Metric Rims

subius · Post by **subius** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:49 pm

The Vortex I've just bought has what I thought were Peugeot 15" alloys, however i've since learned they are a metric rim. 390 mm x 135 mm. They came out on the 505 Gti with 195/60 390 tyres I'm pretty sure.

Does anyone know if any manufacturers still make metric tyres in roughly that size? I asked at a local tyre shop and apparantly michelin used to make some, cost about $600 a tyre tho.

Here's a pic of the 'tex with 180/65 HR390

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:55 pm

Hmm they're 15.35" yeah? So that 15" Tyres will not fit even very tight?
Cheers
AP

subius · Post by **subius** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:07 pm

nope apparantly not. I did ask that at the shop, he just smiled and said, err no.

Matatak · Post by **Matatak** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:13 pm

no imperial size will fit.

metric tyres are VERY expensive if u can even find some.

best bet is to get some 14 alloys or something

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:22 pm

Curious, if you could machine them down to 15" do you think that you would be able to?
Cheers
AP

DavesB4 · Post by **DavesB4** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:46 pm

If I recall correctly - and I think I do - These rims were specifically made in an oddball metric size to specifically prevent regular tyres fitting the rims. This was because they were designed as an early type of "run flat" design where the bead remained in contact with the rim in the event of a deflation and allowed the rim to ride inside the deflated tread rather than cut the tyre to ribbons as it flopped all over the place. This was achieved by way of a clever and different bead design and which was incompatible with the existing and more common bead design. In fact the regular design was not able to seat properly in the rim.

I was under the impression that these particular rims came in 15" sizes as well -they may be pretty hard to find though. This website http://www.wheelcollision.com/pug1.htm is pretty good and suggests that the metric rims were on a 604 and the 15" ones were fitted to the 505. This link http://www.michelin-passion.com/passion ... 43&lang=EN will tell you about the TRX concept and mentions a lot of the cars that had them fitted as standard equipment in the 70's - that was nearly 40 years ago

!! There were a few manufacturers that experimented with this stuff for a short while including Ford in Australia with the LTD, Ferrari with an early 308 GTB/S and obviously Peugeot with these rims. Most manufacturers reverted to regular sized rims after just a year or two.

The fact that it was a short term experiment suggests to me that it was not a real successful concept. The best solution is to ditch them an go for the more regular sizes. The tyres are like gold - if you can find them!!

PS - Is that the Vortex with the WRX conversion?? Yorta check out our Vortex. It's here - http://subaruxt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8992

subius · Post by **subius** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:00 pm

Sounds about right Dave. I had a chat to a peugeot mechanic and he said they are pretty much useless now because the tyres are so rare. He has a set on his wall to hang his hoses on. They did also make imperial 15" rims but they still fetch a pretty hefty price from pug drivers if you can find a set.

oh well. looks like i'll have to convert it to 5 stud then.

btw, it does an ej 20 turbo conversion, but from an RS lib, not WRX. Do you know of it? I bought it as an unfinished project from someone else who bought it off the person who started the conversion. So i don't really know the whole story behind it.

DavesB4 · Post by **DavesB4** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:33 am

I only know about it because I saw it on EBay and having a blue Vortex in the build, it caught my eye. Ours has the original (although not in our particular car) EA82T. Did you look at that one?

I also have an RS Turbo - great car!

sven '2' · Post by **sven '2'** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 11:46 am

the Renault Feugo (two door sports late 80s) is the same - only michelien make the metric tyre to suit at $400+ a corner - and that 10 years ago!

So many owners were stung by this - was cheaper to by a tyre and mag package when OME tyres were done. Why you will not OME mags on any

sven

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 1:26 pm

AlpineRaven wrote:if you could machine them down to 15"

I too have wondered this

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:55 pm

Suparoo wrote:I too have wondered this

Yeah its only 0.889mm that would require to be removed?
Cheers
AP

stamp_licker · Post by **stamp_licker** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 11:18 pm

you could do this http://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/showth ... #post72916
Cut machined and weld 16" from a skyline using the TRX center

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 7:28 am

Thats quite interesting, i wonder how legal it is?

I wonder if we could turn 13" subaru alloys into 15" alloys using a similar process

LTurbo · Post by **LTurbo** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:45 pm

subius wrote: Does anyone know if any manufacturers still make metric tyres in roughly that size? I asked at a local tyre shop and apparantly michelin used to make some, cost about $600 a tyre tho.

Ask these guys, but if they have any left they are still prob expensive.

http://www.avontyres.com.au/index.htm

¨Stock has arrived of some of these, such as the 390mm range and some Rolls Royce sizes.¨