[Mgs] A change to my SL500 - NMGC, NFC

[Rick Lindsay]

My Ferrari 308GTB came with 14" wheels and although
period-correct, they are almost impossible to buy
quality rubber for - at least in the widths I need. 
To address that issue I upgraded from the 14" stock
wheels to stock Ferrari 328 wheels, which are 16". 
They're magnesium-aluminum alloy and are stock on the
328s WITHOUT a change in the basic 3x8 suspension. 
Good rubber is available in that size.
http://www.aubard.us/Ferrari/SideLo1.jpg

rick
--- "Dodd, Kelvin" <doddk at mossmotors.com> wrote:

> Max:
> 
> You do have a point. There is usually a trade off
> when going to + size
> wheels unless you also go with exotic light weight
> (and delicate)
> alloys.
> 
> If you check any of the serious ricky racer handling
> forums there are
> discussions about the best combination of size and
> weight for a given
> application.
> 
> On my daily driver, the recommended upgrade was only
> +1 from 14" to 15"
> since the car was very sensitive to unsprung weight
> and rotational mass.
> I went to +2 because used OE wheels from a different
> vehicle were
> available in that size. I also chose to go up in
> tire diameter slightly.
> Both choices reduced the acceleration of the
> vehicle, but the wheel
> cost, improved cruising economy and cheaper tire
> size won out.
> 
> Getting back to MG content. Going to a +1 wheel will
> typically increase
> unsprung weight and rotational mass, but it does
> give you a much better
> choice of performance rubber which along with (IMHO)
> better looks.
> 
> Kelvin Dodd
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:
> mgs-bounces+doddk=mossmotors.com at autox.team.net
> [mailto:mgs-
> > bounces+doddk=mossmotors.com at autox.team.net] On
> Behalf Of Max Heim
> > Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 10:21 AM
> > To: MG List
> > Subject: Re: [Mgs] A change to my SL500 - NMGC,
> NFC
> >
> > That's a good point, But I don't think it's an
> issue with the
> slim-spoked,
> > forged wheels, so much as with the wildly-styled
> chrome rims you see
> on
> > Escalades and such.
> >
> > I remember when Vintage Motorsport did a tire
> comparison on a Volvo
> sedan,
> > the "plus 2" alloy wheel and tire combo outweighed
> the stock steel
> rims
> > and
> > skinny tires by 31 lbs PER WHEEL! Tha's a lot of
> rotating unsprung
> > weight...
> >
> > But, yes, when I see some really outrageous combo
> on a purported
> > performance
> > vehicle, I feel like asking them, "What weighs
> less: aluminum, rubber,
> or
> > air?".
> _______________________________________________
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> 
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