Front wheel widths

[chris.richard]

Group 4 cars use wider wheels / tyres under the same front bodywork as Stradale models. ?225 v 205? Is there any advantage to Stradales using the wider front wheels, or does it upset the balance too much?

[rutthenut]

I've run 225/50 tyres all round in the past and think the balance was fine. I've currently got 205 front and 225 rears, which is also fine.

Given the choice, I'd put the larger size all round and will do so when I have to replace the road tyres again. Unfortunately, it's the rears that wear at soonest, so the fronts will have to stay on for longer...

[chris.richard]

You want to try a softer compound!

[Stratos]

My normal configuration is 205 front and 225 rear.

I've never run anything wider than 205 on the front.

The Stratos is so light on the front that with wide tyres on the front, there'll be very little pressure per sq inch with wide tyres. This would be especially important in the wet.

I've tried to do all I can to move weight over the front wheels to get more grip.

Most of the Darrians that compete on the rallies actually run either 185 or 195 front and 225 rear. Speaking to some of the Darrian drivers, they find that with anything wider than 195 the front end loses grip too easily and the handling, and cornering speed, suffers because of this.

But it's a balancing act - wider should mean more grip, but narrower means more pressure per sq inch so the tyre should stay in contact with the road more easily.

Personally, if my car was a road car, I'd run it with 205 front and 225 rear.