Twin cam original wheels

[Pfreen]

I was playing around with the idea of getting a quote on alternate diameter Lotus alloys with the tapered lug nut attachment.

I did a comparison of the sizes and tire availability.  I am only talking about the tc, since I don’t know anything about the S1 and S2 cars.

If the 205/60-13 R and 185/60-13 F are the desired tire sizes, then the closest sizes in 14” would be 205/55-14 and 185/55-14.  Unfortunately, there were only two tires on Tirerack available in 205/55-14 and two in the 185/55-14

However, there are many many tire options in 195/50-15 and 205/50-15 sizes.
For reference

The stock 185/70-13 dia is 23.2 and the width is 7.3”
The stock 175/70-13 dia 22.6” and the width is 6.9”

The 205/60-13 dia is 22.7” and the width is 8.1”
The 205/50-15 dia is 23.1 and the width is 8.1”

The 185/60-13 dia is 21.7” and the width is 7.3”
The 195/50–15 dia is 22.7” and the width is 7.7”

I have read on the forum that others have run the 205/50-15 and 195/50-15 combination without clearance issues.

Do others agree that 5.5” wide by 15” wheels are the best option to remake Lotus alloys?

I know the bolt circle is  4x 3.75”.  I don’t know the offset of the standard Lotus alloy wheel.  Does anyone out there know?

There are a number of companies out there that make custom wheels.  I will just put a bid spec together and see what the cost would be.

[Pfreen]

The problem with tires is there are few cars with 13” wheels.  In 1986 when I bought my Europa, there were dozens of tire options.  Now, not so many.  In 5 years, who knows?

[literarymadness]

I have low profile tires now. 205/60-13 on the rear and 185/60-13 on the front.  But my speedometer if off because it was factory calibrated for 70 series/13 tires.  The base wheel on any new small car today (Honda Fit, Mini Cooper, Ford Fiesta ect.) is a 15" rim. And even those new small cars today can be "factory" optioned with a 16" or even a 17". A 15" wheel for the Europa would guarantee tire availability in a variety of driving applications for the next 50 years. 

[BDA]

If you are unwilling or unable to go to a bigger wheel, there are some tire vendors that cater to vintage cars. For example: https://www.performanceplustire.com and https://simpletire.com/.

I think 15" wheels are the best option otherwise. The selection is a lot better, I'm not aware of any interference issues, and there is more room for better brakes. I have 205/50-15 on the rear and they are very close in diameter to the stock 185/70-13. I should say that I have noticed some variability in what is available for even 15" wheels but even with that variability, the availability is still much better than for 13" wheels.

[EuropaTC]

Do others agree that 5.5” wide by 15” wheels are the best option to remake Lotus alloys?
I know the bolt circle is  4x 3.75”.  I don’t know the offset of the standard Lotus alloy wheel.  Does anyone out there know?

Tim Engel has been quite helpful on this in the past, from one of his posts;

Offset directly affects the scrub radius, and that's one of the more important dimensions that affects steering precision, feel and feedback. People tend to blow-off offset like it doesn't matter, but it does... more than width.

+1.094" (+27.8 mm) = Lotus steel wheel offset
+0.984" (+25.0 mm) = 15x6" Rota RB alloy (Minilite clone) offset
+0.812" (+20.6 mm) = Triumph Spitfire Mk IV steel wheel offset
+0.637" (+16.2 mm) = Lotus alloy wheel offset
. . . . . . . . . .= 0.457" (11.6 mm) larger scrub radius
+0.630" (+16.0 mm) = 13x6" Panasport alloy wheel offset

Mine are 15x6J, 30mm offset and run 205/50 & 195/50 tyres which is pretty much bang on the diameters of the OEM 185/70x13 & 175/70x13. Clearance is plenty on the rear, "tight but do-able" on the front.

[literarymadness]

Once again Europa TC: Thanks for that great info! Twice you've helped me in the same week.  I just wish that someone would make a 15" that looks like the Lotus Brand 13" OEM.  You and BDA's tire set-up really is the way to go. I love my Toyo Proxes R888R 205/60R-13 rear and 185/60R-13 front but I know I the same tire in a larger size would handle better.  Is there anybody else besides me that would buy a Lotus Brand style alloy wheel in a size 15"?

[BDA]

I'm not in the market for wheels but I agree with you 'madness. A 15" wheel makes more sense but it would require a little more design work than 13" wheels would and as Brian suggested, it would probably be a short run and profitability might be challenging.

Having said that, I'd love to see it and hopefully it would be financially feasible.

[Pfreen]

I think I have the info to put together a bid package.  We’ll see how the price turns out.
Does anyone want to guess at how many would buy a set at say $1000?

[BDA]

Thinking about it some more, I think it makes more sense to make 15" wheels than 13" wheels. There would probably be few who want new 13" wheels but there are probably a lot more who would want to upgrade to 15" wheels.

[literarymadness]

The Europas I have seen with 15" rims really look incredible.  They have a slightly modern edge look without losing any of the original vintage appeal. BDA's car and Europa TC's are case in point. They both look great.  There are a few that are wearing 15" Panasports on the forum that also look great. A 15" works well without spoiling the integrity of the design. I think the Lotus Brand style would also crossover well in a 15".

[Pfreen]

Ok everyone. I need to ballpark the quantity to get a quote.  Please everyone, who would be interested in a set of 15” Lotus style rims.
Thanks

[Bart]

Hi,

I'd be up for a set of 4.

Thanks,

Bart.

[jbcollier]

This thread is now officially a mess..  Does Bart want 4 original wheels as per the first post in this thread?  Or 4 of Mr P. Freen's wheels?

Please do not hijack threads.  Start a new one and avoid confusion.

[Pfreen]

Jb.  There are so many things I could say to you but I won’t.

If anybody is interested in Lotus 15” wheels, please contact me.  I will be getting a quote.

I have tried over the past years (since 2016) on this forum to pass on what I have learned about my Lotus Europa during my 34 years of Lotus ownership and 42 years as an automotive engine engineer.

However, social media is not my place. 

Good luck everyone with your cars.  I will be happy to talk to anyone on the forum individually if they want to and help where I can.  Just not in this format.

[literarymadness]

I don't see how it would appear to anybody that this thread was high-jacked. Lotus Supplies posed the question is there a demand for reproduction Lotus Brand wheels. Some commented the demand was too small to be practical, while others like myself felt it might be more practical to reproduce the Lotus Brand in a larger size and one without the drawbacks of the original. If "Lotus Supplies" could do that great, but if they did not then perhaps it would be possible to seek an alternative solution. Which Pfreen did! But to insult Pfreen in a accusatory manner was unnecessary and unjustifiable.  This forum lost a knowledgeable and helpful member over something that seems rooted in dispirited animosity for reasons unknown.