Informations about inset/offset

[Ted]

Hi,

I've got my SE since february last year. I'va just seen that an old owner of the car had put strange wheels.
They are 7J16 H2 ET40. But, one is ET35
Normal wheels in ET60. I've look at http://www.wheelbasealloys.com/ and I don't understand what is the offset they're giving. Offset never exceed 42. How could I find wheels with and ET60?

Many thanks

[Fredjohn]

Salut Ted

Presumably 3 are ET40 and one is ET35?

To clarify the correct wheel sizes (from the workshop manual) are:

N/A and SE: 6.5J x 15" ET60
S2 7J x 16" ET60

UK ebay had a full set of original SE wheels (with old tyres) which just sold for £150.

See this site to calculate the impact of having a different offset to 60.

One or two others on here (such as m100sandra) have fitted non standard wheels, so they may be able to tell you what offset they bought and what effect it had. Her thread is here. As you can see (middle page 2 of thread) she got Speedlines which actually came from France! But can't find what offset she ended up with, although she did have to buy longer studs.

Hope this helps a bit
John

[Ted]

Thnak you for the web site, but they don't mention offset of 60.
And yes, 3 are 35 and one is 40. I think it's quit bad for handling and seach e difference between 60 and 35 offset may use suspensions faster... I will PM M100Sandra

[Fredjohn]

Sorry Ted: didn't realise drop down boxes only went to ET55!!!

But use 55 and add/subtract 5mm as appropriate

[tigerdog]

How could I find wheels with and ET60?

Therein lies the rub. Almost no one makes -60 offset wheels. If you scrounge around LEC using the search function, you'll find people have had satisfactory results with certain Mini wheels and at least one or two devoted members have had custom 17" wheels made with the proper offset (you know who you are, Blair.) The further you deviate from stock offset, the more the car's handling is compromised (and the more you change loading on the wheel bearings.) As I said, the topic has been discussed at length in other posts - look around and you'll find lots to learn from.

[Jamie N]

I had a set of 15" Volk Racing lightweight wheels from Japan on the Elan for a while, they had a 45mm offset, I detected no differences in the handling or driveability at all.