DeTomaso Mailing List: May 1997, Message #96
     



From: "DiFatta, Andy" <adifatta@konover.com>

Subject: Wheels & Tires

Date: Sat, 3 May 1997 16:20:00 -0400



Hi all:



Many of us have learned by experience that the Pantera is an "exotic"

car.  I think this means that each of the cars produced may be slightly

different than the one just before it or just after it on the so called

"production line".  Even worse, sometimes the left side of the car

doesn't even match the right side of the car.



When it comes to wheels and tires, please be careful!  Just because a

wheel and tire combination fits on one car....there is no guarantee it

will fit on your car.  For example, when I was searching for an

alternative set of wheels and tires for my copper '72 Pre-L (#4220), I

was told a 225/50ZR16 would fit perfectly on the front of the car.

After purchasing the tires, I learned that they would probably fit on an

L car, but the Pre-L's had less clearance in and around the front fender

wells.  Fortunately, the dealer exchanged the 225/50ZR16's for a set of

225/45ZR16's and everything works fine now.



In this first example, the diameter of a 225/50 15 tire is 23.9 inches.

The diameter of the 225/50 16 is 24.9 inches (exactly 1 inch larger).

Some cars can handle this difference, but not all cars are alike.  The

diameter of the 225/45 16 is 24.0 inches.  The difference between this

and the 15 inch tire is only 1 tenth of an inch.



I also was told that once you get a set of 10" Campis, you can put the

8" rear Campis on the front of the car.  Well, I tried this too!  You

would have thought I would have learned by now.  After trying 2

different size spacers, I am about to take the 8" wheels off and go back

to the 7" factory wheels in front with the 10" Campis in back.  I don't

know if other people experience these sort of things, but the grinding

noise I heard during turns was only coming from the left front fender

area.  The right side fits fine, but the left side is a problem.



When I mentioned this to one of the guys who is known for doing a lot of

work on Panteras, his comment about the grinding noise was:  "So!  Let

the grinding go on for a while....it should stop soon....It's not that

unusual.....Just don't turn the wheel that far to the left."  The

grinding was the result of a suspension component digging into the back

side of the 8" Campi wheel.  Sure it would stop after the grinding has

done its damage.  After reading about the magnesium in the original

Campis, I'm not ready to just casually let the inside of my wheel get

ground up by a suspension part.  Another solution would be to file off a

piece of the suspension part.  Although this would probably work, the

offsets on the 7" rim are different than the 8" rim.  The 8" rim has

more backspacing, and thus the need for spacers.  So I've decided to go

back to 7" Campis in front and eliminate the problem all together.



So a word to the wise.....before you go out and buy 235/40ZR17's

(diameter 24.4 inches) or 245/45ZR16's (diameter 24.65 inches), ask a

friend or club member who has these if you can borrow his set of tires

to see if any clearance problems arise.



Changing wheels and tires is a large investment.  Don't assume anything,

and use your own common sense.  Remember, an informed decision is always

better than a shot in the dark.  And if someone says it will fit, ask

them if they will guarantee that you can turn your steering wheel from

lock to lock without any rubbing or grinding sounds as you drive.



Until next time.....see ya!



Andy