| Author | Message | ||
| Verell Boaen (Verell)
Intermediate Member Username: Verell Post Number: 1007 Registered: 5-2001 |
Assuming that you're already running 16" wheels with 7.5" front width & 8.5" rear width, then even larger rear tires would do two things: 1) Improve rear traction due to the increased tread patch size(GOOD). 2) add additional unsprung weight to the rear(BAD). The 308s are already slightly prone to swapping ends because they're nose-light, so removing more up front weight combined with more unsprung weight in the rear is likely to aggrivate the tendancy. Question is will the increased lateral traction due to the larger patch width will overcome this effect? Prior posts didn't seem to think so. | ||
| Ken A (Zff)
Junior Member Username: Zff Post Number: 104 Registered: 12-2002 |
> 2) It adds weight to the front suspension to > help the weight distribution. (Admittedly, > carrying equiv. weight in luggage, tools, etc > would have the same effect.) I think larger tires in back would be a better way of addressing the balance. | ||
| Verell Boaen (Verell)
Intermediate Member Username: Verell Post Number: 1002 Registered: 5-2001 |
Atlantaman's right, the spare is needed for proper safty in 2 ways: 1) Crash protection 2) It adds weight to the front suspension to help the weight distribution. (Admittedly, carrying equiv. weight in luggage, tools, etc would have the same effect.) | ||
| Mike Charness (Mcharness)
Member Username: Mcharness Post Number: 770 Registered: 8-2002 |
The Volvo 850 uses a 16" wheel as standard and also has the 5x4.25" (5x108mm) bolt pattern, and a 65.1mm hub bore, so maybe their space saver wheel would have worked... | ||
| C.C.ofAtlanta (Atlantaman)
Junior Member Username: Atlantaman Post Number: 241 Registered: 3-2002 |
1) the spare tire is very much needed--it is considered as part of the front end crash protection design. It might save your life soneday!! 2) yes-most 85-95 Fords run 4.25 bolt pattern that matches Ferrari 308's and may fit over stock brake rotors and calipers. 3) I had to custom make this one because my brakes are a lot larger than stock and the calipers hit the inside of the wheel. 4) it is woth noting also that the rear hub is LARGER than the front one. So If you are trying out a wheel make sure it will fit on the rear as well as the front. | ||
| Ken A (Zff)
Junior Member Username: Zff Post Number: 102 Registered: 12-2002 |
I was looking at the spare tire tub today and a space-saver spare or a can of fix-a-flat would allow the front of that tub to reshaped to allow much better airflow through the radiator. That might be worth looking into. Ford spares will fit on a Ferrari you say? I'll have to try it. I have an SVT Cobra with stock brakes big enough to require a 17" wheel. Maybe that spare will fit. | ||
| V.Z. (Ama328)
Junior Member Username: Ama328 Post Number: 198 Registered: 11-2002 |
one more added benefit of the space saver is maybe you could cram FOUR of 'em in the spare tire hole and run an entire set at once, if you really get stuck! Nuthin' like seein' a low rider 308 on skinny wheels... | ||
| Jonathan (Birdman)
Junior Member Username: Birdman Post Number: 93 Registered: 6-2003 |
As long as you don't mind the internal mess created by a can of fix-a-flat and the fact that the tire will need to be replaced after you use it because it can never be balanced properly again! I carry a small air pump and a tubeless tire repair kit (the same kind they use at the gas station to fix a flat when you take your tire to them.) Just last week my wife got a flat in her CR-V. I had the tire off, hole plugged, tire filled and back on the car in about the same time it would take to dig the spare out of the back and swap wheels. I do like the "donut" spare idea for those times when the flat is not easily fixed...I just don't have the tools or expertise to make one. Atlantaman....are you going to build them on order for people? Jonathan | ||
| Dave (Dave)
Member Username: Dave Post Number: 547 Registered: 4-2001 |
Nice idea but I'm with Ken on this one. A can of fix-a-flat and a cell phone are alot less weight to carry than a spare... | ||
| Ken A (Zff)
Junior Member Username: Zff Post Number: 93 Registered: 12-2002 |
How about replacing the spare with a can of "fix-a-flat"?  | ||
| C.C.ofAtlanta (Atlantaman)
Junior Member Username: Atlantaman Post Number: 240 Registered: 3-2002 |
The whole idea here is to have a spacesaver and get rid of the full sized tire. besides--with 12.5" rotors. only a space saver would work--or I would have to buy another 16" full sized. | ||
| Jay Grande (Jay)
Intermediate Member Username: Jay Post Number: 1442 Registered: 10-2001 |
That is alot of work for a spare! Why not just buy an original metric rim to use as spare? Since I upgraded to 16" I'm going to use one of my old metric rims as a spare, and it looks original. | ||
| C.C.ofAtlanta (Atlantaman)
Junior Member Username: Atlantaman Post Number: 239 Registered: 3-2002 |
If anyone wants the drawings to do this let me know--will be happy to send | ||
| C.C.ofAtlanta (Atlantaman)
Junior Member Username: Atlantaman Post Number: 238 Registered: 3-2002 |
I posted a while back looking for a Space-Saver spare for my 308 and got nowhere. SO---- I just had to make one. Spare tire (new) from local junk yard--$12.90 add 8 hrs in machine shop and voila!-- May not look beautiful--but I hope it never comes out of the boot anyway. Most Fords have the same 5x4.25" bolt pattern as 308's but it is hard to find a Ford spare that is 16" or 17". I had to take a 15" and cut out the center and weld a new on in place.  |