16" wheels?

[BDA]

I would tell you how I came to my offsets and widths but frankly, I wouldn't recommend my method.

Here are some thoughts about it after my mistakes:
I seem to remember that when I mentioned to Richard Winter (at Banks) that he gave me the impression that I didn't need tires that big (195/50-15 & 205/50-15). I think that's true however, I think the wider tires look better (especially on the rear).

Wider wheels (within the limits of the tire size) are better but narrower wheels (again, within the limits of the tire size) probably don't hurt much. The implications of this are that according to the chart below, I COULD have gotten away with my 205s on a 5 1/2" wide wheel (stock width for Brand Lotus wheel).

In case EuropaTC doesn't chime in, I'm pretty sure he has MG-TF wheels which from what I can tell are either 6Jx15 ET28 or 7Jx15 ET28 which means 6" or 7" wide with an offset of 28mm. My understanding is that he has no clearance issues but I don't want to speak for him.

Here are some sites that might help:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIqR8EQLISc          (you're going to need an actual car for this)
http://www.etmags.com/pdf_download_documents/tire_chart_2010.pdf

[TurboFource]

BDA,
It's gotta look the part!

It will probably have nice wheels and tires with real patina when TCST is back on the road

[BDA]

I'm confident that you will make her look the part! What kind of wheels are you considering?

[EuropaTC]

In case EuropaTC doesn't chime in, I'm pretty sure he has MG-TF wheels which from what I can tell are either 6Jx15 ET28 or 7Jx15 ET28 which means 6" or 7" wide with an offset of 28mm. My understanding is that he has no clearance issues but I don't want to speak for him.

Yes, mine are 15x6" MGF wheels, conveniently at the right PCD. Tech details here;

http://mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/suspension/wheel_options_for_the_mgf.htm

Clearance at the rear is no problem with 205/50, at the front (195/50) it is very tight on full lock against the front of the footwell (rear of wheel arch). Radiator clearance is fine, normal driving is fine.

I'm sure you don't need such wide tyres but as BDA says, it looks nice and I don't honestly feel I've wrecked the way the car drives. The Elise, about the same weight, uses even wider tyres.

Brian

[TurboFource]

BDA,

Rota RBs

[BDA]

That should look great! I don't expect that you'll have any trouble getting the size, bolt pattern, etc. that you want but if you do, Panasport (http://www.panasport.com/street.html) and Minilite (https://www.minilitewheels.us/styles) make similar wheels.

[TurboFource]

BDA,
I saw the Rota's on a beautiful TR6 a couple of months ago, it belonged to one of the owners of a restoration shop about an hour up the road. He recommended the Rota's, he said they run true and are very well balanced. He prefers them over the VTO's they have on another car. Plus the Rota's are about half the price of Panasports.....

[BDA]

They sound like a great choice! I don’t have any experience with any of those and didn’t know the prices. I just mentioned them in case they might be a good option.