Possible Wheel Mod

[Old smart]

Would the owner of a new 451 check the clearance between their front outer tire sidewall and the outer face of the fender cutout?

My interest is, if the front tire sidewall were 11.5mm (7/16”) further out than the stock 155/60 tire would it still be inside the face of the fender. The reason I ask is it may be in my mind to use a second pair of stock 175/55TR-15 tires on 5.5J-15 rims (the current OEM rear setup) on the front. Considering the additional width of the tire and the sight difference in offset between the 4.5J-15 front rims and the 5.5J-15 rear rims, the outer sidewall will be extended 11.5mm.

This to put a little more “meat” on the road forward, and give me a full set of tires that can be rotated in the normal fashion (side-to-side, front-to-back). One of the original 155/60s and 4.5Js will be kept as a garage spare.

We know that the Euro pulse model uses the same 175/55 on the front, but the front 6-spoke rims have a 34mm offset to keep the outer sidewall in the same relative position as the 155. May be a regulatory thing. That would also argue that there is ample space within the wheel well for a 175.

Yet to be determined is, will the rear 5.5J spokes clear the front brake calipers?

[SmartPassion]

Originally Posted by fishrdnc

Yet to be determined is, will the rear 5.5J spokes clear the front brake calipers?

If the rear wheels are larger, why wouldn't it clear the front calipers?

[Karl Roth]

If I get the car long enough from she who must be obeyed I will try the rear wheel and tire up front to check for clearance. The front dampers are very soft and there is quite a bit of roll on the rear axle. backing up in a grit covered parking lot had the fronts sliding as weight transfered back on braking. It will never be a Caterham, you have to admit the weather protection is a lot better. a light tap on the left pedal seems to help load the fronts to help turn in. The feel is very much old VW.
Cheers karl

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by SmartPassion

If the rear wheels are larger, why wouldn't it clear the front calipers?

As it is, it only has to clear the rear drums. I'm not thinking inside diameter, but lateral clearance.

[Old smart]

Karl,

Thanks for the offer.

I don't want to completely kill the understeer; it is a bit of a safety feature for someone not used to oversteer (like my who must be obeyed). And 175 is as much as I care to go front or rear. When I first got the Caterham it was fitted with 195/50-15s on the "Prisoner" rims. I got rid of them within two months for 185/60-14s on (real) Minilites. The 195s made the car feel ponderous, and worse, at only 1200 lbs with full road gear, it hydroplaned terribly. On 185s the car felt much livelier, and they eliminated the breathtaking experiences in the rain.

The smart is quite a bit heavier than the Seven, but I would still be wary of hydroplaning on fat Gucci skins.

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by Old smart

Karl,

Thanks for the offer.

I don't want to completely kill the understeer; it is a bit of a safety feature for someone not used to oversteer (like my who must be obeyed). And 175 is as much as I care to go front or rear. When I first got the Caterham it was fitted with 195/50-15s on the "Prisoner" rims. I got rid of them within two months for 185/60-14s on (real) Minilites. The 195s made the car feel ponderous, and worse, at only 1200 lbs with full road gear, it hydroplaned terribly. On 185s the car felt much livelier, and they eliminated the breathtaking experiences in the rain.

The smart is quite a bit heavier than the Seven, but I would still be wary of hydroplaning on fat Gucci skins.

no problem I am as curious as you at the moment. Lots of things to shift to get an open bay in a friends shop but plan to put lil Bogger on scales to get corner weights. Have to re level them on the floor the fixture is too long.
Did you get you car from Sevens & Elans?

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by Karl Roth

... Did you get you car from Sevens & Elans?

Yup. It came to me as a strict road car, but left as a Caterham Motorsports East (Chip Bond, GT Classics) "clubman" - maybe 30% road and 70% track.

[Karl Roth]

sweet, been toying with the idea of building a locost out of some miata bits I already own. If I had a brain a kitchen remodel is # 1. "if"
karl

[lilsmart]

Old Smart,
I just came in from the garage. I got my car 2 days ago and this is the first chance I've had to try the rear wheels on the front. They fit fine with no clearance issues. The side wall is about even with the fender edge and looks fine. You can see a noticable difference from the stock rim. Gives the car a slightly wider look. My thought right now is to get a different style rim (I hate the 9 spokers) but keep the 15" size. The roads here in NY are not as smooth as other parts of the country and the lower profile tires might kill the ride. I'm going to do 175/55R/15's on the front and 195/50/15's for the rear. I'll let you know how this works out.

[SMART]

FYI: Here are the 9 spoke wheel measurements

Front 4.5” ET 23.5 3x112.5mm 155/60/15
Rear 5.5” ET 22 3x112.5mm 175/55/15