Technical Alfa wheels

[Jimmy punto]

Hello ladies and gentlemen of the punto forum.
I require your help with some alfa alloys. I'm looking at getting some teledials from a 145 cloverleaf with tyre profiles of 195-55-r15 and was wondering whether any work would need to be done to get them on to my car, which is a mk2 3 door with no suspension mods.

Thanks in advance!

 

[fingers99]

The counterbore and PCD (assuming 4 stud) should be right. But you really need to know the ET (will be stamped on the wheel somehere) of the Alfa wheels and the originals.

If the Alfa ET is bigger, you can adjust it down to the FIAT ET by using spacers (use "proper" spacers, not universal tat, and hubcentric ones if the difference is more than 8mm or so -- ET is measured in milimeters). If the Alfa ET is smaller, I'd walk away.

For all that, I can't guess whether you'll need the arches rolling for clearance. Be aware that it's generally wise to lower the car if fitting a taller wheel tyre combination.

Overall, it's a big, big, subject and can have pretty extreme effects on the handling of the car.

 

[Jimmy punto]

The centre bore, offset and pcd are all fine. The rolling radius is 1.5% larger so there is only a 9mm difference in the diameter, and with the original ride height it should make very little difference. Just wondering whether anybody knows whether the width will cause any major issues?

 

[smokeyjoe03]

Should be fine, just be aware if the rolling radius is out the speedo will under read.

 

[Jimmy punto]

Cheers guys! Gonna pick em up tomorrow and if they don't fit i guess there's always ebay! :slayer:

 

[contax mk2b]

Cheers guys! Gonna pick em up tomorrow and if they don't fit i guess there's always ebay! :slayer:

remember to post some pics !

 

[Shorty_Butler]

I tried my mates 145 cloverleafs on once, they fitted perfectly and looked sweet although the had the standard tyres on which were a bit to chunky but 45 or 50 profile should look about right. I did have pics but they're on my old phone which died last week.

 

[Jimmy punto]

i picked them up today, expecting them to be the five hole teledials, to find they were the six, still liked them and thought nothing of it only to get them home and realise that the six hole version has an ET of 49.5 not 35 like the five hole :bang:

Anyone know whether spacers will get wide enough to correct the problem? think a pm to ritchie.guy is in order!

 

[fingers99]

Can be done -- you could even use the spacers to convert from 4 or 5 stud to 6 and to sort the centre bore out (if there's an issue). The Alfa wheels on my tub needed bloody great spacers, too, but I was lucky in that the wheels were 4 stud.

 

[Jimmy punto]

They're perfect in every way but the ET! :bang: Can't believe it, even the front wheels are fine, Just the backs are rubbing! Any idea how much spacers are going to cost? i guess with the offset of the wheels being 49.5 i'm gonna need 15mm spacers and 15mm longer bolts!

 

[DaveMcT]

Spacers are basically a plate that goes between the wheel and the hub and can be trurned or laser cut from metal plate. Wheel suppliers should be able to help or a local laser cutter.

To find the correct off set you can use washers or plywood to make a mock up but dont drive with them!!! Then get suitable thickness spacers made up. You will also need longer bolts by the appropriate amount.

Also check the fronts in case they foul when the steering is on full lock.

 

[Jimmy punto]

I've gone full lock left to right and clearance is fine, about 10mm. Just need to sort out the rears! cheers

 

[DaveMcT]

You'll also need 10mm longer wheel bolts. Don't risk the originals as there wont be enough thread to be safe.

 

[Jonnio]

Make sure you get hubcentrics if you are going more than 8mm.

Some here... http://www.europerformance.co.uk/pages/products/product_info.mhtml?product=3886694

 

[Jimmy punto]

thanks for all your help guys can't believe hubcentrics are £85 thats almost as much as i paid for the wheels! I'm hoping 8mm spacers will help clear the wheel arches, otherwise they may be on ebay rather soon!

 

[fingers99]

Isn't there someone here who does spacers at more -- er -- friendly prices?

Remember that the rubbing alone isn't the entire issue and that you should try to return the ET to as close to standard spec as possible.

 

[nikkiy9]

i know who you are as i have the red punto, the spacers are in the garage that i used on the rear!!!!!

 

[Jonnio]

Isn't there someone here who does spacers at more -- er -- friendly prices?

richie_guy doesn't do hubcentrics anymore (they were only 10mm as well). Could always ask him about them though, even if he doesn't sell them anymore he might point you in the right direction.

 

[mahol]

thanks for all your help guys can't believe hubcentrics are £85 thats almost as much as i paid for the wheels! I'm hoping 8mm spacers will help clear the wheel arches, otherwise they may be on ebay rather soon!

richie guy on this forum makes wheel spacers i have some, very well made speak to him. he sorted me out with the longer bolts too

 

[Jimmy punto]

i know who you are as i have the red punto, the spacers are in the garage that i used on the rear!!!!!

can't believe i left without checking whether the offset was different :bang: that's a lesson learnt!



Thanks for all your help guys, I've spoken to richie.guy and he reckons i'll need hubcentric spacers, which he doesn't do anymore so if i get them from elsewere for all four wheels they're going to cost more than the wheels themselves, and double my budget! which is a shame cause they're in really good nick, i can feel ebay beckoning!