Fat Tyres - to be or not to be....

[luke07cupra]

Ok folks, apologies if this has been discussed a squillion times on here:

Can anyone give me the low down on max tyre widths on a Cupra running standard wheels and Eibach Sportlines?

I've read that maybe 235 or at a push 245's without catching wheel arches? Currently running the standard Pirreli tyres but hoping to try some Toyo R888's next time. With stage 2+ imminent, grip is of the essence....

I think it would improve the aesthetics somewhat as i think my Cupra looks rather 'weedy' from the back.

 

[Tfsi_Mike]

Ok folks, apologies if this has been discussed a squillion times on here:

Can anyone give me the low down on max tyre widths on a Cupra running standard wheels and Eibach Sportlines?

I've read that maybe 235 or at a push 245's without catching wheel arches? Currently running the standard Pirreli tyres but hoping to try some Toyo R888's next time. With stage 2+ imminent, grip is of the essence....

I think it would improve the aesthetics somewhat as i think my Cupra looks rather 'weedy' from the back.

I want to try 235's next time round. Would even consider slight / subtle arch worh for 235s and 10mm spacers have 8" et50 chs

Will be good to meet another stage2+ owner at a yorkshire meet sometime as im only from donny...

 

[luke07cupra]

I want to try 235's next time round. Would even consider slight / subtle arch worh for 235s and 10mm spacers have 8" et50 chs

Will be good to meet another stage2+ owner at a yorkshire meet sometime as im only from donny...

So sounds like 235's may be the limit then, ye i think the stance and more importantly the grip would improve somewhat. Is it likely they'll catch the arches then on a lowered car?

Got my exhaust and pump going on in next fortnight, Revo stage 2+ the day after. Ye Donny is only a stones throw from Leeds, you have meets down there?

 

[Tfsi_Mike]

So sounds like 235's may be the limit then, ye i think the stance and more importantly the grip would improve somewhat. Is it likely they'll catch the arches then on a lowered car?

Got my exhaust and pump going on in next fortnight, Revo stage 2+ the day after. Ye Donny is only a stones throw from Leeds, you have meets down there?

Mines wound right down at the min on kw V3's and sometimes under hard cornerin catches on the plastic bit at the top centre (inner plastic) arch

I actually live in germany but come home to donny frequently got 5 weeks at home july Aug. There's the awesome open day think its late aug...

 

[luke07cupra]

Mines wound right down at the min on kw V3's and sometimes under hard cornerin catches on the plastic bit at the top centre (inner plastic) arch

I actually live in germany but come home to donny frequently got 5 weeks at home july Aug. There's the awesome open day think its late aug...

The sportlines i'm looking at drop it 45-50 at the front and 30/35 at the back so pretty low. Wondering now if i should av gone for the 30mm drop all round on the pro kit a i'd really like to try a wider tyre, grip is already a big problem on stage 1. Adding 8 -10mm spacers should surely solve any arch fouling as a 235 tyre is only 10mm wider than original. I can only imagine the car will look masculine with that set up.....


Might have to bob along to the open day then

 

[noktoto]

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59761

It's about mkV Golf but it should be similar in case of 1P.

 

[Bedlam]

Might have to bob along to the open day then

This may be of interest http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?p=2466579#post2466579

 

[luke07cupra]

Anyone else out there got any experience of using 235's on a lowered car? I'm pretty sure i'm going to have to use 8 or 10mm spacers but can't see why there would be a problem once fitted????

 

[RobH]

Am not copying you or anything but i will be opting for 235 tyres next if there are no issues, the tyres i have now will last another 3k hopefully. sportlines will do you just fine mate.

 

[Poverty]

235 shouldnt be a problem, a few cars run this width. 245 is a interesting one though.

I wonder what size the amd essex leon racecars run on.

 

[luke07cupra]

235 shouldnt be a problem, a few cars run this width. 245 is a interesting one though.

I wonder what size the amd essex leon racecars run on.

I thought so, 245's would rock the boat....any grip out there????

 

[depresion]

Extra width dose not give extra grip.

Grip = Coefficient of friction * pressure * area

The pressure = force / area

As the Coefficient of friction of the tyre to road is fixed for a given compound and surface and the force is fixed as the wheel load at a given time you can see that any increase in the contact area for the first equation has an equal and oposite effect on the second. (It's first year degree stuff this, and it should be printed in the media more)

Increasing the width has a couple f benifits though, by spreading the wear you can run tyres that are "softer" as in they have a higher coefficient of friction. Secondly and more importantly for racing which is where the hole "wider is better" thing started in the mis '60s the width to length ratio of a tyre helps to determine the slip angle of the wheel at speed when combined with the stiffness of the sidewall. Wide wheels with wide contact patches are exactly what you need on a car developing it's own weight in downfroce going round Redgate but they won't help you put down the power in a Leon.

 

[luke07cupra]

Extra width dose not give extra grip.

Grip = Coefficient of friction * pressure * area

The pressure = force / area

As the Coefficient of friction of the tyre to road is fixed for a given compound and surface and the force is fixed as the wheel load at a given time you can see that any increase in the contact area for the first equation has an equal and oposite effect on the second. (It's first year degree stuff this, and it should be printed in the media more)

Increasing the width has a couple f benifits though, by spreading the wear you can run tyres that are "softer" as in they have a higher coefficient of friction. Secondly and more importantly for racing which is where the hole "wider is better" thing started in the mis '60s the width to length ratio of a tyre helps to determine the slip angle of the wheel at speed when combined with the stiffness of the sidewall. Wide wheels with wide contact patches are exactly what you need on a car developing it's own weight in downfroce going round Redgate but they won't help you put down the power in a Leon.

!!!!!

I'm chasing a ghost by the sounds of it. Wider tyres will do little more than improve the aesthetics a little

So from reading that a softer compund is the only way to improve grip as it increases the coefficent of friction over the given contact area?

Is there any other way, other than a fancy diff?

 

[RobH]

to be honest diffs arent all that expensive when compared to a milltek tbe which is around the same price and a bet the car would be loads more fun in the twistys.

just wondering with the r888 how long do they last and keep the grip, herd they fall away fast after 3k miles to anyone whos had any experience with them.

 

[luke07cupra]

to be honest diffs arent all that expensive when compared to a milltek tbe which is around the same price and a bet the car would be loads more fun in the twistys.

just wondering with the r888 how long do they last and keep the grip, herd they fall away fast after 3k miles to anyone whos had any experience with them.

Now then Rob.

Ye about £1200 apparently, a quaife diff is £575 but lot of work fitting one.

What did you do down at Awesome that was worthy of a thankyou by Awesome Sarah on here?

 

[RobH]

Now then Rob.

Ye about £1200 apparently, a quaife diff is £575 but lot of work fitting one.

What did you do down at Awesome that was worthy of a thankyou by Awesome Sarah on here?

a light was in the process of melting itself so i fixed it for them. got a nice discount aswell.

 

[jcp]

R888s have a great reputation for grip but require care in cold or wet weather so that and the wear rate make them ideal track day tyres. Fat tyres can give another problem in that if too much wider in proportion to the rim they can give squirmy response as the side walls may lose stiffness unless you fit wider rims. The slightly wider option may look tougher as with spaced wheels.

 

[luke07cupra]

a light was in the process of melting itself so i fixed it for them. got a nice discount aswell.

Good stuff...

What work did you get done then, you go on the RR?

 

[RobH]

Good stuff...

What work did you get done then, you go on the RR?

got the sportlines fitted which are a nice improvment in looks and in the handling department but couldnt get on the rr coz the guy that does it wasnt working as there is a rr day next weekend. all in all nice little trip down the m62

 

[DanGB]

Im running 235's, but thats on 8x18's ET45 and they seem the right size. I probably would not go wider on the standard 7.5 rims than 225's as its the right match.

A quaife is £575 but thats plus the bolt kit and sundries.