24"-Diameter Wire Wheels

[Peter Miles]

Our Bugatti thread had some early messages about types and sizes of wheels.

In early November 2005, I happened across the following car near Hampton, VA:

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3875/medium/Left_Side_2_.JPG

At first glance, it was obvious that the car had a rather tall ride height. The proportions also looked a bit odd.

It turns out that it is riding on 24" diameter wire wheels.

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3875/medium/Right_Side_3_2_.JPG

Note the huge "daylight" area visible in the wire wheels; The disc brake rotors look tiny (increase the picture size for maximum impact http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3875/Right_Side_3_2_.JPG).

While these particular wheels handle very fat low-profile tires, I wonder if they are available in a narrow width that would be appropriate for something like the Bugatti project.

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3875/medium/Tire_Size_2_2_.JPG
Unfortunately, I didn't get the brand name of the wheels.

[Wray Schelin]

Hi Peter,

I just don't get this stuff.:roll: Some folks want their vehicles to scrape the ground and some want them to scrape the sky.:roll: I think in both cases the aesthetic suffers as well as the ride. I see the big wheel phenomenon as analogous to breast enlargement, there comes a point when big is too big.:o The big wheels cause heads to turn, so maybe it's just about turning heads using suspension and wheel modifications. It certainly can't be about the ride quality, although gas mileage probably goes up with 24" rims.:lol::lol: First though, you have to pay for the wheels, tires, and modifications with the gas mileage savings, plus you have to remain alive while driving the car.:lol:

I think that Ford is unsafe at any speed, it's a roll over waiting to happen. I would love to hear Anders assessment of the potential for harm caused by a dangerous modification like that.

I guess I'm resident grouch number 2:D

I don't think tires and wheels will be a problem for the Bugatti build. There are quite a few sources, first we need to figure out what size looks good with a body that people can get into.;)

Thanks for the report on the Long Tall Driver.

[anders nørgaard]

originally posted by Wray: I think that Ford is unsafe at any speed, it's a roll over waiting to happen. I would love to hear Anders assessment of the potential for harm caused by a dangerous modification like that.


Hi Wray,
Here goes http://206.125.208.236/forum/images/icons/icon10.gif http://206.125.208.236/forum/images/icons/icon10.gif http://206.125.208.236/forum/images/icons/icon10.gif http://206.125.208.236/forum/images/icons/icon10.gif http://206.125.208.236/forum/images/icons/icon10.gif http://206.125.208.236/forum/images/icons/icon10.gif
The roll center will be sky high and the scrub radius will be so big that the steering is very heavy!!!

You're absolutely right. THIS CAR WILL BE DANGEROUS!

Nice wheels though... if they had the correct spindles and a-arms connected!http://206.125.208.236/forum/images/icons/icon12.gif

[captainkirk]

The taking of a "styling exercise" to extremes is based on what it has always been based on "getting noticed" by the opposite sex.
Shiny objects attract people because they represent wealth (diamonds, gold silver etc.) If the guy that owns this car can afford such big shiny wheels then he's obviously making money. People with money can provide security, woman of child bearing age are naturally attracted to people they perscieve could provide support for the pending family (feather the nest).
Men don't understand that they are attracting woman that are trying to start a family, they think the wheels have made them cool and now their the "Big Man On Campus" .
Now lets see what happens....guy buys wheels, guy attracts opposite sex looking to bear children, guy says hey this is great wouldn't it be great to have this all the time. Guy marries girl, girl pumps out a couple of puppies and the financial strain increases, Wheels and car are sold because the kids need new shoes, man breaks back for the next ten years to feed the squaking throngs in the nest (usually but not always woman puts on copious amounts of weight because she no longer needs to attract support but needs to prove to the courts she can no longer take care of herself)) man become very disenchanted with the whole scenario and pines away for the good old days of his youth. Man makes a break from the abuse, but is strapped with more child support and spousal support than he can reasonably pay. Man struggles to support for previous family while (you guessed it) he tries to attract another girl, but now he lacks the bright shiny objects. Eventually man loses everything to the ever increasing bleed of his past failures and sits as a shell of a man telling stories about how cool he was when he was young and how great it was in the good old days.
Anders you are very correct on many different levels those wheels are indeed very dangerous.

[jlrussell4]

These wheels are very common in certain communitys down here in Florida. You can even rent them http://206.125.208.236/forum/images/smilies/icon_sad.gif . Great financial decision huh? There have even been stories of shootings so that the wheels could be stolen http://206.125.208.236/forum/images/smilies/icon_evil.gif

[Archie]

Thats why I drove a 65 Dodge dart back in my younger years.

Archie

[Avalonjr]

If you don't buy the car in the first place you wouldn't need to take the job you didn't want. You'd have less to fix and more time. Money wouldn't be an issue since you don't have to pay for the car, fuel, insurance, repairs, tires. Being unencumbered, you'd have more time to play. There is plenty of women out there not looking to have a family. Now you have time to find them....


Its just hard to look cool in sneakers....

[Gonejunking]

Captiankirk
You are right on, on your assesment!!

Now I know why I never spent my money on fancy wheel's.

[FriarTuck]

Kirk, I read with great interest you're analysis of the situation, and was just about to chime in with total agreement, when it occurred to me that this car might belong to a "GIRL". Then I was struck with twing of whiplash pain in my neck when it occurred to me that in todays world, your're analysis still fits.

Tuck

[edwardd_]

Friar,

Overall looks would be important to a female. Also paint color must be coordinated with outfits and nails!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[captainkirk]

Friar
Thats an interesting observation, I did start it out with "person of the opposite sex" but then went on to the guys side of the situation. I can only be so politically correct at my age.

Funny One: Last week I was at the motorcycle shop I work in and was standing out front when a really good looking girl walked by, now I thought I had heard every line that could be said in this type situation but the biker standing next to me shakes his head and says " I think I'm really a lesbian caught in a mans body"....it took me a second but I had to crack up when I figured out what he had just said. I laughed about it the rest of the day :roll:

[anders nørgaard]

The taking of a "styling exercise" to extremes is based on what it has always been based on "getting noticed" by the opposite sex.
Shiny objects attract people because they represent wealth (diamonds, gold silver etc.) If the guy that owns this car can afford such big shiny wheels then he's obviously making money. People with money can provide security, woman of child bearing age are naturally attracted to people they perscieve could provide support for the pending family (feather the nest).
Men don't understand that they are attracting woman that are trying to start a family, they think the wheels have made them cool and now their the "Big Man On Campus" .
Now lets see what happens....guy buys wheels, guy attracts opposite sex looking to bear children, guy says hey this is great wouldn't it be great to have this all the time. Guy marries girl, girl pumps out a couple of puppies and the financial strain increases, Wheels and car are sold because the kids need new shoes, man breaks back for the next ten years to feed the squaking throngs in the nest (usually but not always woman puts on copious amounts of weight because she no longer needs to attract support but needs to prove to the courts she can no longer take care of herself)) man become very disenchanted with the whole scenario and pines away for the good old days of his youth. Man makes a break from the abuse, but is strapped with more child support and spousal support than he can reasonably pay. Man struggles to support for previous family while (you guessed it) he tries to attract another girl, but now he lacks the bright shiny objects. Eventually man loses everything to the ever increasing bleed of his past failures and sits as a shell of a man telling stories about how cool he was when he was young and how great it was in the good old days.
Anders you are very correct on many different levels those wheels are indeed very dangerous.

Lesson learned from this:

NEVER BUY BIG SHINY WHEELS!!!! :lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[Peter Miles]

Rick "Friar Tuck" Tucker said: Wow Peter, you were a ways from home....

That is a long way from home and I'm going back there again tomorrow.

I'm working on a software project for the U.S. Army at Fort Monroe, VA and will be there until the end of April. I only come home every other week for a 3-day weekend.

I took the pictures of the car in this thread on one of the weekends I spent in Virginia.

Peter

[Kerry Pinkerton]

I'm working on a software project for the U.S. Army at Fort Monroe, VA and will be there until the end of April. I only come home every other week for a 3-day weekend.

Peter, you ought to plan on coming up to Spring Carlisle in April.

[Peter Miles]

Kerry,

Have the dates been posted yet for Spring Carlisle?