF and the fit was awful, but heard they have solved this now.

Wheels are Work Miester S1 3 piece

i do have one of those, but getting someone willing to fit it is another matter. . .

 

Fittedmine myself

 

I love the way you had yours painted, Kev.

Thanks mate. It looked too much all black against a yellow car. Painted makes it look factory I reckon..

i do have one of those, but getting someone willing to fit it is another matter. . .

Fittedmine myself

I used to have one of those...

Well done Louis. Hard work indeed. I did the theory and full exam all in one week. Both exams being on the Friday.

You were right about the extra work in the evenings Kev. They helped me understand a lot more than i orignally thought from the class notes.

 

You had both on the friday! Wow that is madness, we had the full course monday to wednesday, foundation thursday 12am, recap thursday afternoon, then practitioner exam 9am on the friday!

I had such an headache by the Friday afternoon. I was forced to drink loads of beer to compensate on Friday evening and I'm not joking....

You do know you are supposed to re-take after 5 years. Think it was about 5 years ago for me....

Well done Louis. Hard work indeed. I did the theory and full exam all in one week. Both exams being on the Friday.

Should be Bernie going and not Ron, but thats the way it is in life.

 

Used to visit STK before McLaren moved. Was very impressive as you could see all the silverware from the main road.

I agree and Max too, 2 old farts who are totally out of touch with Modern Motorsport..

I can remember an article I read about 15 years ago which predicted some of the major mergers of recent years, and I thought it was all speculation. Now we have just an a handful of major manufacturers. This is of course because of buyer pressure demanding better cars, which makes the development costs for a car now so high, e.g. the only way to make it economical is share the cost. This was the start of it when cars were developed jointly, remember the Honda/Rover cars, (the were great...not).

Anyway this is the future unfortunately. We will all be drinving almost the same car with a different body stuck on. The worry is the control they will all have in the future. The barstewards could decided to stop making performance cars and make us all drive hybrids. There's talk in this weeks MCN of a total ban on motorcycles being likely at some stage in te future.

All that will be left will be the specialist manufacturers making low volume cars......like Lotus funily enough but even they are part owned by GM..

Kev

Is there anymore in it than my thread. At least it is british press this time.

Not sure, but I reckon it will happen. I think the retiring to give more access to his children is a smokescreen. He's only 61 and look at Fergie, (Man Utd). Like Fergie this guy lives and breaths F1 and McLaren. It's more about external pressure.

PS: Went past the McLaren factory entrance in Woking on Sunday...wow impressive and that's just the sign at the entrance...

From The Sunday Times

March 2, 2008

McLaren boss Ron Dennis set to quit

 

Richard Rae

 

McLAREN Mercedes boss Ron Dennis, whose driver Lewis Hamilton is one of the favourites to win this year’s Formula One world championship, is likely to step aside this week.

 

Sources close to Dennis made it clear that the man who has built McLaren into one of the most powerful teams in the history of the sport is determined to achieve a better balance between his family life, other McLaren businesses and the Grand Prix team. Dennis, who recently announced that he had split with his wife of 22 years, Lisa, is understood to feel that the time demands of heading up the F1 team have become disproportionate and, contrary to reports last week, is increasingly inclined towards a change of priorities. There are 18 races scheduled this season.

 

Now 61, he is adamant that he intends to be more available to his children, and also believes that the role of team principal has changed. Unlike Dennis, who is a major shareholder commanding a majority on the McLaren board, several other current team principals are essentially employees who sometimes have to refer major decisions.

 

Dealing with the ‘Spygate’ affair stopped Dennis from fulfilling his original intention of stepping down at the end of last season. However, he believes that doing so now would not adversely affect the business, including Hamilton’s chances of winning the championship. This is despite the investigations of Italian police regarding the 780-page dossier of Ferrari data that was passed to Mike Coughlan, then McLaren’s chief designer, last year. The sport’s governing body, the FIA, fined McLaren a record £50m and disqualified the team from the constructors’ championship, which it would have won. Last week Italian detectives carried out an oddly-timed and theatrical series of raids on the homes of several McLaren employees, and took copies of the e-mails which the FIA concluded proved the information was more widespread within the company than Dennis had originally claimed.

 

However, those who believed a fine of £50m would have a detrimental effect on McLaren’s championship challenge have – so far – been proved wrong. Preseason testing results suggest that the title will come down to a battle between the Woking-based team and rivals Ferrari, as it did last season.

 

Dennis is expected to announce his decision in midweek. He is under no pressure from other shareholders and many staff have been urging him to stay on. The biggest factor which might still stay his hand is the perception outside McLaren.