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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - Upgrading existing wheels

Hi all.

In June I bought an 18 month old ZS which has the stock 16" wheels, the car's great but I'd really like to upgrade to the far nicer 17" wheels...

Am I just being stupid by hoping I can "trade in" the 16's for 17's at the same sort of price as it'd cost if I was buying the car new (about £200)? And if I am being stupid does anybody have an idea how much the upgrade would cost me?

Thanks muchly for any help.
Noiz

You could look at various modern MG forums where they have a for sale section as people are sometimes selling sets of alloys as they upgrade. You could sell yours on, too. Also, try places like roverbreakers.com and there are other specialist MG Rover breakers. I got a complete door from roverbreakers in the right colour very cheaply, much cheaper than my insurance excess.

HTH
Martin
Martin ZT

Keep an eye on ebay. Right now someonw is trying to sell one 17" wheeel - only three more needed!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10414&item=4500390590&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Patrick Beet

It is unlikely that for a road car this would be an upgrade unless its looks you are upgrading or you are adding increased discs at front to prevent brake fade problems.

The negative effect will be on ride and road feedback and check weight as this is unsprung and rotational so any increase will be x3+ for acceleration etc for perhaps a small gain in grip.


Looks are still a valid reason so happy bargain hunting.

Paul
Paul

Paul, are you suggesting that outright measurable performance gains would be had by 'downgrading' from the optional 17s to standard 16s?
David S

David,

Upgrading to 17ins if same weight or lower will increase grip, but they become more suitable on a nice flat surface that is becoming harder to find on UK roads.

So for a road car you end up with a few negatives, probably also increased cost in rebooting.

Interesting project for the Stig and TG, but a while ago they compared track time of TVR with track setting compared to road, small gain at expense of comfort. Its a question of finding right balance for you and looks also comes into this equation. Sometimes no gain without pain! normally credit card.

Paul
Paul

I was looking for a 'yes' or a 'no' - have you tried politics? ;-)
David S

David,

Take a look at WRC some time?
P
Paul

I simply do not understand what point you are trying to make. Can you write a little clearer please?
David S

It's more complex than that and this is before you look at properties of different batches of tyres, especially those made at a different plant. Going to a different make then just adds complication.

Looks are the main change although and with lots of experience with 16" and 17" on ZS with Michelin and Continental the best was clearly the latest 180 with the wider 17" and now standard Continentals. Nearly 3 weeks with a latest model ZS showed the advantage over a wide range of surfaces compared to my 2.5 years with the original 180. The Continentals feel at the most advantage in the wet, alhough choppy surfaces shows them to be more forgiving too. I can also say the change to Continetal from Michelin for the ZT follows the same pattern.

16" ZS wheels usually have a good second hand market for the ZR/R25 and R200 owners looking for an upgrade. There are many stes of wheels in places like Ebay, but it's amazing how many sets one persons family have gone through according to the story behine the reasons for sale, so unless your sure of the legality of the supply don't increase demand that drives more crime.

Rog
Roger Parker

From: Mrs Mary Jones of England.

I am the above named person from England . I am married to Dr. Harry Jones who worked with England Embassy in CANADA for nine years before he died in the year 2000.We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death we were both born again christians. Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is again. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $18.6Million (EIGHTTEEN Million six hundred thousand U.S.Dollars) with Security Company in Holland.

Presently, this money is still with the SECURITY FIRM and the management just wrote me as the beneficiary to come forward to receive the money or rather issue a letter of authorisation to somebody to receive it on my behalf if I can not come over.


Presently, I'm in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment for oesophageal cancer. I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me that I have only a few weeks to live. It is my last wish to see this money distributed to victims of this fire outbreak in Australia and other charity organizations. Because relatives and friends have plundered so much of my wealth since my illness, I cannot live with the agony of entrusting this huge responsibility to any of them.Please,I beg you in the name of
God to help me collect the deposit and the interest accrued from the BANK and distribute it accordingly.


I want a person that is God fearing that will use this money to fund churches,orphanages and widows propagating the word of God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained. The Bible made us to understand that Blessed is the hand that giveth. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don't want my husband's hard earned money to be misused by unbelievers. I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly manner.


Hence the reason for taking this bold decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace. I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my soundless voice and presence of my husband's relatives around me always. I don't want them to know about this development. With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Security Company in Holland. I will also issue you a letter of authority that will prove you as the new beneficiary of this fund. I want you and the church to always pray for me because the lord is my shephard.


My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. however that wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and truth. Please always be prayerful all through your life. Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for another person for this same purpose.


Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.


Hoping to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely
MARY JONES.
MARY JONES

I have two words for "Mrs Mary Jones of England", they begin with the letters 'F' and 'O'.

Posting uninvited scams like this randomly on any thread on any topic on any forum is just downright rude. >:-(

SF
Scarlet Fever

Good idea, she should contact the Foreign Office!

Martin ZT

LOL :-D

Thanks Martin, i feel better now. :-)

SF
Scarlet Fever

<<Exodus 14 VS 14 says that the lord will fight my case >>

Does that also apply when she is taken to court for fraud?
Matthew Semple

Okay, just getting this thread back on track...


If someone was looking for a second set of wheels to use for trackdays, should they be looking for 16", 17" or 18" wheels (on a ZS).

Ralph
Ralph

Ralph,

Increasing diam and width increases cornering grip, the downsides are still wheel weight, lose of suspension due to low profile tyres and suspension set up (should only be for 18ins).

Lets say the right combination will knock 2 secs over lap time. Off top off head, latest Autorcar tyre test showed a 4sec quicker time on F1s, so the tyres can make a huge difference.

In F1 tyres make a big difference and also oil!

Hope That Helps

Paul
Paul

as it is totally against the rules to time cars at track days, the odd couple of seconds per lap is hardly relevant. What do you want out of a track day ? If just for fun then anything road-legal will do, if you want to learn about the behaviour of your everyday car when pushed to the limit then use exactly the same wheels and tyres as you use on the road. HTH.
David S

Thanks guys!

It was only a hypothetical question that I was asking. I'm in it just for the fun (as my spin at Pembrey proved!) and run my car as it came from the factory.

Ralph
Ralph

This thread was discussed between 03/11/2004 and 22/11/2004

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