Black MK2

[Alan D.]

That could also be the reason Alan is always complaining about the ride in his Midas, 45 no-profile=harsh ride, sensible 60 series profile= nice comfortable ride sometimes the past was better [/quote]

A Statement of utter rubbish, It's lack of suspension travel that's the problem with my particular hydro-gas front suspension. Don't knock if you haven't tried it. I started out with the standard tires. I can only say, that the car was vastly improved with these particular tires. One of the main advantages, being that the tires no longer caught on the bodywork as the taller profile tires do. Which is one of the main reasons I tried them. I have also tried the suspension pumped up with higher pressure and with lower pressure, all to no avail. They also seem to be a better quality tire than the norm. I worked as an engineer in the Pirelli factory in Carlisle so I am well versed in tire construction. Yes, there is a reduction in the diameter, but I achieve 52 MPG on run, so I don't think it is that critical!

Alan

[Stuart]

This car reminds me of your car



It is the current fashion to have a car that is that low as to be almost undriveable on any road that isn't completely smooth and flat, they sacrifice ride and handling for the look

[wolfie]

Nothing wrong with that ride height. Mine's pretty much the same but with 14" alloys

[Geoff Butcher]

What's your rim width, Alan?

[Alan D.]

Nothing wrong with that ride height. Mine's pretty much the same but with 14" alloys

Hi Wolfie,

I would be interested to know how you have done your 14". I'm looking to do 14" on a future project, hopefully using Rover 200 wheels, as I already have the hubs. I can make the rears discs work, but not sure about the fronts, until I pull the Rover 200 hubs apart. It may not work with the fronts, but I can try!

Alan

[Alan D.]

What's your rim width, Alan?

I think they are 5.5inch wide.

As I said earlier I tried this 45 profile as the front tires were rubbing on the wheel arch. It's a compromise, but I was pretty pleased with the results. I've altered the rear spring rate to 75lbs and increased the rear ride height a little and it is better again. I intend to re-look at the front suspension when the current building project is finished. Stuart is correct, I feel as though I could do with a little more front suspension movement. But I must have driven about 6000 miles with it like this and it has been OK, but I'm always looking for improvement, so I will keep experimenting. Someone once said a Kit car is never finished!

Regards Alan

[Stuart]

Stick a Metro turbo wheel on for comparison and you'll realise why you have the rubbing issue with tyres taller than 45-series.

[Alan D.]

Stick a Metro turbo wheel on for comparison and you'll realise why you have the rubbing issue with tyres taller than 45-series.

But I don't have any Metro turbo wheels, so I have to make do with what I have! These wheels were supplied new to the car by GTM. The C dimension is 115mm, what is the Metro turbo C dimension?

Alan

[Stuart]

When you see George one day borrow one of his wheels, Turbo wheels have @ 130 mm C-dimension, and yours still look more like 95 mm to me given the way they fill the arches, don't get me wrong I think they look great along with the ride height, however the wheel arches on a Midas just aren't suited to that wheel position.

[manifold]

The backspace for a Midas Gold Mk3, using a 5.5 inch wheel should be 128mm so turbo wheels are very close.

The backspace is the space between the mating face on the wheel to the hub up to the back of the rim (use a straight edge).

If it works for you Alan I wouldn't worry about it. Its only if it is rubbing the arches I would worry. Obviously if it's a 6 inch wheel thats 6.3 or so mm extra each way....so take that into consideration in your calcs.

More backspace equals less load on the wheel bearings....as well as a change in suspension geometry.

I've widened the track slightly on my rear subframes, but the backspace is still the same as a metro so I am probably in the same ball park as you now Alan for overall track width. No rubbing issues for me.

Front wheels is probably more critical as the travel of the upright has a lot of angles in it....but in a real life on the public roads scenario we mostly drive in straight lines at speed don't we?