Looking for suggestions for alternate (onroad) wheels/tires for classic Optima

[OptimaFan]

I recently got hold of a Turbo Optima, running white Option House rims and foam tires. I like the look of this setup, it's just like a hot rod this way, but want to spare the "foamies". Now I'm having trouble finding similar size onroad/touring wheels/tires, for running the car. Most are either too big 85 mm or larger, or too narrow, or both. What I would like is tires of about 70 mm outer diameter, and between 35 and 40 mm wide.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

[optiman]

I suggest you get one of those cool looking onroad aluminum wheels that are now available on ebay with some onroad tires.

[OptimaFan]

You happen to know the dimensions of those wheels? Most I found so far are 26 mm wide only, for touring cars. Perhaps a link?

And what offset are the Option House wheels?


Here's a pic of how it looks now, I think the wide wheels really add some "attitude" to the car:

[alcyon]

Get Tamiya Gravel hound wheels. 53089 and 53086. Then get Proline 2.2" buggy on road tyres. those should fit. The Gravel hound wheels are actually Top Force rims, so if you like that shape, go for it. oops just realized you want 70mm O.D.. I am afraid only choice is to by vintage arrows tires.

[OptimaFan]

I got a tip to use Tamiya TGX wheels, which are close to the dimensions I am looking for. But I haven't found a source to get them though...

[ralphee]

Contact foams, choose any rim, your good to go!

lee

[OptimaFan]

I still have trouble finding foams that fit those Optima rims. Anyone got a source for foams that fit guaranteed? The car got a freshly painted body, so now it only needs new tires to complete the picture:

[dodgydiy]

1/8 foam donuts trued down?? or even pro10 ones possibly? easy to cut to right width and reasonably accurate truing can be done without special tools

[ralphee]

Contact Foams, fit touring cars, also fit Kyosho/Tamiya wheels, posted it days ago for you, there what i use, buy them via Schumacher if needs be!

lee

[OptimaFan]

Contact is a brand? I thought you were referring to a type of tire. Schumacher should be available in the Netherlands, I'll check it out, thanks!

[terry.sc]

ContactRC is Schumachers brand for their foam tyres http://www.racing-cars.com/products.asp?partno=news965 we are running buggies on their foams, the ones you want are the 1/8th stock car donuts which are made for 2" wheels and will stretch to fit on 2.2" wheels as well.

Corally still sell donuts for 1/10th Pro10 pan cars which will also fit buggy wheels.

Foams come with different shore ratings, the lower the shore number the softer the tyre. 45 shore will give you some grip and will last for a very long time before they wear. 35 shore will give you much more grip, but will wear faster.

[OptimaFan]

Ah, I'm getting it. Never ran foams before, I just took ultra cheap spike tyres up till now for onroad.

[ralphee]

Think I'm running 35s and they work great. You may need to trim them, but then again, they should slip over your Kyosho rims and be very close on width fit. Make a makeshift arbor in a drill press and chamfer the sidewalls down some with a sanding block.

lee

[ralphee]

These are Contacts fitted to my Yokomo rims, for a narrow front, you will have to trim, i just lay the bonded tyre flat, and rotate against a makeshift block that sports a scalpel blade, you get a perfect cut, then just run them up in a drill press to sand the sidewalls. Ive fitted them to Egress rims, and TRF rims too, using a contact adhesive, like Evo stik to bond, love foams on buggies, takes me a way back to car park and fire hose meets lol.

lee