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TR4/4A "Mini-lite" wheels for TR-4 [what size?]

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Bruno_69z28

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I'm getting ready to buy new wheels for my 65 TR-4. I have 14x5.5 four spoke U.S. wheels with 195/70-14R tires on the car now. I put them on 23 years ago and its time for a change.
I like the "mini lite " style wheel. I've read posts regarding the Panasport 15/5.5 with a +6mm offset (they're not cheap!) Even on sale they're over $1000-/set.
I've also read posts on the Superlite 15x6 with a +3mm offset (at about $650-/set). These Superlite rims are the UK version.
Has anyone tried these wheels on their TR-4? Do they fit without rubbing and what tire size are you using? I don't like the tire to hang out past the fender.
Also, the car has been lowerd about 1 inch.

Thanks to everyone for your help.
 
Either of those should fit fine - I know of several people who run the 15x6 with 205/70/15 tires and don't report any rubbing.
 
Hi,

I've got a set of KN Minators, which are Minilite copies from England, on my TR4, 15x5.5, fitted with 195/60/15 Goodyear Eagle HP tires. Manufacturer's website is www.knwheels.co.uk These are the less expensive wheel (but not cheap) that TRF, Moss and others sell. They are completely silver (Argent) without a polished rim. I don't believe there are any other colors available, but they do make a centerlock version for use on cars with wire wheel adapters. I think KN wheels are slightly heavier than Panasport or Superlite, but don't have direct comparisons. KN Minators are very well made, but use a somewhat unique lugnut (supplied with them). They have a very plain painted center cap, if plan to use one.

With the KN Minotars on my car, clearance at the top a-arms is minimal but adequate. But part of that might be that I'm using Revington adjustable upper fulcrums and have about 1 degree negative camber dialed in (originally the cars had +2 or +3 degrees).

TRF, Moss, etc. also sell the silver Panasport in 15x6. These are made in Japan and tend to be higher priced, but are very well made. There are "street" and "race-only lightweight" versions of Panasport Minilite.

If I were shopping today, I'd definitely try a set of the Superlite 15x6 (manufacturer's website https://www.superlite-wheels.com/index.html ). I've seen them on TR4 and they are very difficult to tell from the much more expensive Panasport. In fact, Superlites are significantly less expensive than the KN wheels, too. Despite the wider width, the Panasport and Superlite seem to fit fine with at least as much clearance as the KN wheels I'm using. I believe the Panasport and Superlite have different offset than the KN.

Superlite seem to be available in a nice selection of colors. Panasport, too, but I have often heard they take 3 to 6 months to get anything other than silver. No one seems to stock the colors other than silver, which means special ordering. Superlites in colors other than silver appear to be special order, too, but I dunno how long it takes to get a set.

I've seen nice looking octagonal chrome center caps on both Panasport and Superlite wheels, if you plan to use these.


Superlites might be a bit harder to find. The only U.S. source I know of, for sizes to fit TRs, is Pack Racing Products in Arizona, https://www.packracingproducts.com/page_wheels.html

Occasionally I have seen them and others offer Superlite wheel sets on eBay, too. I have a link to another source, but that website was gone, when I checked just now.

How well the wheels/tires will fit your car is a little open to question, I'm afraid. You say it's a '65 TR4. If it's a TR4A with adjustable front suspension, making adjustment usually moves the lower arms away from the chassis and allows fitting 205/70 or 205/65/15s, as Raymond says.

A TR4, however, does not have adjustable front suspension, unless modified the way mine has been. That adjustment moves the top arms inward. In this case, a 195/70/, 195/65 or 195/60/15 tire might be the widest possible. 185/70 can also be used on the 5.5" wheel, and would likely be about the closest to the original tires (I've got one original, well-worn tire on a spare wheel for comparison.)

Hope this helps with your decision.
 
Thanks Raymond and Alan. Hopefully someone with these UK version of Superlite rims will post a reply.

Alan,these Revington adjustable upper fulcrums sound like a great idea. Do they adjust the camber on the TR-4s ?
Where can I get them?

thanks again
 
[ QUOTE ]
Alan,these Revington adjustable upper fulcrums sound like a great idea. Do they adjust the camber on the TR-4s ?
Where can I get them?

[/ QUOTE ]


www.revingtontr.com is the source of the adjustable fulcrums.

They are a pretty good setup, but do require the front suspension be disassembled for installation. Two nuts need to be welded up inside each spring tower. Some added gusseting might be needed in one configuration (car lowered to about 4" of ground clearance), because one of the existing gusseting webs has to be trimmed to fit the fulcrum. However, in the other configuration (5.5-6" ground clearance, approx.) that's not necessary.

The fulcrums need to be installed, then set up at an allignment shop. After that, the adjustable plates on the fulcrums get welded in place.

Because they set the upper a-arms wider apart, the outer ends of those arms often need to be trimmed a little, sometimes just rounded off. Nothing major, though. I did that to increase clearance with the 5.5" KN wheels. I don't know if the offset is different on Superlites and Panasports, but they are 6" wide, so I imagine similar trimming would be necessary.

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