Friends,
I've been toying around with a thought for some time...
How big an interest would there be in having a batch of alloy
rims manufactured with the original TR8 design, but with a dia-
meter of 14 [preferably] or 15 inches?
I guess that while trying to keep geometry with the correct
camber, castor and king pin angles as standard, it would still
be possible to increase the width of the rim a bit, to say 6
or 6.5 inches. But when doing this I think the track measurement
of the car would be slightly altered...
If we have them made strictly for personal use and not for sale
then at least the Swedish copyright laws would be possible to
get around. You know the factory never offered [and the probable
current copyright holder BMW/Rover or BMI Heritage does not
appear to be interested in offering] anything but 13" rims so
to have the look of the rim as the "inspiration for another
similar, but _not identical_ product" should not be prohibited.
And I guess this would mean a once - and never ever again -
production run...
With the original tire dimension of 185/70-13 as the datum these
are the dimensions possible to use on the car [staying within
the plus minus 5% rolling circumference that is maximum sensible
change due to speedometer and odometer error etc...] :
145/82-13 566mm diam. 1726mm circumference
On a slightly altered old 3.5" Herald rim this would make a nice,
slim and space saving spare tire, provided the tire load index is
correct...
Tire dim Diam. Circumf. Rim Width Comment
recommendation
205/50-14 562 1714 6.5"
195/60-13 564 1720 6"
(175/70-13 576 1757 5" Used on TR7's)
205/60-13 576 1757 6"
195/50-15 577 1760 6"
185/60-14 578 1763 5.5"
205/50-15 587 1790 6.5"
215/60-13 588 1793 6.5"
185/70-13 590 1800 5.5"
195/60-14 590 1800 6"
215/50-15 597 1821 7"
225/60-13 600 1830 6.5"
205/60-14 602 1836 6"
185/60-15 603 1839 5.5"
195/70-13 604 1842 6"
225/50-15 607 1851 7"
175/80-13 610 1861 5"
235/60-13 612 1867 7"
215/60-14 614 1873 6.5"
195/60-15 615 1876 6"
185/70-14 616 1879 5.5"
205/70-13 618 1885 6"
Another interesting use of a bigger diameter rim is the possi-
bility to use it for "over all gear reduction"... For instance
using any of these tire dimensions below gives roughly the same
engine speed reduction as fitting one [of the very few to find!]
2.84 Rover SD1 rear axle innards... And! It's MUCH cheaper! It
requires a changing of the speedo drive gear to a 20 tooth one.
205/70-14 644 1964 6"
185/70-15 641 1955 5.5"
215/60-15 639 1949 6.5"
I don't know if it would fit in the car, or if the tires needed
is readily available though... Worth a try?
I checked and Rimmers wants UKP 65 [~USD 104] plus transport and
any local taxes for one new original looking rim. Say we have
a batch done for double that price - how many rims would be in
the order? I myself would order at least four, probably five...
What do You all think? Wouldn't it be nice to keep the original
look but be able to use modern lower profile tires? Any comments
welcome...
Regards
/Odd
--
Odd Hedberg
Pomonagatan 4 International liaison secretary,
S-74236 Östhammar Triumph Club of Sweden
Sweden '70 Spitfire Mk3 FD82497LO Signal Red
'80 TR8 EFi DHC TPZDV8AT211468 Midas Gold
E-mail: odd@triumphclub.se / odd.hedberg@bigfoot.com
Club URL: http://www.triumphclub.se/index.htm
Home Phone/Fax: Int+ 46-1731 7131 / 46-1731 8131
Geographical Position: N 60deg 15min E 18deg 23min
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