RS Motorsport :: Classic Speed Restored

Hopefully I'm not going over old ground here but have had a search through the forum and haven't found anything on this particular topic.

My issue us that I am currently running 15x6 Superlites on my gravel rally escort and am going through them like they are going out of fashion. Wondering what peoples experiences and opinions are on the best - strongest/lightest/best value 15x6 or 15x7 wheel is.

I am running fairly low profile 185\60 tyres so not giving the rim much cushioning. also looking for as close to zero or negative offset as the car is arched.

Thanks for any help

When you say going through them...do you mean smashing them?

I haven't heard bad things from Minilite and Compomotive ML's in Twenty years of being around Forest Rallying. In the end though it depends on what you hit....If you stick the arse end in a ditch all the time you're asking for trouble and can break anything.

Can't comment on Panasport as I don't know many people using them on the gravel?

I have heard differing stories around Superlites though, but gotta say never had a bad experience myself apart from them not being Super light!

I once cracked an original magnesium minilite on my mini and it broke my sledgehammer trying to get the tyre off the wheel!!

Mark J

Mark J,

Thanks for the reply - yes, breaking/bending the rims. Have been through 4 in the last few rallys - landed relatively heavily off a jump and split the rim, clipped a tree root and bent the rim.. I don't consider the impacts so great that the wheels should break and and am wondering that even if another rim is twice as much will it last twice as long....

Minilites seem to be a reasonable price.. not sure on best place to get compomotives.

When I bought my "original" Escort it came with 13" superlights and I was also going through 1 per event on average.

When I built my new car I decided to bite the bullet and buy something stronger. I went with these Cromodora/Sparco wheels for something different.



I bought 10 and after 5 seasons have seven left. At about twice the price of a superlight is it worth it though? I think it worth it for the reduced hassles.

Can you go back to 14" wheels to give the wheels a little more "cushion"?

Cam,

car looks good! are they 6" or 7" wide? reasonably light?

I'm pretty set on using 15inch wheels as I bought a large number of 2nd hand 15" rubber to use.

Thanks
Rian

Most common Escort Forest rim in the UK and Ireland are Compomotive ML's.....Very strong, hence quite pricey but if you want that classic look then go for it. Exchange Rate is good at the moment though! Shop on UK Ebay they're not too bad on there.

I'm probably going 15's when I chuck it in the forest but will go 65-70series and up the diff Ratio to compensate.

Russell Stuckey is the Australian Compomotive Importer. Ph 03 9386 5331.

Cheers, David.

Thanks guys.

I'll check out the ML prices from stuckey and overseas.

Danny,

well life's a compromise right so they are all factors - for me superlites are the benchmark because thats what I am used too - if another type of rim lasts more than twice as long then even if they are twice the price of superlites they are still better value. Weight is less of a priority than price and strength because superlites are reasonably weighty but an improvement in weight would be a bonus.

are you just testing or are you able to provide any input to the question - have you any experience with the different types of wheels?

Danny,

Thankyou for that - some good information there. I had virtually decided on ML's over minilites but will now rethink the minilite and also think about panasports - was a bit worried about them as they do seem awfully light - perhaps too light for forest rally but according to you they are more than up to the task.

Can you provide any guidance on where to buy them - here or overseas?

Rian.

my opinion is whatever you get buy direct from the UK thats what i did ossie dollar has good exchange rate. i got 5 off 9 X 18 Comp MO,s for $1600 plus freight.

Old thread I know....

To update from what Ossie Cossie said, I just got a quote of $1660 door to door for 5 Compomotive ML 15x7. Not too bad. (And yes I would love Panasports but they are more exy and not easy to get talk to.)