Project 'Sh4rk'

[Costas]

I ve had the S2s wheels for over 5 years, driven on race-track for countless times and also keep in mind that the surface of the road network in Greece is terrible. Thus the S2s wheels were fixed again and again and again and all over again at a point that they lost their rigid structure and they do not have the shape of a balanced "cyrcle" anymore. It was about time to do some change, those new wheels are far lighter and 17" in diameter. I know it may look strange but they luck in appearance on the photos. Nevertheless I am satisfied with their perfomance, responce to steering wheel and overall feeling.

[Rambo]

Oh Costas, IMHO the Shark looks far better with the S2 wheels

I agree with Monty - they look like a bit like BMW wheels

[XiPHiAS]

nice ...

can u tell me more about the sizes, offset ...

i'm looking for new wheels also (cooling problem on my AP's )

[Costas]

I will have detailed specific data tommorow ...

Costas

[XiPHiAS]

I will have detailed specific data tommorow ...

Costas

cool ...

i'm also 'very' intrested in the handling of the car after changing the wheels

[Costas]

This is the wheel by WOLFERACE that I installed on Sh4rk. It should be very easy to get in the UK since its a British Brand.

17" X 7", 40mm Offset, 7.8kg, Tyres 205x40x17


Costas

http://www.wolfrace.com/portfolio/media/image/wheel.PRLBMRA.png

[XiPHiAS]

This is the wheel by WOLFERACE that I installed on Sh4rk. It should be very easy to get in the UK since its a British Brand.

17" X 7", 40mm Offset, 7.8kg, Tyres 205x40x17

Costas

http://www.wolfrace.com/portfolio/media/image/wheel.PRLBMRA.png

How is the handling of the car? Because your wheels stick out 2cm each side ...

On my other Elan I had wheels with ET45 and the handling sucked...

[Costas]

Now about the handling, since my S2 wheels were of bad shape any other wheel would feel better, but I can surely say that the car is kinda more "fast" turning and demands to be accurate on what you do and a bit more nervous on road surface anomalies. It does feel stiffer, kinda of a feeling that the car is more "hard" but its a lot smoother on the highway. Never the less, I havent tried them on track yet to have an all-around opinion. Overall I can say I very happy with my decision cause I feel safer (as I said my S2 wheels were distorted) and the car is even more accurate and also it does look better to me an all who have seen it IRL.

The Wheels DO NOT stick out 2 cm because they are 7" amd not 7.5" as most 17" wheels. I ll get you a photo to have a precise idea.

Costas

[Elanlover]

Now about the handling, since my S2 wheels were of bad shape any other wheel would feel better, but I can surely say that the car is kinda more "fast" turning and demands to be accurate on what you do and a bit more nervous on road surface anomalies. It does feel stiffer, kinda of a feeling that the car is more "hard" but its a lot smoother on the highway. Never the less, I havent tried them on track yet to have an all-around opinion. Overall I can say I very happy with my decision cause I feel safer (as I said my S2 wheels were distorted) and the car is even more accurate and also it does look better to me an all who have seen it IRL.

The Wheels DO NOT stick out 2 cm because they are 7" amd not 7.5" as most 17" wheels. I ll get you a photo to have a precise idea.

Costas

I suspect the "faster turning" is due to the increase in wheel size to 17". I found this to be a noticeable difference when I installed my custom, 7x17, +60 offset wheels. I'm guessing XiPHiAS thinks the wheels stick out more due to the +40 offset, not the width. And they will stick out more than the stock wheels with the +60 offset.

[XiPHiAS]

Now about the handling, since my S2 wheels were of bad shape any other wheel would feel better, but I can surely say that the car is kinda more "fast" turning and demands to be accurate on what you do and a bit more nervous on road surface anomalies. It does feel stiffer, kinda of a feeling that the car is more "hard" but its a lot smoother on the highway. Never the less, I havent tried them on track yet to have an all-around opinion. Overall I can say I very happy with my decision cause I feel safer (as I said my S2 wheels were distorted) and the car is even more accurate and also it does look better to me an all who have seen it IRL.

The Wheels DO NOT stick out 2 cm because they are 7" amd not 7.5" as most 17" wheels. I ll get you a photo to have a precise idea.

Costas

7" or 7.5" (wheel width) does not affect the offset ...

Because the wheelgaps of the Elan are SO hughe you have more than 2cm each side left. For me that's an ugly point from the Elan, the wheels are realy deep into the car. If you put wheels with ET40 in case of E60 the wheels will not stick out of the car but they will go wider than original.



I'm asking this because I had ~ET42 before on my Elan and the handling was f****d up ... the look was so much better but the handling, on high speed cornering it feels like the car lifted. Very scary

[Costas]

If you put wheels with ET40 in case of E60 the wheels will not stick out of the car but they will go wider than original.

Well, that was my point, but so far the handling is not by any means scary, its just different and you have to adjust, I can honestly say that after a week I feel good allready. Whats scary is 1.6boost with or without NOS no matter what wheels you got

I had tried several 17" wheels in the past like Kosei, Work and even Elise and Exige wheels. In all of the cases the wheels were so out from the car that they could be seen poping out of the wheel-arc for at least 2-5cms like in the photo below.



In the case of the WOLFRACE I installed, the wheel is not even 1 mm out of the car and in fact its well inside. In any way, I would care more for how it feels handling in my hands, and as I said, I am very happy so far and feel safe. Keep in mind that the whole mentality of Sh4rk as it is tuned is not based on how to be an "easy to drive" car, but how to be faster in every way. Never the less I ve ordered a set of Racing Full Slick tyres for the S2 Wheels just for track use

As I said in previous message I will have an all-around opinion when I test the car with these wheels on the Race-track.

Costas

[Costas]

After enough KMs driven on the new wheels I can surely now say that I would in NO case suggest to anyone to replace the stock wheels....

The car is not bad with the b igger wheels, its just that handling is way too demanding now (for a Lotus car), and its not as good as it is with 15"SEs or 16"S2s. The Quaife differential does add up to make things harder.

Personally, I am adjusted to the new standards, and I dont have any serious problem. The car is as fast as it was, with same grip and same turning speed but your hands are getting lot faster tired up... If I did visit the race track as often as I used to then I would be in tears now, but since I dont anympre its all good or .....almost good because I have to admit that when driving in the redline I am more nervous than before, perhaps I am not totally used to it yet.

Costas

[Elanlover]

I'll bet that if you had 17" +60 offset wheels you'd be happier. I am.

[Costas]

I'll bet that if you had 17" +60 offset wheels you'd be happier. I am.

So its the offset that messes me?

[Elanlover]

Yes, especially if I read correctly that yours are only +40.

[XiPHiAS]

I'll bet that if you had 17" +60 offset wheels you'd be happier. I am.

So its the offset that messes me?

1.000% sure

[Costas]

The feeling that the handling was getting worst kept increasing... It started to feel like the steering wheel was a bit trembling now and I was very dissapointed since I thought that all that bad behaviour was due to the wheels. I went to check it out and if needed to replace the wheels, but it was proved that what cause all my problems was a bad left driving shaft that needed to be changed. Did so and now the car is just PERFECT, drove it allready for 500km in fast pace. No problems at all, feels like a Lotus car should feel and so I have to restate my opinion and say that there is nothing wrong with the wheels and everything is just fine.

Costas

[Costas]

Its been 75000km since I started this thread with Sh4rks Modifications. Last week the IHI bb VF34 Turbine passed away. I am replacing it this week with a brand new one.

No complaints, actually I am amazed it managed so long under such pressure and extreme modifications without ever any problem. What also amazed me is that it didnt gradually lose perfomance (like the stock non BB one) but suddenly it stopped working (jammed) and is FUBAR.

TY dear Turbine for all the good times we had together for so many Kms. RIP.

Costas

[nissias]

costas i had issues when i had the old TSW wheels but after I installed the Work wheels + the LSD handling became sweet!
maybe you should try some lightweight wheels with an almost stock offset.
i know that the wheel height does also make a difference but i am sure with a good set things should be even better!

[Costas]

Now, I am quite comfortable with the new weels, but if I'll need in the future to change them I will surely consider the Work weels.