Check wheels before you buy.

**malk** · 10th May 2010, 11:54

I'm replacing my wheels on my V6 SRi and took the car in to get them fitted today. Just to let people know that my car (maybe others) has a bulky unit for its front brakes and the replacements (18") needed a spacer fitted. The originals I have were sort of curved so avoided the brake.
Will now have wider wheels ! (OK only 3mm each side I think but maybe it will go faster now!)
Thought people may like to check as most places I looked at classed all Vectras in a simialr way (apart from actual tyre sizes) and took no account as far as I can tell of the need for a spacer.
I'll post some pics when all is sorted.

**neverlandandy** · 10th May 2010, 12:14

when i ordered my 18's they never said anything about spacers but arrived with the wheels anyway think i might have been lucky

**John LE** · 10th May 2010, 12:17

What are the offset of your new wheels?

**Big Sig** · 10th May 2010, 12:22

Originally Posted by john.robertson2

What are the offset of your new wheels?

If the offset is incorrect they may foul

**malk** · 10th May 2010, 13:41

I think it is probably only the V6 Diesel that has the problem as they have heavier duty brakes.
They just need to fit 3mm spacers on each side and there appears to be plenty of room for 3mm so I am pretty sure that they won't foul as I go round corners !
As I mentioned before, the existing alloys (SSW Stanford Mesh) have a sort of convex curve so they don't foul the disks, but the new ones are flat at the rear (ZCW Grace).
I did think it was worth mentioning though as I have snow chains and I know I have to get 9mm chains due to clearance. I have seen some that appear, according to the photos, to have a set of spokes at the back. These certainly wouldn't fit although I don't like them anyway, but from what I have seen on here, it is all a matter of personal preference and probebly depends on car colour etc.

**Big Sig** · 10th May 2010, 13:50

I have the same brakes as the 3.0v6 on my gsi, no clearance issues here

**malk** · 10th May 2010, 14:12

Then you haven't got the same wheels as the ones I am buying !
Shame I can't advertise my old ones here !

**Dan_BlackSRi** · 10th May 2010, 14:22

The ZCW Grace appear to be a ET45 wheel, so dependant on brake sizes, spacers could very well be needed (from looking at other threads on here).

**Big Sig** · 10th May 2010, 14:22

Originally Posted by malk

Then you haven't got the same wheels as the ones I am buying !
Shame I can't advertise my old ones here !

Very true, it must be down to the design, but a better offset would of remoced the need for spacers imo

Looking for PM's for them???

**malk** · 10th May 2010, 14:36

Just couldn't find any that would suit the car - spent ages on loads of alloy sites. I've debadged and changed the rear lights so wheels have to be changed too !
Oh and BigSIg - are you sure the calipers are the same or were you just referring to the disc? I can't find caliper specs anywhere since seeing your post
Other than GB :-0 what do you mean by PM ?