You're reading my mail, Dr.Jeff!I like 15" wheels on the X. To me anything smaller looks anemic and anything larger looks too modern. I think a 50 series tire will work on 15" wheels depending on the width. The taller tire profile gives the wheel/tire combo more of a vintage look.
Speedline 215/40ZR17 / 265/40ZR17. Wheelbase lengthened 140mm
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Both came from the pen of Giorgetto Giugiaro.Apropos of nothing, are you familiar with the 1970 Italdesign VW Porsche Tapiro?
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I hope Jane doesn't offend...
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Gorgeous design, wot? Based on the 914 and remarkably similar to the 1975 Maserati Bora
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all of that and what looks like a smaller radiator air inlet. Even if the plate was not there - possibly the dumbest place to put a plate BTW.550 HP
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CAR BRAND, MODEL AND YEAR:
Fiat X1/9, 1981
TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
Power approx. 550 Hp
Top speed +300 km/h
Acceleration (0-100) 3.9 s
WHAT CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE CAR?
Body changes: wheelbase extended by 140 mm, widened by 250 mm, front and rear wings extended from the original ones, skirts and hood made of aluminum, weight 960 kg
Chassis: Bilstein Coil-over
Rims: front Speedline 17x7 3.os 215/40ZR 17, rear Speedline 17x10.5 3.os 265/40ZR 17
Brakes: front 332x32 Alcon, rear 328x28 Alcon, calipers Porche turbo 911 (Alcon)
Engine: Fiat 2000cc 16v (standard 1500cc 85 HP!) now about 550 HP, Holset hydrid, intercooler, WISECO pistons, injectors MSD 4x1000cc, fuel pumps 2xBosch, connecting rods PO-Metal Oy, exhaust and supercharger pipes AMW, clutch Ap-racing 950 Nm , drive axles Karpiola, rear spacing 3.11 or 2.9, performance 0-100 Km/h 3.9 s (with street tires), top speed +300 Km/h, Haltech engine control, AMW dyno service adjustment
WHAT CHANGES WILL YOU STILL MAKE?
Roll bars, bonnet, tuning the lights to modern times and of course more engine power.
To my eyes this is the perfect wheel/tire setup: Front: 15x7 0 offset 225 45 R15, Rear: 15x8 -12 offset 225 45 R15
This X was restored by Midwest Bayless and I believe is still in their ownership.
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Speedline 215/40ZR17 / 265/40ZR17. Wheelbase lengthened 140mm
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It is difficult to compare the wheel size on a highly modified body with a relatively stock body. So what looks proportional on the MWB car (15") with small flares may not on the lengthened racer with 17" wheels.What do you think of the 17" wheels? Overpowering or does it work? I do like how the wheel arch "eyebrow" has been raised. Still, I don't know about wheels this large on such a small car.
I guess that depends on how one defines a master.Sorry guys, this whole thread reinforces my opinion that automotive styling is best left to the masters...
To me a 15” wheel is as large as the X, without major mods, would want to go.What do you think of the 17" wheels? Overpowering or does it work? I do like how the wheel arch "eyebrow" has been raised. Still, I don't know about wheels this large on such a small car.
I agree. To me 15" wheels still allow for enough tire sidewall to fulfill that preference, although that puts their overall circumference slightly greater than the stock tires. However I consider that to be a good thing as it improves the final drive ratio for a street driven X. I don't worry about any effect that has on speedo accuracy, especially since it was not accurate to begin with. Also 15" wheels/tires allows the fender well openings to be 'filled', which cannot be achieved with smaller ones. This, combined with some added width and a bit of lowering, achieves the flush fit Karl described.Personally I really prefer wheels and tires which have some meat to the sidewalls and a period appearance to the wheel design. I prefer the car to have the primary characteristics when driving of the original which is light and flingable. I like the wheels to be just inset or at most flush with with the original flares.