14inch wheels v 16inch on an early 308.

A note for anyone who has always run their early 308 with 16 inch wheels............

I swopped the wheels over today on my 79' 308 dry sump from Speedline 16 inch fitted with Bridgestone S-02's (205 and 225), to the original 14 inch wheels with XWX's fitted.
Unbelievable difference, the immediate sensation was that I had just fitted power steering as it felt so light to manoeuvre the car at slow speed, then when driving the car felt so alive.
I am sure that ultimate grip levels are not as high, but clearly the car was designed for this setup - its just fantastic.
On the Bridgestone setup the car felt very planted, grippy, heavy, more modern in the steering feel, but not how I remembered my last 308 which I sold about 20 years ago. Interestingly although I was told that both setups have the same rolling radius, the ride height has increased slightly (the car is fitted with lower springs) which helps on the speed bumps.
At first glance it looked weird with the smaller rims and lots of sidewall, but stepping back it looks so right.
The 14's will be staying on the car for sure, and I will now fit new XWX's as the ones on although looking like new are around 12 years old (stored off the car in a cool dark dry garage).
I think for track use there is no contest, but for day to day road use the 14's win.

 

Hi
Glad you like them, Ive got 14's on mine, and have no intention of swapping them over!
Phil

 

Nice.

Please get rid of the tires though, if they are that old.

Discussed in this thread:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/308-328/332704-308-tires-205-70-14-best-replacement.html

VWX are expensive and not a modern compound. I'd think about switching.

Coker offers up a Vredestein that is a modern compound but the correct size.

https://www.cokertire.com/tires/brands/vredestein-tires/vredestein-sprint-classic.html

 

IMHO the cars look better on the 14" wheels with balloon tyres. More classic. But we're all individuals as Brian said in Life Of Brian. Not sure about the handling but makes sense.

 

Here in the UK the difference in price between the Vredestein and the XWX is not that great (around £50 a tyre). The XWX looks so good though, and so correct.

I have done back to back comparisons in my Dino fitted with new XWX's, driving a 20 mile mixed road route, come home take the wheels off and switch to wheels fitted with Falken FK07U's then doing the same route in the same car in the same conditions. The Falkens (H rated) cost £60, the XWX's £342 (each!!) and if I'm honest I prefer the Falken for the way it allows me to move the back end around or drift the car on tight turns. They are a bit squealy when sliding but I quite like that - real 70's car chase movies sound track. The XWX's tend to let go in a far less progressive way, they just stick then suddenly let go. Much harder to predict or provoke. They do however look ten times better, and if you don't drive in too spirited a manner they are more than up to the job.
Obviously though the Falkans show noticeable tread wear quickly, the XWX's seem to last for ever.

 

14" are on my GT4 for all the above reasons

 

The 14s are a beautiful look, particularly when the suspension is set up to alleviate the large gaps in the wheel wells.
If you are going to drive the car hard, the 16s are safer.

 

To me 14s have always looked better first glance, gap to the wheel wells included.

 

A modern XWX has a TWI of 140

They're actually a very grippy tyre these days.

 

Does anybody know when the 16 in. wheels became available as an official option by Ferrari?

 

1978

 

14" on my 77 GTB.....keeping them on the car for sure

 

Thank you! Are you sure it wasn't earlier?

 

Agree. When I bought my 16s I thought I would swap back and forth more often. 14s for the long trips and the classic feel vs the 16s for the hard driving. After I put the 16s on I found it a had a fresh younger look and the cornering is fun, so I haven't gone back.

 

I've heard late '76/ early '77 it was an available option.

 

Tomorrow I try to check what Keith Bluemel has written in his Ferrari V8 book.

 

...also for the Euro 4 tip exhaust and big front spoiler...

 

Well we've discussed/debated this in the Vetro thread ad nauseum I think. They became available about mid 77.....

 

Thank you!
The Euro 4 tip exhaust and the big front spoiler too?

 

I'll be the Dickhead.

The 14's on my '81 looked terrible.

And the price was Koo Koo nuts for replacement.

16's went on with repro wheels.

Could not be happier.

 

I will agree that it hurts to dish out that kind of money when you are buying a new set, however, since they only need to be replaced every 5 or 6 years the cost is relatively low at less than $300.00 per year. Not all that outlandish when you think about it and you get to keep the original look and driving experience.

 

According to the Osprey book on the 308 series...
the big front spoiler was available as optional extra from S/N 22513 in December 1977.

 

mark: did you notice any increased steering force at low speed? i agree; the coker prices are koo koo and i'm considering 16" repro rims and new tires. jon s

 

Same here!

 

I prefer the 16's. I put the replica wheels on several of my carb 308's. I have a stack of 390mm and 14 in wheels in my attic. There was a member here that had a 77GTB with original dealer sold and installed 16 inch BBS wheels. So late 76 , early 77 would be the era for 16's to appear, before they became "standard". The purists can keep the little wheels.