Author Topic: Tired of Tyres! (Read 5828 times)

Dom · « **on:** August 16, 2007, 10:56:55 AM »

I have finally got around to starting my hub/wheel/brake conversion.

I've tidied up the nice set up drums/hubs Mickey kindly gave me. Even decided to paint the drums (no point I know, just had left over black paint!), as the weather's been so bad, so it's the only job I could do in the garage!
Anyways, before I start anything else, I need to decide on what tyres to get for the wheels. As it's a 500 the internal arches will be slightly smaller, so I'd be expecting some slight panel beating for a good fit, even then, rubbing & reduced turning circle will be expected. But not too sure what tyres to go for. Wheels are 5J 13 Chromodoras. Should I go for 155x65 R13s, or 165x55 R13s? And also, is it worth going for premium brands (Pirelli etc) or budget? Bearing in mind I use the car near enough everyday?

Thanks chaps and chapettes

bis13 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 16, 2007, 02:40:29 PM »

dom when you get your car up and running come down to my house and we will play the big wheel lottery . i have some 165 55 r 13 on my car and so can try them on yours .otherwise you could buy them and find out they are the wrong size .by the by have you wriggled out of your wedding? mick

Dom · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2007, 10:07:52 AM »

The car was up and running fine, but now it has no rear hubs/drums etc. I've got both the old ones off, so just need to put on the new ones and fine tune. But then I have no wheels to fit onto them, bar the new ones with no tyres! So I'm going to have to chance it and buy some tyres. Thinking of going for the 165x55, as they are lower profile and only as wide as the wheels, so 155s wouln't be any better in terms of space saving (I don't think?).

Not looking good for getting out of the wedding. The mamma has got all excited about our family being all together and has booked a hotel - still time though :twisted:

bis13 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 17, 2007, 12:48:44 PM »

ha ha ha thats what happens when your italian, family is top of the list!!

Pete126 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 17, 2007, 06:20:10 PM »

Just a thought Dom, we saw Nigels (hudsonhenry) fiat 500 at retro rides last weekend if PM him and ask what size tyres he's running.

Dom · « **Reply #5 on:** August 18, 2007, 06:53:10 PM »

Right, I've now changed the rear hubs, and tried the wheel on. Need to get some long wheel bolts though. Is this normally the case for wider wheels? There seems to be lots of room, so gonna go with the 165x55 tyres. Question is, premium or budget?

Also, would anyone happen to know if the brake shoes are bigger for the late 126 drums/back plates, as my old ones seem a little too small?

Below, some pics of the progress so far.

Jus Qu'ici tout va bien

Pete126 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 18, 2007, 10:12:40 PM »

put the tyres on the rims first to check they don't catch on the inner wings front & rear,
don't fall into the same trap as i did, i bought a set of extended wheel nuts for my tsw wheels, the bolts were just catch the brake shoe retainer springs, spent an hour cutting them down to the correct lengh only to find that i had to fit pair of 5mm spacer on the back hubs because the tyres where rubbing on the inner wing (126bis), so had to buy another 8 bolts, but thats life!

michaelodonnell500 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 18, 2007, 11:55:47 PM »

Hi Dom, I think we need to have another meeting.
If you havent bought the tyres yet I would suggest the 155's. the width will be you major concern with arch rubbing.
I know you got some advice from Ralph (the puddlejumper) and he is a good guide for wider wheels/tyres, but he has them fitted to a gamine which has much larger inner arches than even the 126
Budget is fine, premium tyres go faster, but our cars do not. a premium set of tyres will have a higher speed rating, but even the cheepest tyre willl have a speed rating which exceeds the maximum velocity of a 500/126. They dont weigh enough for it to cause a proiblem. If you need to guestimate with a set of 135 x 12's then you can plop mine on and work ou the rest

Rob 126 personal · « **Reply #8 on:** August 19, 2007, 04:37:15 AM »

Quote

Also, would anyone happen to know if the brake shoes are bigger for the late 126 drums/back plates, as my old ones seem a little too small?

Yes shoes and brake cylinders are bigger. You will notice a significant braking improvement with this system for sure. I too have a 500 L and did this conversion a few years back. To gain wheel well space all you need to do is hammer and dolly the lip flat.

ciao

Robert

Dom · « **Reply #9 on:** August 19, 2007, 09:35:21 AM »

Cool, I have some 5mm and 10 mm spacers just in case, but the rear wheel seems to fit on without the need, Obviouslly with no tyres, but there seems to be plenty of room.

Michael, feel free to come past whenever you're free, my car is well and trully off the road for a while

'Puddlejumper' assured me that the gammine has the same internal wheel arches front and rear, it just has massive outer wings so it should be the same. The only problem could be that the wheels may stick out of the arches a little, with the spacers.

Where is the best place for long bolts, as I didn't ralise bolts were so hard to get hold of - spent most the day yesterday, (about 7 different garages, autofactors and tyre shops!) only to find bolts in 1, which have turned out to be too short!

michaelodonnell500 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 19, 2007, 09:54:17 AM »

try this one:

Item number: 220083146191

saves wasting time trying to find a shop, I wouldnt know where to start!!

Pete126 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 19, 2007, 12:38:31 PM »

be careful, if the hubs have come off a polish 126 650/bis they have a different thread 1.50 which is coarser, and not 1.25 did you get any wheel bolts with the hubs that you can take as a sample
theres got to be a specialist some where near you Dom, who only do alloy wheels and tyres.

Dom · « **Reply #12 on:** August 19, 2007, 04:10:13 PM »

They're definitely 12x1.50 bolts. I managed to get some, which were special long ones, but still not long enough. I'll need at least 45mm thread lengths. Ebay does have some, but postage costs make it barely worh my while.

Will have to get some a set of 4 brake shoes also. Where is best for these?

hudsonhenry · « **Reply #13 on:** August 19, 2007, 06:39:35 PM »

I'm running 145 70 12's on my car, I had to get the arches rolled both front and back to clear the lowered suspension, I think you might have problems with clearance if you go much wider.

Nigel

meuton · « **Reply #14 on:** August 19, 2007, 07:12:43 PM »

Hello

persoanlly i think a 65 profile tyre is way too big on a 13" rim on a 500 but you are best to try and see.

If it were me with a 5J rim I would fit the more expensive 155x55x13 tyres as these are low enough profile to tre<d width to give arch clearance and good handling, at present my sppedlines from a lancia which are 6jx 13" run 165x06 r13 flaken tyres and have a good clearnace at normal ride height on my BIS with a good fit to the rim, although in future when its back on the road it will be on 6.5JJx 13 Braid split rims with 175x50x13 yokohama A008's which fit real nice on those rims and to the BIS's arches,

cheeers Doug