full size spare, worth a custom wheel (Fuch)? (4 or 5 wheels? )

[Fisher, Scott]

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Craig Lebakken (I *think* it was -- the who-said-what is a bit spotty) said:

> As much as I tried to make the car look "stock", (and I have
> always loved the original Ronal R8 16 spoke), I really wish
> I would have gone with 15" instead of 16".

Whoever said this -- it's advice I've never regretted.

A little over a year ago I put 15 x 7" rims on my '83 CGT.  My goals were to
keep close to the original tire diameter for gearing/speedo concerns (more
later on THAT), avoid any problems with rubbing or interference with
suspension components, and oh right, go with a wider section tire with a
lower aspect ratio to improve grip, transient response, and steering feel.

Boy, did I win on all counts.  As a side benefit, the 15 x 7 rims really
make the car look better -- the extra width is all on the outside, it seems,
as the tires fill the wheel arches in the vertical plane MUCH better than
the 14" stock rims did, yet there's no risk of rubbing or interference on
the inside or outside.

The car feels like it's painted to the roadway, even in really heavy rain,
of which we've had a bit this year in Portland.  But I have had NO problems
with the fitment of 15" wheels and 195/50 series tires.  Given the otherwise
stock suspension and engine in this car, I sincerely believe that any more
rubber would be a waste.  So since the original question seemed to address
the issues of 4K owners, there should be some applicability to my '83 CGT,
certainly at the front.

As for speedo issues: the Oregon State Police recently helped me determine
that there is roughly a 10% difference between my indicated speed and the
actual speed.  After the officer had me sign the, um, speedometer test
result form but before I returned it to the court, I had occasion to use the
posted speedometer test signs on I-5 just south of here, and found that at
an indicated 60 MPH and 3000 RPM, I was covering the measured mile in 54
seconds.  I have since adjusted my driving accordingly.

Note to fellow Oregonians or those traveling through southern Oregon,
specifically in the area near Roseburg (roughly milepost 120-150 on I-5):
I'm sure the Oregon State Police will be equally happy to use their laser
systems to determine the accuracy of *your* speedometer.  It's a helpful and
friendly service, but a bit on the expensive side.  Better to use the
mileage markers on your own, and program the returned values into the
Quattro List Cloaking Device (TM).

Best,

--Scott Fisher
  Tualatin, Oregon
  planning on using the QLCD on tomorrow's trip