Rocket Wheel Size

[fossie]

Does anyone have any advice on wheel/tyre size for a rocket. I plan to use it mainly fast road with occasional track use - does it cope with track use on regular rubber or does it justify a set of 888's?

Feedback on speedo's (not to be confused with the ones you wear by the pool in benidorm...)would also be useful - has anyone ever manipulated the focus set-up into the rocket dash, thus utilising the original loom?

[mabbs]

As far as I am aware, (please correct me if I am wrong) 15" are the smallest you will fit and 18" the biggest. One of the main factors is weight. For instance, a light weight 15 x 7 wheel can be obtained at around 6kg each but an 17" or 18" wheel will be well over 10kg each. In a 500 kg car thats getting on for minimum 20kg just for the wheels, and dont forget the weight difference in the tyres !! Another factor is the tyre cost. 888's are expensive in 15" let alone going bigger - and they dont last long !!

I think 16" is a good compromise but 17" for me personally look the best. Rolling overall diameter can be calibrated on a digi dash and the larger the diameter the bigger top speed and smaller diameter the quicker acceleration.

I personally will be going the 15" route with a 7J on the front and 8J on the rears for tyre width. (importing from the US)

[fossie]

Cheers Mabbs

[mattsmev]

Hi fossie

I am budget limited, so i have stuck with 15" wheels. I use 195/50 R15 which are quite affordable. I have two sets of wheels. Toyo Proxes on decent rims for road use and Toyo R888 on second hand rims for track days. That way i get to use up all of the rubber on the R888's without having to worry about driving home with bold tyres and my Proxes last a long time as I am not ripping them up on the track

Cheers

Mattsmev

[carbonbob]

I have tried to fit the origial wheels from the Focus they are 15" they seem to fit the fronts but are catching the rear uprights at the top is this just the focus wheels or have you trimmed the top corners of the uprights to give them clearance the focus alloys atre quite tidy and i was going to use them for now till funds have recovered but am now wondering if its possible !

[mattsmev]

I have rounded of the square threaded part of the upper wishbone, and my wheels do jam if i jack the car up and the suspension goes to full droop, so the clearance is close. it's not the back plate that give trouble its the upper wishbone.

After 6000miles and lots of track days i have only got a tiny bit of scoring where the wheels have rubbed just a little bit. If your wheels are a bit thinker than mine that will give a problem i guess.

Cheers

Mattsmev

[Tim Kerr]

I just got a set of team dynamics monza R rims. 15". They don't rub at all even at full droop. Although I will probably round off mine like Matt suggested.

Got a bargain off eBay! 5 monza R rims not even had tires on them for £130! Can't beat that!

Now to decide what size of rubber to put on and what make!