Reproduction Campi Rims

OK Steve & Tom

Here's more information for you to digest. I hope it helps both of you.

I began by surveying every possible tire that was the proper width and diameter for the front or rear of the Pantera, designed for wheels 15" diameter through 20" diameter.



Once I determined which sizes were available and which sizes weren't, I began grouping front tires with every possible rear tire; the rear tires had to be between 1.7" to 2.3" greater in diameter than the diameter of the front tires. Those groupings became the basis of my master list. The master list was an intermediate step, it was not intended to be made public "as-is". The first tire list I posted, my "final list", is based on this "master list". The two right hand columns show the availability of matched sets at the Tire Rack and at On-Line Tires.

I'm sharing the master list below so you can see my criteria for a tire set, you'll understand why some tire sets were not considered, you can see all the tire sets I did consider, including those tire sets which were omitted from the final list due to the lack of tire set availability (some were omitted for other reasons as well). David perhaps you'll see why I haven't recommended 235 cross-section front tires in the past, its not because I don't like the size, I do. They are the max width tire that can be installed without rubbing at "full-lock" or during cornering, I get it. And their ~24.5 OD is a good match for many rear tires. Examining the master list however will reveal that the availability of front/rear sets utilizing tires with 235mm cross-section has been poor.


.

I just installed 17-8 in the front and 7-11 in the rear If i was to buy them again i would go for 17-8 by 18-10 . The vender all seem to want to sell 17-8 and 17-11

George that's an amazing chart! Jeez what detail! Pretty interesting to see the sweet spot on the chart for tires now available. Glad I got what I did. But looks like with only 5 tires in the rear size I want I may be looking at scarcity in a few years with the rear rim width I have. Worse case I guess I could get a wider 11" hoop put on my 18' center.

There is definitely a "sweet spot". When you mix the tire sets having a 2" stagger in wheel diameter with the other sets the sweet spot is even more obvious. I separated those sets from the others because I realize very few people are interested in them.

My stance, once again, the tire market has moved on since the 1990s when the current Campy clone wheels were conceived. It’s time for the aftermarket Pantera wheel offerings to evolve and better compliment what the tire industry is offering today ... including the ability to purchase the same make and model tires for the front and rear. It is bad engineering to mix makes and models of tires for the front and rear. Owners of mid-engine sports cars such as the Pantera should not have to do that.

Here's a challenge

The first vendor to offer a new Campy clone rear wheel in 18x10 shall receive 6 months free banner ad advertising on our forums! If a vendor will utilize their existing 17x8 Campy clone, and combine it with a new 18x10 wheel for the rear, instead of having no matched front/rear tire sets, the new tire combination will have 15 matched front/rear tire sets at the tire Rack alone (225/45R17 plus 275/40R18). 35 matched sets at On Line Tires! Nobody is happy with the current situation. That vendor would become the only vendor offering the Pantera hobby a wheel set that has good tire availability ... including matched front & rear sets ... PERIOD. Plus that vendor would attract owners who may have been put-off by the width or expense of the 335/35R17 tire.

Doesn't that make sense?

when i was looking to buy rear tires for my 17- 11 I found the following sizes
285/40/17 too narrow give you that stretched look 305/35/17 too short messes up your speedometer makes the front too high 335/35/17 very very expensive and too wide . I hope that people thinking about getting 4 17" would think twice

The cost of Pantera ownership is minimal compared to most other exotics and all Pantera owners seem to do is complain about the price of everything.

How many years do you spread the cost of the tires over? Most will be out of date before they are worn out. You'll drop $3K on a set of wheels, to save $500 on tires and only go through two sets of tires in the next 20 years!

Every vendor has diferent take on a Campi clone so don't for one minute believe you can just buy a set of rears.

Flame suit on....

quote:

Originally posted by Joules:


Flame suit on....

Julian,

Couldn't have said it better myself !

I had a conversation with American Republic Wheels, expressed to them George's offer for 6-month free banner to develop 18", he didn't "jump" at it

-I see validity in all points above thanks for everyone's input
-ordered 17" with the big $$$ tires, maybe lesser of all evils

quote:

Originally posted by Joules:
The cost of Pantera ownership is minimal compared to most other exotics but many Pantera owners seem to complain about the price of that ownership.

How many years do you spread the cost of the tires over? Most will be out of date before they are worn out. People will drop $3K on a set of wheels, to save $500 on tires and only go through two sets of tires in the next 20 years!

Every vendor has a diferent take on a Campi clone so don't for one minute believe you can just buy a set of rears.

Flame suit on....

Ron here is link to pictures

http://imgur.com/a/D7nXO#0

The wheels in your link are american racing 200S ''daisy spoke''

oh thanks I was mistaken, appreciate it as I don't want anyone to be mislead

quote:

I plan on using a 235/40 x 17 or 245/40 x 17 for the front, and 285/40 x 18 for the rear. Going with the Continental Extreme Contact DW it's a W rated tire and has both sizes. Both these sizes match the original Pantera tire diameter for a narrow body. Obviously the sidewalls will be shorter but IMO 40's look pretty good. A bit of the new look (shorter side walls and taller wheels) but still keeping with the original wheel look and definitely a better tire than what came stock on any OEM Pantera.

Tom, any update on your 285/40/18 tires? What size did you get for the fronts and how do they drive? Also, do you have an opinion on what 17" versions might be like? They are virtually the same diameter (26") as the 335/35/17s. The best choice in that size appears the Continental ExtremeContact DW with has 3 options for the fronts less than 25" dia: 245/40/17, 225/45/17, and 215/45/17. I don't see the 235/40/17 you mentioned for the DWs.

Options for 17" wheels are becoming very limited. The Kumho ecsta XS is, depending who you talk to, either discontinued or "on back order". They had a 315/35/17 (with a matching 235/40/17) tire that I was planning on getting but haven't been able to find any.