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Up-sized wheels....seeking experience comments

Discussion in 'California(Portofino)/Roma(Amalfi)' started by NJ-Cali, Apr 20, 2014.

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  1. NJ-Cali

    NJ-Cali Karting

    Mar 9, 2012
    60
    #1 NJ-Cali, Apr 20, 2014
    I'm considering new wheels and tires for my 2012 California. Looking at 22x9 up front and 22x10.5 in rear. Would anyone be willing to share their experience going from 20's to 22"'s?
     
  2. Tireman

    Tireman Karting

    Nov 13, 2011
    208
    Canada
    #2 Tireman, Apr 21, 2014
    Looks are subjective ... If you like ... Great.. But the ride will be harsher and not optimal for the suspension
     
  3. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,186
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    #3 tazandjan, Apr 21, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Pretty much all the late model Ferrari wheels are interchangeable. Sure you would not rather have OEM 20" wheels from another model? The only 22s I have seen that actually looked good to me are the Novitec NF3s with 21" F and 22" R.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  4. 4th_gear

    4th_gear F1 Rookie

    Jan 18, 2013
    4,425
    Full Name:
    Michael
    #4 4th_gear, Apr 21, 2014
    22" wheels will bend for sure.
     
  5. NJ-Cali

    NJ-Cali Karting

    Mar 9, 2012
    60
    #5 NJ-Cali, Apr 21, 2014
    21's are a safer move?
     
  6. 4th_gear

    4th_gear F1 Rookie

    Jan 18, 2013
    4,425
    Full Name:
    Michael
    #6 4th_gear, Apr 21, 2014
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2014
    Standard wheel size on the California is a 19". So a 22" is a +3 upgrade. There are some general rules of thumb when you upgrade wheel sizes.

    +1 is normally safe if your roads are not awful.
    +2 is somewhat iffy but you might get away with it. But be sure you can afford a surprise.
    +3 is only when you spend most of your time staring at the car rather than driving it.

    My advice is to put at least several hundred miles on your car with the wheels it has before you contemplate making changes. So, if your roads are so awful that you manage to bend smaller wheels then you know how much money to put aside for surprises if you upgrade them anyway. You may also find the ride harsh enough that you wouldn't want them any harsher with bigger wheels.

    Actually, there's another problem with huge rims, the tires have so little sidewall on them that it makes them very difficult to manufacture without noticeable defects in their ride. It's the sidewalls that help to insulate you from imperfections in the tires. Once the sidewalls disappear, every defect in the tire will result in annoying highspeed vibrations that make the wheel balancing process very troublesome - and the tires much more expensive to buy due to higher reject rates at the factory.
     
  7. NJ-Cali

    NJ-Cali Karting

    Mar 9, 2012
    60
    #7 NJ-Cali, Apr 22, 2014
    All very good advise. Really appreciate the thoroughness and honesty. I'll let y'all know what I decide, posting before and after pics should I decide to move forward. Thanks again!
     
  8. SpykerBAS

    SpykerBAS Formula Junior

    Jun 22, 2009
    321
    Westlake Village, CA
    Full Name:
    B. Sokolow
    #8 SpykerBAS, Apr 22, 2014
    I have a Cali in Philly if you want to drive it. It's shoed with Modulare 21s up front and 22s in the rear. The ride degradation has been minimal, though the rims are vulnerable, as attested below.
     
  9. NJ-Cali

    NJ-Cali Karting

    Mar 9, 2012
    60
    #9 NJ-Cali, Apr 22, 2014

    So I visited the Modulare site and wow! Nice assortment of Cali's all shod with 22's out back and 21's up front. If you don't mind, which beauty is yours? Since my Cali is not a DD, I can deal with the minimal ride loss. I don't get to Philly that often, but if I can I'll reach out to you to see if the offer is still available. Many thanks!!
     
  10. photonut

    photonut F1 Rookie
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 16, 2007
    4,080
    Michigan
    Full Name:
    Joel
    #10 photonut, Apr 23, 2014
    word to the wise:
    avoid potholes!
     

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