15" vs 17" wheels

[patrickt]

Please take pictures and post them in your gallery. Visiting ERA is really a lot of fun. I was up there when they were making the big transition from the #730 and before cars to the #731 and after cars. Having Bob P. point out the differences (and having both types of cars sitting next to each other) was a real treat.

[Jim Holden]

ROA-3:

I have found that taking a "burnt offering" to Peter (a/k/a the Wizard or OZ, Yosemite Sam, Keeper of the Flame, etc.) can be helphful in getting Peter's limited attention (the "span" at his age is very short). I would suggest the hottest stuffed Italian peppers you can find.

As for wheels, I favor the traditional look, ie: 15". I do think that 15" make the cars easier to sell, but having said that it is easy to swap them out. Far different than picking the "wrong" color.

Jim

PS: JW: "Development shop"? Surely you jest...

[PANAVIA]

OK, why not 16" >? are they not avail>?

15" tire sizes are a pain in the year 2008.

17" seems out of character for the car IMHO.

--Steve

[SP01715]

My car had 15's and I switched to 17's. The car handles much better with the 17's than the 15's and I don't regret the swap. I also like the look of the 17's as well, even though it is not the "original" look some want.

[Slick61]

Originally Posted by jimw427

R Smith,

I thought about going the other way, cash is always the issue for most of us, may be could trade, my 17"s for your 15"'s.........

Jim

Backdraft's have a unique, specific offset & bolt circle spacing that isn't compatible with most other brands...

[Stentor]

Originally Posted by PANAVIA

OK, why not 16" >? are they not avail>?

15" tire sizes are a pain in the year 2008.

17" seems out of character for the car IMHO.

--Steve

I don't believe the selection of 16" tires is very good for Cobras.

[Bob Marshall]

I am running Eagles that on the front they are R275/40ZR17 and on the rear 315/35ZR17 if you want traction that is the way to go....at 626 hp you need all you can get...don't last too long but great bite.

[RAO-3]

Jamie and patrickt, I will definitely dress for the occasion and take plenty of pics. Be glad to report back on what I find.

Jim, this will be an early morning run for me for my first trip up there so it will be hard for me to bring any treats, but will definitely check for "burnt offerings" for my subsequent trips.

I would also guess that the 15" tires do provide some ride "softening" that would be lost with the 17" tires.

Ray

[RAO-3]

Originally Posted by Slick61

Backdraft's have a unique, specific offset & bolt circle spacing that isn't compatible with most other brands...

I wasn't aware of that. I would guess that would further limit selection of wheels? Any thoughts or ideas about why they would go with a different offset/spacing? Just curious.

Ray

[decooney]

Originally Posted by Jim Holden

ROA-3:
ie: 15". I do think that 15" make the cars easier to sell,

C'mon now Jim, that's usually not part of the consideration when owning an ERA, unless you are selling it to build yet another ERA to replace it with of course. I see from your profile, replacement isn't an option either. One ERA with 15s and another car with 17s on it. That would work too!

[Jim Holden]

decooney:

Just to be clear, I presently have ERAFIA2045 and an almost complete ERAGT2077. My other "children" have gone on to other happy homes. For me, my ERA odyssey has been 25 year joy ride. Each ERA that I have built over the years was never done with the intent of selling... but in each instance that day did eventually come... usually unsolicited. (Cars are cheaper to change than wives). Based upon my experience there is a stronger demand for cars done "in period." Folks that deviate from that often find their cars harder to sell because of the "mods" that they felt compeled to do.

So, in my opinion, one cannot be oblivious to what the "market" is looking for in an ERA or any other car for that matter. I have never built one of these cars as an investment, but I wanted to be sure that when that day did come I could get most if not all of my money out of the car to inable me to go on to the next project. In doing so, I should add, I also aquired my spouse's approval of my motormania activities.

Jim

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Jim Holden

decooney:

Just to be clear, I presently have ERAFIA2045 and an almost complete ERAGT2077. My other "children" have gone on to other happy homes.

Hmm, when I bought my ERA Peter told me I wasn't allowed to sell it. He said "all ERAs come with restraints on alienation -- you have to keep them forever."

[decooney]

Jim,
I hear ya. Just teasing with it... as I'm itchin' to build another ERA myself and very happy with the one I have. Go figure. I'd probably build one just like it, and I couldn't answer why. Crazy how this passion takes can take ahold of us. This would be my 3rd Cobra, and it would probably have 15s on it too. Uh, on second thought, maybe back to helping friends build cars...

[Jim Holden]

deConney:

Just to clarify what I think Peter may have said to you (because he has most certainly said it on numerous occasions to me) is; "Once you become an ERA owner, you can't sell your car... but if you do, you have to send the money that you get for it to me." ...and that's just what I've done for the past 25 years...

and I've never regretted it for a moment.

Jim