STARTECH VAN WHEELS

[dannos85]

Hurry Up!

I want to see what all 4 look like on.

lol

[Burgerman]

OK... Just finished.

[Burgerman]

And they do not feel any different to the tyres we removed. Slightly harsher (10 percent?) in curbs or speed bumps, otherwise they seem smoother and quieter. And thats expected since they are lower profile. Amazing considering the bad rep that runflat tyres get! Steering lighter too. Pressures at 34 psi.

[dannos85]

Looks Very Nice.
Have you been on a dual carriage way with them yet?
Its the long distance that matters, You say they are smoother than the kumho 18s?

[Burgerman]

Yep went straight down the M180 awful concrete road (dual cabbageway)... Its loud... Has grooves cut left to right for drainage. Its quieter and smoother. And wheel balance perfect. Very impressed with pirellis every time I used them. Even on big bikes. Went to 120mph eventually on a slight downhill (on a private road ) just to test. Been on for 45 miles now.

[dannos85]

From previous conversation I really think 20" wheels would have been a bad move for these cars, the ride comfort would have been terrible.

The 20" tyres would have been a fair bit more expensive, for less rubber..

The 19's look right & there is still plenty of rubber between the wheels & the tarmac.

Personally I have not had the chance to try out various different tyres, But my car's stock tyres were 215/65/16 Goodyear Eagle Nct5 & I never thought about the noise as it was normal to me.
Now the car is on 245/50/18 dunlop run flat tyres, I would say they are louder than the stock ones.

On the plus side the car seems to be pulling a little faster, as if its geared up... & the fuel economy/MPG has improved a bit.
(slightly larger rolling radius 16mm?)

[Burgerman]

Yes. I noticed this. The speedo in mine no longer reads slightly fast. It matches the phones gps speedometer almost exactly up to about 90mph, then reads less than the phone.

For what its worth, a tyre calc says the 245/50 18s are 1mm smaller diameter than the 245/45 19s overall. But tyres are sized nominally. Which means they are whatever size they end up! The width of these seems the exact same as before. But they are a couple of mm less diameter than the ecstas that came off.

[Burgerman]

www.wheelchairdriver.com/images-rollx-van/wheels.jpg

Bigger

[Burgerman]

Disabled? Cant reach a tyre pressure guage? These work on all our cars, and give green, yellow or red signals. 20 to 42 PSI available.

Just ordered a set. In black or silver.

Essential with runflats, useful for everyone else! Even normal powerchairs. Wont work on 5psi all terrain/turf tyres.

Search TYRE GUARD, mine are from Amazon.

[Burgerman]

DANNOS85, WHat pressure do you use? Mine was best at 34 rear 36 front give or take a couple with 10 inch tyres (245 / 50 size)
Less gave no ride improvement and started to wear edges.

These 19 inch runflats dont seem very sensitive to pressure. Tested with 25 to 40, you can hardly detect any difference... Which os odd, since I could on the 18s quite drastically. I suppose if you go below x pressure the sidewalls take over? They dont look "flat at the bottom" even at 10 psi! Visually nothing changes. At zero pressure you can see its low though.

So stuck 34 in all round for now, and ordered those caps in 34 psi...

[dannos85]

Well the book says 36psi for stock.

The tyre shop I went to said 34psi should be about right on the 245 50 18

My car has the Dunlop Run Flat tyres on the rear, Same on the front but, Non Run Flat. Has (J) writen on the fronts for Jaguar.

These cars have such alot of steer caster on an upward angle that the outer edge of the tyres wears fast, Like BMWs 7 series for example.

Im thinking maybe go up to 36psi & check theyre holding up more offen

[dannos85]

I may look into pressure guages myself, Seem a good bit of kit but I have been looking at these digital wireless systems
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TYRE-PRESSURE ... 27b230aa15

Abit to expensive, & would have to get the tyres back off the rims to fit the sensors in the rims

[Burgerman]

Seems like much trouble and expense when the valve caps tell you the same thing every loo stop!

[Burgerman]

http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/images-startech-wheels/

Bigger should you be interested. And all at iso 3200...

[dannos85]

Now 3 Weeks down the line.

How are you getting on with the 19" wheels?

[Burgerman]

Love them. Especially those low profile runflat pirellis. I absolutely expected a harsh ride,

a. because 19s give a much smaller sidewall
b. because of the fearsome reputation runflats have for ride comfort - esp on lower profile rubber.

All fears were completely groundless. The ride is if anything improved. How thats possible beats me. But thats how it feels. Turn in is more "go-kart" now, so steering response is definitely more instant, so driving fast down narrow streets etc feels more accurate and controlled and easy. Tyre noise is decreased.

I have always loved pirelli tyres at least hi end ones, on fast cars and big bikes. These are in a different league to the cheap 18 inch ones I had fitted before in every way. And these are almost as quiet as stock tyres, much quieter than the 18s were.

Huge improvement over the 18s in many ways, which I didnt actually expect.

Anyone interested my 18s, with tyres or stock wheels and unused tyres are all for sale. Collection from grimsby in person or by carrier. Make me an offer. See here: http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/images- ... -small.jpg

[dannos85]

Hi BM

I'm back on the wheels n tyres subject again.
I have been looking at the "Tyre Size Calculator" on etyres - http://www.etyres.co.uk/tyre-size-calculator

The stock wheel size on 2001-2008 Chrysler Voyager / Dodge Caravan is 215/65 R16

I put into the calculator the tyre size you have chosen for your 19's - 245/45 R19 - For improved ground clearance with wheelchair conversion.

The difference in diameter is 2.48% & that is 17mm taller.

As I am a new driver using paravan sticks & not wanting any tickets, I am very concerned about the difference in the speed

For example & Just a guess..

If the speedo reads 30mph am I actually going nearer 32mph ?

If the speedo reads 70mph am I actually going nearer 74mph ?

A size 235/45 R19 tyre is different to stock by 1.17% or 8mm taller
It seems a safer size for the speedo, but then the rim does not have quite as much protection

How far out is the speedo really on 245 45 19's & can speedo's be calibrated in any way to suit a larger rolling radius?

STARTECH IMAGE

[Burgerman]

If the speedo reads 30mph am I actually going nearer 32mph ?

If the speedo reads 70mph am I actually going nearer 74mph ?

No because STOCK tyres/speedo usually read between 5 and 10mph HIGH! For a bunch of reasons.

Just to begin with tyre sizes are nominal, not exact. Different manufacturers tyres vary by more than this! And 8mm of tread can wear off changing diameter by 16mm. Even inflation pressure varies this diameter. And by law a speedo must never read low. But ignoring all of this...

Almost all vehicle speedometers over read - often more so at higher speeds. And two identical vehicles may read differently too as these things are not very consistent.

The GPS in my phone is accurate. My vans speed used to over read quite a lot at low speeds and was almost correct at high speeds. The revese of what you usually find, but over reading all the same. After fitting "bigger" tyres it now under reads by about 1mph at 40mph And by about 2.5mph at 100+

That actually makes the error muchless than before... But in the opposite direction. Either way more accurate than you need.

What I am saying is that car speedometers are not accurate anyway. And the difference it makes isn't big enough to matter and may end up improving its actual accuracy...

Some start off more accurate than others. Test it with your phone, and then you decide if it matters. Anything up to a 5 percent error wouldn't make any practical difference to you would it? That would be just 1.something mph at 30mph town speeds. And you wont get a ticket unless you are significantly above the limit.

Read this. Fitting bigger tyres diameter usually just makes your speedo MORE accurate... http://www.thecarexpert.co.uk/how-accur ... eedometer/

[ex-Gooserider]

Agreed - unless you do something that makes a HUGE difference in tire size - like jacking the vehicle suspension up and putting on big off-road tires, the impact on your speedo reading is going to be minimal...

Since at least here in the US, most cops will allow at least 5-10mph over the limit before ticketing you, (both because the fines for smaller violations aren't worth it, and the question of speedometer error) the speedo error is not going to get you a ticket - lead feet (or hands in our case) are what does that....


I know I'm a little disappointed - I replaced one pair of the OEM tires with the much better rated (and far more expensive) Michelin "Defender" tires - that are supposed to be good for at least 90Kmiles and are also "reduced rolling resistance" tires that are supposed to slightly improve mileage - but my mileage has gone DOWN..... (I run my tires at 44 PSI (sidewall max presssure) cold which is also supposed to help on gas and tire life...)

I'm not sold on the need for fancy wheels, and am willing to take my chances on flats - given that these tires are high quality steel belted tires I think it's a reasonable chance...

ex-Gooserider

[Burgerman]

I will remind you when you are stuck at 1am with a flat... I wanted big wheels because they look cool.

And because I wanted runflats. Because I intend fitting an additional donut shaped LPG tank where the spare used to go.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksi ... &_from=R40

And a complete 6 cylinder LPG kit for about £350 UK http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STAG-300-6-AU ... 1c2cbb1ceb

One day soon. And get a big LPG heating tank at home. There's no additional road tax on heating fuel...

Running at high pressure may help mileage a tiny bit, but wears out the centres faster. So negates any fuel you saved... And gives a harsh ride too. So unless it give a pretty marked benefit it may be false economy.

Correct tyre pressure is generally one that gives even wear across the tread. Low pressure wears edges. High pressure wears centre.

[Haveit]

Hi
can't believe I missed those wheels, they are top class!! Has anyone any info where i can get a similar deal?

[Burgerman]

ebay Germany. Very cheap.

[Haveit]

ive checked, there aint any on only 22" so way to big ;-(

[Burgerman]

http://www.ebay.de/itm/NEU-Startech-Mon ... 1048536339

This guy not so cheap. But posts a set now and again. These just ended.

There are others. You just have to keep eyes peeled. Or email him?

He sells to Italy too http://www.ebay.it/itm/NEU-Startech-Mon ... 1048536339

More (8?) http://www.blocket.se/goteborg/STARTECH ... 727584.htm

[Haveit]

thanks for that, I shall investigate, I have had to re register because i can't log on.........
have you seen this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Off-Road-cust ... 3a8976189e
are they allowed?

[LROBBINS]

See the thread http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3347 Allowed (whatever you mean by that) or not, the guy who's advertising this is a CROOK. Ciao, Lenny

[Burgerman]

I paid 78 uk pounds each for these. Inc 2 sets of centre caps, and valve adapters, and nuts. And all wrapped in plastic, boxed etc.

So you can get 5 for 400 uk pounds. Or about 400 euros give or take a bit. Or you COULD about 1 year ago.

These are 2 part wheels. So IF they are a bit too far out (and touch your rear door trim when open) you could just add a washer or two washers to where the rim bolts to the centre. Mine don't. there's a 3mm gap.







These are actually branded Startech, but are in fact Brabus wheels. That may help you find some.

[Haveit]

wow, they are super cool!
if you come across any give me a shout please, if i find some and i post the link on here will you ok them?

[Burgerman]

I can, but you are looking for any:

19 x 8.5J ET 35, (114.3 X 5 STUD) WHEELS. 245/45/19 tyres
OR
20 X 9J ET 35 (+/-5) 245/40/20 tyres.
OR
18 X 8.5J ET 35 245/50/18 tyres.

ET may vary 5mm.

[Burgerman]

These are also 2 bit wheels. These are 20 x 9, and use 235 40, 245 35, 245 40 x20 tyres depending which you prefer.

235 35 20 fitted in this picture. http://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rshop. ... eugart=PKW

I would use higher profile ones such as http://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rshop. ... eugart=PKW


The 20s are OK but give a slightly harsher ride. I wouldn't mind a set of these! Hard to find now.