[Damienedwards]

So I tried a set of spare 20x8 wheels from my 300c on the Ampera at the weekend......

They share the same bolt pattern 115/5 but have a wildly different offset of 24mm compared to the Ampera's 38mm. Bottom line was they stuck out way too far and past the bodywork........ Instant MOT fail!!! Will post up a couple of pics though once I put them on photobucket.......Would also need 35 profile tyres which would be crippling!!!

So I think my choice is going to be 18x8s which I have found a few from Fondmetal with the correct 38mm offset.

Also on plan is having my lithium white roof painted gloss black along with the front and rear grey bumper plastics being done in gloss black..........

Now off to choose some wheels!!

 

[Damienedwards]

I'm 35 Paul and still pretending I'm young!! I don't think I've ever owned a private car and left it standard!! All from the days when I was 18 and bought a Sierra Cosworth..... Yes those were the days!!

Parax, I'm unsure yet...... Getting quotes this weekend for both......

 

[Damienedwards]

That's a really good point......Didn't think about the aerial....... I also have no idea how the roof channel covers come off..... Not sure if they slide off with tailgate open or just pull off........ Had a quick look and they seem to be mounted vary well!!

 

[Damienedwards]

So after loads of searching......... Wolfrace pro lite and eco lites seem to be the way forward at just over 9kg for an 18x8 with a 40mm offset....... Off to Wheelmania in Coventry tomorrow to check them out.......

 

[Damienedwards]

OK so skipped the pro lites as they just did not look right on the car..............so here is the final result on 8x19s!!!

 

[Damienedwards]

Ok so some info........they are the Decorrus wheel by Calibre wheels......they are actually a 114.3 PCD and although people do just mount these to 115 PCD as in the Ampera i used the so called Wobbly bolts.........terrible name with my engineering background!!! I find them perfectly acceptable however as they are only takung up in this case .35mm of stud/nut to alloy offset........got them from Wheelmania in Birmingham who also stock the most important thing.....70.3mm hub spigot rings........in the end i went for a 45mm offset 7mm away from the standard 38mm.......would have preffered the 40mm offset versions but think they would scrub the inner arch with a full load of passengers......to my utter suprise and being dubious from previous cars and messing with offsets the car drives perfectly.......even with the 245 width tyres!!!! A little stiffer but no tramlining or twitchy steering........really chuffed.

The only thing i may change in the near future is to a slightly narrower 235/40 r19 just because of the theoretical lower rolling resistence and the closer overall diameter to standard............the price of the alloys......and tyres..........£865!!!!! Including fitting balancing.....new chrome nuts and even removing the old tpms sensors and fitting to the new wheels..........i was extatic!!!!

Will report back over the next week how it effects the charge range.

Damien

 

[Damienedwards]

One concerning thing was the old Michellins that were taken off........two of the four had "egg" bulges on the inside walls!!! They tyre fitter also said that they had the thinnest sidewall of any tyre he had ever fitted!!