Alfa Pages

[Bobkelso]

Hi, I heard about a new generation of steel wheel
made of better steel, so less weight.
For example I read the Citroen C3 it seem to have
14"x5,5 stock steel wheels of only 5,5 kg (called "steely").

Now I see on Ebay this wheel for fiat new 500, wheel code R11689
(it is a different code respect usual 14 fiat steel wheel):

http://www.ebay.it/itm/400242718034?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

They say 14"x5,5 at only 5,1 kg!!!! ''
It will be true or "optimistic"?

The well is of interest also for winter or sport wheels
on alfa 33, as it as 58,1 mm center (easy to enlarge
to the 58,6 mm necessary for Alfa 33) and ET 35mm,
so just a little better than original Alfa ET of 39 mm
and not too much to have any problems.

I now I can have a little benefit in acceleration with lighter wheels
(like 1,5/2 kg less on car for each 1 kg less on wheels), but can
I also obtain a more comfortable ride on holes/bumps using
that wheels instead of original 14" alloy wheels (7,7 kg each)??
Or to have comfort benefit I should also contemporary
use softer shocks?
(Physics question I never get solved, may be some
of you now the answer '')
_________________
Alfa 33

[gritsop]

In general, lighter wheels will have a lighter sense to the steering wheel. You will be able to feel the lighter steering especially during parking. Think of it as follows: the suspension carries the the weight of the car along with the weight of the wheel. If the wheel is lighter (eg alloy rims) then the suspension carries less weight.

I would conclude that the softer and comfortable ride is a direct consequence of the tyres quality. There are tyres that are reputable for their riding quality (eg michelin) whereas others known for their road noise etc. Which is the condition of your tyres?

Alfa 33 shcoks are more or less giving a very good sense of comfort to the passengers. Are you able to tell the brand of the shcoks your 33 has?
_________________
Thanassis Gritsopoulos
1991 Alfa 33 1.4 IE
2001 Alfa 147 1.6 Distinctive

http://www.alfa-restoration.co.uk
Parts Shop: www.alfa-restoration.co.uk/shop

[richard33]

[Bobkelso]

HI,
I put 14 alloy alfa wheels (the ones of the 1.7 version)
with 185/60 Michelyn tyres, used with quite low air pression
(from 1.8 to 2.0 maximun), instead of 13 wheels and 165/70 tyres,
very better handling, but little more sensible to holes/bumps.
also when I was keeping the original boge shocks.
The new tyres have a sidewall of 111 mm , the old ones 115,5 mm ,
very similar, so I was thinking the different comfort
was due only to the different shape/structure of the tyres
or may be if it was because I put 2 more kg on each wheel? ''
(1 more kg the rim and 1 kg more the tyre)

But if I'm wrong, and the effect is due simply due to the slightly
different tyre sidewall, a good tyre for comfort should be
the 175/65 14” (sidewall of 113,8 mm) of the 1500 i.e. version??
At first I don’t considered 175 tyres because they seemed
quite ugly to see if used with original 39 ET wheels,
they need probably to put also new wheels with 35 or less ET
or/and lowering a little the car.
_________________
Alfa 33

[Bobkelso]

I finded the katalog of the steel wheels I saw on ebay,
with ET values, center hole, etc.. and real weights in the end pages:

http://www.gruppocln.com/pdf/aftermarket/Katalog_englisch.pdf

Light steel rims adaptable to Alfa 33 keeping standard 14 inch tires
could be (with only simple modification of +0,5 mm of the center hole):

- model R1-1698 (fiat New 500) - 5,5 x 14 ET 35 hole 58 weight 5,8 kg
- model R1-1698-s (silver color)
- model R1-1474 (fiat Idea) ------ 6,0 x 14 ET 40 hole 58 weight 6,0 kg

Also adding 400gr of the alfa original plastic cover this rims are lighter
than many sport alloy 14 rims, and surely lighter than alfa 33 14 inch
alloy rims (I weighted mines, they are around 7,8 kg),
maybe resulting in better confort.
I like also the 0,5 cm enlargement they give respect the original alfa
ones, nothing excessive (here in Italy we cannot do many modifications
to rims/wheels measures) but should be nice.
_________________
Alfa 33