Styling What wheels
- Thread starter RUI
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Styling What wheels
Of the two above I prefer the multispokes. I had the petals on mine when I bought it but changed them for the standard 16" variety. The added bonus of the 16s are better ride and less drag and I think that the car looks good lowered which the second car in the pics above appears to be.
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I quite like the ones in the top picture actually, does that make them girlie? 
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Definitely affect ride, as the lower profile tyres have less sidewall deflection over bumps..
Top pic, first post.
But why spend money, were you not looking at changing car ?
But why spend money, were you not looking at changing car ?
Of the two above I prefer the multispokes. I had the petals on mine when I bought it but changed them for the standard 16" variety. The added bonus of the 16s are better ride and less drag and I think that the car looks good lowered which the second car in the pics above appears to be.
By far the best looking option available on the 500 for sure. When shop4parts were selling sets cheaply I did consider getting a set of them.
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I originally upgraded Mrs G car with the Abarth 16 multispokes which I did like.
I have since put the Abarth 17s (top picture) on Mrs Gs car which I think look great.
Ride is compromised especially round Sheffield with the awful roads but it copes.
I am considering changing them again for some 15s or 16s! Bit of a wheel whore I am afraid!
I can probably get you a brand new set of the 16s for a reasonable price actually. I will check if they are still available.
I have since put the Abarth 17s (top picture) on Mrs Gs car which I think look great.
Ride is compromised especially round Sheffield with the awful roads but it copes.
I am considering changing them again for some 15s or 16s! Bit of a wheel whore I am afraid!
I can probably get you a brand new set of the 16s for a reasonable price actually. I will check if they are still available.
arorat no I am not getting rid of the car I am very happy with it just fancy changing a few things on it.
The bumpy ride is not a problem the roads are not bad around here and i drive slow everywhere.
I really don't like the 16inch abarth wheels.
The bumpy ride is not a problem the roads are not bad around here and i drive slow everywhere.
I really don't like the 16inch abarth wheels.
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RUI. I'm a bit particular about wheels. In my opinion the wheels on the bydiesel are fabulous and manly and really suit the car.
The 16 inch abarth wheels posted by grimwau are excellent wheels and surprisely are the most sensible wheel choice even for the Abarth because they light and 'open' design allows the brakes to keep cool.
On your 1.2 model with drums on the back an open design (I know your 'standard' fit ones are open - they still work) wouldn't do it any justice.
I had the 5o-spoke and I really liked them (despite being impossible to refurbish). I also like the multispokes as well which suit the BNW and the pearly white.
Colour can be an the issue on the choice of wheel. On black I prefer the petal design as opposed to the 10 spoke - I like red calipers and red ringed hub centres so the bit of red jumps out.
The Gucci model in glitty black ? has the 10 spoke type
and they are also on 500c.If you have striped the bydiesel signs off the car and it's back to the standard 500 I like on the black the petal design of the Abarth which you can get in 'a copy' in 16 inch wheel sizes without the Abarth logo. There are up on ebay for around a set for around £399.
I agree the By Diesel wheels are great but I fancy a change and a set of wheels is a hell of a lot cheaper than a new car.
The other things I was thinking about doing was wrapping the car, (I was going to get this done when I first got the car but the company messed me around so I told them where to go.) and also was thinking about lowering it and putting an aftermarket exhaust on it.
I may do the wrap myself, I am going on a course on wrapping within the next couple of months, I have seen a matt bright green, kermit colour that I may do for next year.
Lowering it would make it look better and it is quite cheap.
The exhaust is just for the sound, Sometimes I fancy a bit of a better sound but then a saxo goes past me at 100mph with a loud back box and I suddenly go off the idea of an exhaust.
The other things I was thinking about doing was wrapping the car, (I was going to get this done when I first got the car but the company messed me around so I told them where to go.) and also was thinking about lowering it and putting an aftermarket exhaust on it.
I may do the wrap myself, I am going on a course on wrapping within the next couple of months, I have seen a matt bright green, kermit colour that I may do for next year.
Lowering it would make it look better and it is quite cheap.
The exhaust is just for the sound, Sometimes I fancy a bit of a better sound but then a saxo goes past me at 100mph with a loud back box and I suddenly go off the idea of an exhaust.
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I did look for the ebay 16inch 'copy' petal abarth wheels but I couldn't find them (they might have got served with a copyright infringement). I did come across some 'cheap' 17inch Abarth petal wheels for little money. If you want to change the look of the car (cheaper than changing the car) these IMHO would look the business on the black and would give the effect of lowering. Sounds like you have nice roads around there and you have the girly button for tight parking.
A nice throaty exhaust on the back would OK as well - we grant you permission.
P.S. Not too sure about that wrap.
A nice throaty exhaust on the back would OK as well - we grant you permission.
P.S. Not too sure about that wrap.
Having had 15, 16 and 17 inch wheels on 500s recently, 16s and 17s give good grip in the dry, but you can feel the extra weight when turning.
15s give the best handling.
Cheers
D
15s give the best handling.
Cheers
D
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On a 1.2 17s are kinda mad.
On a TA 15s seem the optimum choice.
On a 1.4 I really prefer the 16s in preference to 15s but if I fitted a stiffer setup e.g. Eibach springs then I would revert back to 15s for a balance on comfort and handling.
The 17s look better, I am not looking for better handling, I just use the car as a runaround, it is all about the look.
My last car I went for the 18s not the 19s for because of the better handling but that was a 155mph car not a 99mph car.
My last car I went for the 18s not the 19s for because of the better handling but that was a 155mph car not a 99mph car.
I am picking up a set of new petal 17inch wheels and tyres tomorrow, I also have an Abarth Esseesse crate, Front and rear brake discs, the original brake pads, Abarth 500 original springs, Abarth 500 air filter.
I have no idea what to do with the other Abarth bits I guess ebay them.
I did say to the wife that the Abarth crate will make a great coffee table....She gave me THAT look.
I will get some snapshots up when I have them fitted.
I may keep the by diesel wheels (I have 5 of them as i picked up a spare a while back) or again they may go on ebay.
I have no idea what to do with the other Abarth bits I guess ebay them.
I did say to the wife that the Abarth crate will make a great coffee table....She gave me THAT look.
I will get some snapshots up when I have them fitted.
I may keep the by diesel wheels (I have 5 of them as i picked up a spare a while back) or again they may go on ebay.
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Great find RUI and knowing your history on ebay I'd imagine that you got an excellent price.
Robbed some info from another forum that I thought might be useful. The petals you've bought are significantly lighter than the 10 spokes that you were considering. Would you consider fitting the Abarth springs and possibly get a decent pair of shocks to beef up the suspension at a later date ?
16" wheels = 8.4 kg + 8.1kg Pirelli = 16.5 x 4 = 66kg
16" wheels (OZ Alleggerita) = 6.3kg + 8.1kg Pirelli x 4 = 57.6kg
17" wheels (OZ Alleggerita) = 6.5kg + 10kg Pirelli x 4 = 66kg
17" wheels (Esseesse) = 10kg + 10kg x 4 = 80kg
then the 5 spoke petals (3.2kg heavier)
10 spokes (14kg heavier): these are 11.5kg each
P.S. There would be a good market for those Abarth discs & brakes for 1.4 owners - don't give them to the A500 drivers.
