Fitting R5 Gordini Wheels to R4?

[AQuags]

Hi All,

As I mentioned in my previous thread I have managed to get a full set of new R5 Gordini Wheels that look fab. I 'test-fitted' them yesterday and noticed a couple of points;

1/ Due to the wheels being thicker than the standard R4 wheels the wheel nuts only screw half way down the threads and I felt that was a little 'unsafe' for road use.

2/ The rear wheels very slightly fouled the rear body arches/panels when the cars was loaded or turned through a corner with 'gusto'.

Any thoughts on this guys? Are there wheel hubs with longer threads available? Is there an adjustment to allow the wheels to turn freely on the rear with out bending body panels?

I have seen a pic of R4 Alpine with R5 wheels AND lowered suspension, so it must be 'do-able'.

Cheers.

Andy.

 

[roodini]

Hi Andy,
I have a set of R5 Gordini wheels fitted with the Gordini wheel nuts to my R4GTL and i've had absolutely no problems whatsoever with them. I've even had ATS check them out and the staff were all perfectly happy that the studs were more than up to the job.
What size tyres are you running as mine has 155/70x13 and as yet they've not caught any part of the wheel arch, that's fully loaded with wife, kids, two bags of coal and a weeks shopping.

Rudi.

 

[AQuags]

Hi Rudi,

Mine are Michelin MXV 195/55R13's, the tyres came with the wheels.
Which Wheels do you have? There seem to be two types, both shown in the attached pics. Mine are the second type which I think are a little wider than the semi-solid ones in the first pic.

Cheers.

Andy

Hi Andy,
I have a set of R5 Gordini wheels fitted with the Gordini wheel nuts to my R4GTL and i've had absolutely no problems whatsoever with them. I've even had ATS check them out and the staff were all perfectly happy that the studs were more than up to the job.
What size tyres are you running as mine has 155/70x13 and as yet they've not caught any part of the wheel arch, that's fully loaded with wife, kids, two bags of coal and a weeks shopping.

Rudi.

 

[roodini]

I have the first set, (Gordini wheels, the second set are Gordini Turbo, both sets from the three stud Mk1 Renault 5's), fitted to mine. It's no wonder your tyres are catching the bodywork if your running 195's!
Have you tried asking on the Dutch Renault 4 site as these guys run a lot of modded R4 and i'm sure someone will have the info you need, most speak good english.

http://www.r4club.nl/phpBB2/index.php

You'll probably have to register and put your queery on the 'Sleutelen aan de Renault 4' page.

Best of luck, Rudi.

 

[malcolm]

We put some thought into wheelnuts recently: http://www.renault4.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=679&highlight=degrees

The standard R4 wheel nuts are unsafe - they don't locate the wheels - you need something that fits in the hole with a 45 degree taper. Maybe get some machined up.

For clearances the 4 was designed for 135 or 145 tyres, so 195 is pushing it a little. I've heard people use 175. Rubbing on the rear arches is common. It shoulf be possible to pull the wheelarches outwards (put your hands under the lip and pull), although it might take a bit of effort to pull them past 195s.

Do sort out the nuts though - a local machine shop should be able to help faiarly cheapaly, and might even modify the R4 nuts to suit.

 

[roodini]

Before I traced a set of Gordini wheel nuts through an advert on Practical Classics, I ground down the original R4 wheel nuts with an angle grinder and a guide for the 45 degrees taper.
Worked a treat and would still be on the car if I hadn't sourced the Gordini set.

 

[Pasha]

Hi,You will have no problems with 175 i have them on my car on back whells!!!Greetings from Serbia!!

 

[bobpike]

Hi, I own the lowered pale blue R4 on Gordini Turbo wheels.The chap I bought it off had trouble with the 175 60 tyres rubbing so changed to 165 60 tyres and it was no problem. Since I had it lowered I have knocked up the rear wheelarch lips to give a bit more space but it can rub a bit somewhere with passengers and enthusiastic cornering. Bob.