I just picked up a set of AT Italia rims. The size is 18"x9.5". The bad thing is that they came off of a Corvette. With the GM smaller hub dia. and the larger back spacing of the Corvette, they are not going to bolt right on. So I ordered up a set of GM 4.75x4.75x1.00 hubcentric spacers for the front and a set of GM 4.75x4.75x1.5 for the rear. Being that the GM wheel has a smaller center bore 70.5, the spacers will fit the wheels, but now the center bore is to small to fit Jaguar. So I rebored the first 1/2 inch of the bore to 73.8 which is what the Jaguar hubs are. I'm also adding a 5mm spacer to the rear from a BMW e39 5 series. The BMW is a 120 bolt pattern but it has the 73.8 center bore. For a flat spacer the BMW ones will work. I have some pictures of the painted calipers and rotors I'll put up and next weekend I will post the pictures of the wheels on the car.

 

Very nice wheels, well worth the effort.

Mark

 

The tire size I will be using on 4 is 275-40-18

 

I must say they are very nice... Sharp I might add...

I do have a question for the general forum on wheels thou,,, at last on these cars:

Are the older models that came with the smaller wheels and tires limited to those sizes,,, If not,,, then why Other Than Personal Preference would some not upgrade to a wide and taller wheel and tire,,,such as the 20" wheels that the newer cars came with,,, If not to at least fill up the fender well??? Just a thought,,,

And no we are not Drifting our cars where a smaller wheel would spin you thru the turns... but are there other performance reasons,,, tire wear,,, front end wear,,, ETC to keep smaller wheels???

 

bigJohn;

I think you'll need to go a little bigger on the bore to 73.9 or use the 74.0 BMW wheel. I am told the pre-2002 (or somewhere in there) BMW wheels have the 74.0 bore, but much smaller in the newer ones. That's what I'm running into while looking at some BMW oem wheels for my 97.

 

I thought about going with a 20" rim but the low pro tires give a bad ride. I just wanted to keep with the factory dim. of 26.7 in the tire height. With the 40 series 18" tire thats what I have. I'm also lowering the car and the extra room will be filled. The actual dim. on the hub is 73.8mm, they call it out at 74mm.

 

Just thought I would let everyone know that in the one picture with the wheel on, the suspension is hanging at it's lowest point. I will get some pictures of the car on the ground next weekend.

 

"I thought about going with a 20" rim but the low pro tires give a bad ride."

I would have to say that is personal preference... And I guess the I am in the mind set that this is more of a Quick Street Whip to be compared with the Porsche,BMW,Aston Martin ETC... than a Sedan such as the XJ series, which I would Expect more of a sedan ride and comfort...

I thought that we bought these cars because they were such a compliment to the road... And you could become One with the Road and the Drive,,, Not to distort the ride and forsake the TRUE FEEL of the Road,,, The Road Surface,,, and yes the bends,,,curves and pitch,,, For a (cue the soft music/nature effects) Soft ,,, mushy,,, boat floatly... body roll cornering,,, marshmellow soft on the Tushy RIDE,,,

But that is again is personal preference...

Aren't these a Super Street Sports Car??? At least in the U.S.

I thought the Rule of Thumb was,,,

4 Doors - Fatter sidewalls for a smoother 2 couples gong to dinner ride...

2 Doors - Thinner tires because its You,,, Your Dog and the Road,,, And both you and the dog have your head out the window with your tongue hanging and tail wagging,,, the wind in your face,,, BANGING THE TURNS AS FAST AS YOU CAN... that is till the wife call and tells you to come home...

 

I agree with you. A performance car should feel the road. But my 97 XK8 is not fast and is not the quickest, so it might as well have a nice ride. MN roads are not the greatest, and after the winter is over the pot holes will swallow a small car.

 

Nice wheels and well worth the determined effort to make them fit.

The bulkhead panel looks unusually clean and rust free. Have you done work on it as well or is it just a well preserved original?

Graham

 

I looked for awhile to find some wheels that I liked. I've always liked the look of a wide 5 spoke. I picked the rims and tires up for $800 for all. Could not pass it up. I have not done any other work to the car. I'm working right now on fitting a 2006 front bumper cover to it. More on that later.

 

be careful near those curbs bigjohnson! I shudder to think about it.

5-spoke is what I would do if I had to go aftermarket too. Looking forward to the 'ground' level pics.