15" wheels on a Stradale LB?

Hi all
As the months slowly (so slowly!) pass by until I take delivery of the kit, I've been putting plenty of thought into getting all the donor bits and bobs sorted, so I'm ready to start in earnest when it arrives.

I'm going to be building a lime green Stradale.

I think I'm right in saying that Craig supplies wheels in 16 and 17", but Hawk will still supply 15" wheels. I seem to remember that the white LB over in the States has been fitted with 15" Hawk wheels, so it would appear that caliper clearance etc at the front isn't an issue.

The question is - will 15" wheels comfortably clear at the rear too? What tyre size is the limit front and rear (not sure how wide Gerry's wheels are)?

As it's going to look reasonably 'original' from first impressions, I'm keen on keeping the tyres as 'chunky' looking as the originals, rather than fit larger diameter wheels with lower profile tyres on, which, in my opinion, doesn't look quite the same!

Pic attached is of a genuine car with 15" wheels of an unknown origin shod with Michelin TB15 tyres!

Attachment 10781

Hello
There is another brand of wheel you can fit onto your LB ; just have a chat with Craig ..... he have another source for 15" wheels
I have recently watched those on a car being achieved and they lok very very nice ( from what I know they are also slightly lighter than Compomotive ones)
And probably they fit perfectly LB brakes as they are done with LB specifications with another interesting option ; they can be ordered to bespoke colors

Just check also on FB page I remind have watched those on pics showing that specific car being built ( Ferrari engine one):

LB FB page copyrightAttachment 10782

I don't know about coffin spoke wheels but my original 15" Compmotive Transformer/Hawk wheels clear my 12" AP racing disk and calipers..... (front and back)

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Originally Posted by Lancialulu

I don't know about coffin spoke wheels but my original 15" Compmotive Transformer/Hawk wheels clear my 12" AP racing disk and calipers..... (front and back)

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It really depends on the inner profile of the wheel rim, the depth of the disc bell/position of the brake disc, the size and shape of the caliper etc etc etc.
That said the Hawk coffin spokes offer the best brake caliper clearance of all the coffin spokes wheels I have fitted (Hawk/Roin/Marvic&LB)

This is the diagram that Craig sent me to make comparison, LB on the left, Hawk on the right.

(see below) Craig, duly noted thank you

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Originally Posted by Griff

This is the diagram that Craig sent me to make comparison, LB on the left, Hawk on the right.

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To clarify, this is a wheel sizing diagram for a GP4 Hawk. The RH side shows the Gp4 Hawk rear wheel installed onto the Hawk suspension, the LH side shows the LB wheel fitted to the same suspension with a view to ensuring the wheels ordered fit within the confines of the wheel arches thus maximising suspension movement so as not to compromise the ride quality, performance & handling of the car.
Richards question is regarding an LB Stradale which would be a different diagram altogether.

Hi,
I have built a LB with the 17/16 inch combination and yes it is awesome, its very difficult thinking about what you want to build as there are so many options, I opted for a red car with gold/mustard wheels and round group 4 arches and so in many ways I played it safe but not in other ways ie engine/gearbox, however what I ended up with I consider very special and is still in my eyes the most beautiful car I have ever seen and I fall in love every time I enter the garage (I have a mirror at the far end :-)). If I was building again I would build a Kawasaki green stradale with 15 inch wheels, keep it simple, LHD with no heater or air con and as you simply don't need them, in a Toyota engine car anyway with modern insulation etc, dont believe what you read about these cars as the listerbell is a different animal, has to be said 15 inch wheels just look right but the tyre cost is just ridiculous,but with the right suspension and ride height etc !!! there are some incredible cars out there being build and about to be built, the quality of the Listerbell product and whats being done with it is stunning, I am sure yours will be one of them. Personally I am very excited to see them. My advice is think very carefully about what you want before you order it and get it right.
Rob

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Originally Posted by ironman523

Hi,
I have built a LB with the 17/16 inch combination and yes it is awesome, its very difficult thinking about what you want to build as there are so many options, I opted for a red car with gold/mustard wheels and round group 4 arches and so in many ways I played it safe but not in other ways ie engine/gearbox, however what I ended up with I consider very special and is still in my eyes the most beautiful car I have ever seen and I fall in love every time I enter the garage (I have a mirror at the far end :-)). If I was building again I would build a Kawasaki green stradale with 15 inch wheels, keep it simple, LHD with no heater or air con and as you simply don't need them, in a Toyota engine car anyway with modern insulation etc, dont believe what you read about these cars as the listerbell is a different animal, has to be said 15 inch wheels just look right but the tyre cost is just ridiculous,but with the right suspension and ride height etc !!! there are some incredible cars out there being build and about to be built, the quality of the Listerbell product and whats being done with it is stunning, I am sure yours will be one of them. Personally I am very excited to see them. My advice is think very carefully about what you want before you order it and get it right.
Rob

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Rob, I completely agree with all your comments. I'm only 25 but from a young age I've always wanted to have a green Stradale Stratos. You're absolutely right with your comment to think carefully about what you want before you commit - I bought Denys Jones' Pirelli Hawk a few years ago, and whilst it was an excellent car, the Pirelli scheme was never really to my taste on a round wheelarch car. I suppose it's one of the reasons I decided to sell it, along with the fact I needed the money to plough into my classic car business.

In an ideal world, I'd have a car on 15" wheels, but looking at tyre availability etc, it might be more sensible to go with the 16s. I've seen a couple of pictures of LB Stradale cars with 16" wheels and I think they do look OK. I'll have to wait until I see one in the flesh before I can fully decide, though. But it's difficult to make a Stradale car look 'right' unless the ride height, tyre sidewall depth etc is spot on! There are plenty of well-made Hawks out there that are ruined by bad wheels/tyres/ride height combo.

Rich

You could always go with the 8" wide LB coffin spokes front and rear, that would give you a wider range of tyre choices. The 9" rears are a bit limited for choice (well, down here anyway). Having said that I do prefer the look of the wider rears on the Stradale. Just a thought.

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Originally Posted by ah_sprite

The question is - will 15" wheels comfortably clear at the rear too? What tyre size is the limit front and rear (not sure how wide Gerry's wheels are)?

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215 section Michelin TB for the front. Hawk coffin spoke fronts are 8x15.
You can fit 270 TB15s to 8x15 wheels, but they're really not suited (too wide for the rim).
There are gaps in the TB15 range that could be filled with the greater width range of TB5 and P7 Corsa, but those two tyres types are more 'semi slick'.

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Originally Posted by ah_sprite

As it's going to look reasonably 'original' from first impressions, I'm keen on keeping the tyres as 'chunky' looking as the originals, rather than fit larger diameter wheels with lower profile tyres on, which, in my opinion, doesn't look quite the same!

Pic attached is of a genuine car with 15" wheels of an unknown origin shod with Michelin TB15 tyres!

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The green car in the photo has Marvics, 8x15 front and 9x15 rears.
The rear tyres on the green car are definitely 270 section TB15.

Nothing looks worse than same size rims front and back on a stradale. Marvic is the way to go or anyone else making an 8/9 inch combo. Get saving!

In case of any decision for Marvic wheels just know that I can help with good contact :rolleyes:
Be aware only that they are magnesium wheels and in Italy so ; price in relation , shipping , and delivery schedule if they do not have your dimensions in stock !!!
Otherwise they are something like 9 to 11 kgs less than any aluminium ones !!!!!!! 40 kgs !!!not that bad .....:o

This is my favourite look for a Stradale arched Stratos.
8x15" Marvics and 215 TB15s front, 9x15" Marvics rear with 270 TB15s:
http://www.miataclubphilippines.com/...s[1].3.jpg

Afraid my budget simply doesn't stretch that far! I'll wait and see a LB Stradale on 16s all round and then panic from then ;)

Here's my LB Stradale having a rare trip outside a couple of weeks ago, sorry it's not more of a profile shot but you kind of get the idea of how the wheels look.

Car looks great Paul! But, I'll have to ask a moderator to remove your picture. It's way too sunny and making this Brit doubly brassed off with the UK weather!

Ha ha, sorry about that! We've only had a few great days this summer, the rest have been fantastic! Actually it's been pretty unsettled recently, our summer doesn't seem to start until Feb now, there's still time for you to get here for the good weather.

I'd love to do that Paul. One on the bucket list.

Looks good, Paul! I'll remember that picture this winter when I'm lying on my back on the floor of my workshop at -5°...!

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Originally Posted by Fingers

Here's my LB Stradale having a rare trip outside a couple of weeks ago, sorry it's not more of a profile shot but you kind of get the idea of how the wheels look.

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Looks very pretty with those wheels !!!

Richard,

If I was in your position, I'd be going for the 16" LB coffin spokes.

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Originally Posted by ProtoTipo

Richard,

If I was in your position, I'd be going for the 16" LB coffin spokes.

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I agree totally with Chris ; it's the more resonable choice !!!
They are avaible , suit to the suspension , affordable tyres ......

Richard, If your on a budget get a set of Minilites for now, then save up for coffin spokes if you really have to have them.

Mel

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Originally Posted by ProtoTipo

Richard,

If I was in your position, I'd be going for the 16" LB coffin spokes.

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Well that's a role reversal! There's me suggesting 15's with TB15's in the 215/270 combination on Roin wheels :cool:

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Originally Posted by Strat Fan

Well that's a role reversal! There's me suggesting 15's with TB15's in the 215/270 combination on Roin wheels :cool:

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That's more or less what I had on the orange Prototype Hawk, but Richard can't afford them.
Personally, I can cope with the 16" LBs. The proportions look right, and the extra 1" isn't nearly as obvious as the 17" (I know the 17" are group 4 only).
I don't really like the 8x15" Hawk coffin spoke on the rear. 'Fine on the front.
It's that depth on the radius thing, but that's just me. Although John H. doesn't seem to like them all round either.
Photo of 8x15 Hawk on 215 TB15 and 9x15 Mavic on 270 TB15:

Photo of when it had 8x15 Hawk wheels all round:

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Originally Posted by mel lewis

Richard, If your on a budget get a set of Minilites for now, then save up for coffin spokes if you really have to have them.

Mel

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Genuine mag style Minilites.
8x15 5x108:
& 8x15 4x98 (both in Minilite supplied silver and gold coatings)

Minilites look good - especially the silver (but then Minilites have always looked good!)

I think Marcolinos 8 and 9 X 15 Campagnolo from group 4 wheels with TB15 (215/55/15) look's also not so bad!

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Originally Posted by Fiat 131 Abarth#2

I think Marcolinos 8 and 9 X 15 Campagnolo from group 4 wheels with TB15 (215/55/15) look's also not so bad!

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It's that car again!

I'm guessing PAG wheels are still too much money for Richard?

'Just to complete the picture. Here's the Compomotive split rims it started life with:

Or 8" Minilite front and 8" Revolution rear............
I don't recommend Revolutions, not enough caliper space, but I can't afford 10 new wheels as well as the new calipers!

Who'd have thought a simple question about wheels could have prompted 4 pages of discussion? ;) I mean 'wheelie'.

Thanks for all the replies - going decide once I've seen a completed Stradale LB in the flesh, I think! Having seen Paul's pic, they don't look quite as oversized as I thought they might, so we'll see!

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Originally Posted by ChrisCar6

Or 8" Minilite front and 8" Revolution rear............

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Your fronts are 7" Chris.

He can tell that just from the photo y'know. The man's a legend!
:D

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Originally Posted by ChrisCar6

He can tell that just from the photo y'know. The man's a legend!
:D

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Well that, and it was me that sold you them!

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Originally Posted by ProtoTipo

That's more or less what I had on the orange Prototype Hawk, but Richard can't afford them.

Photo of 8x15 Hawk on 215 TB15 and 9x15 Mavic on 270 TB15:

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I like the proportion of the 215/275 combination & logically a wider tyre on the rear makes a huge amount of sense when combined with the weight distribution & reputation of a Stratos. A 255 size rear would probably be optimum but it doesn't exist so the 275 will have to suffice. I do however feel that on your Hawk Chris the rear wheel protruded just a little too far & would have caused an issue had the car had to go through an IVA test, the car had the same issue when the PAG wheels were fitted but only with the rims in this case. Whether this was due to the wheel offsets used or the slightly wider rear track of the Hawk vs the Lancia I am not sure.
Attachment 10825

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Originally Posted by Strat Fan

I do however feel that on your Hawk Chris the rear wheel protruded just a little too far & would have caused an issue had the car had to go through an IVA test, the car had the same issue when the PAG wheels were fitted but only with the rims in this case. Whether this was due to the wheel offsets used or the slightly wider rear track of the Hawk vs the Lancia I am not sure.

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The test wasn't an issue, and I thought it looked spot on.
Omicron Stradale runs even wider 10x15" rear coffin spokes, which must be at least as wide, if not wider than a Hawk with 9" rears? Here:
https://drive-my.com/images/mews2015...Stradale-5.jpg

From the back:

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Originally Posted by Strat Fan

or the slightly wider rear track of the Hawk vs the Lancia I am not sure.

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Is that why 12" coffin spokes are marginal on round arched Hawks?
Alan (Skelly's) extensions, for example.

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Originally Posted by ProtoTipo

The test wasn't an issue, and I thought it looked spot on.
Omicron Stradale runs even wider 10x15" rear coffin spokes, which must be at least as wide, if not wider than a Hawk with 9" rears? Here:
https://drive-my.com/images/mews2015...Stradale-5.jpg

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IVA or SVA? The SVA only looked at the wheel rims, the IVA takes the tyres into account aswell. A rear 3/4 shot or from directly above would clarify. The original Compomotive split rims fitted to the car look to feel the arches really nicely, more so than the 9" Sparwald rims. IMHO
On the Omicron car despite being a 10" wheel the rear rim looks to be no more than flush with the arch and the tyre is stretched a little on the rim which pulls it back in under the arch subtly. The stance of that car is as good as it gets for a Stradale, I prefer the spoke design of the 9" wheel though. What the tyre size I don't know, I can't make it from the pictures.
The yellow Stradale with the 9" rear wheel also sits really well. The 9" wheel with the extra 20/25mm of outer rim is the optimum look for a Stradale IMHO