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    Can someone explain to me what's so special about Smart wheels. I remember reading a topic about putting rear wheels on the front to give wide tyres all round and lots of people were saying the it was a very bad idea as the offsets are completely different and the handling would be awful as a result - whats the deal with this?

    Also if there is something different about Smart wheels (apart from the differing widths) does that mean that I couldn't go to a shop and by a new set of any style 15" wheels and fit them??

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    Blinky lights are the essence of technology . . . everything else is fluff !!!

  • #2
    See this for info on offsets.

    http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/offset.htm

    Remember smarts only have three wheel studs so most other wheels won't fit anyway! I understand converters are available to change the three studs to four.

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    • #3
      Great link, thanks for the info

      BTW, does anyone know what the front and back offsets SHOULD be for the Smart???

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      Blinky lights are the essence of technology . . . everything else is fluff !!!

      Edited by - jodrell on 26 March 2003 14:16:10

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      • #4
        I used to run rears on the front and the handling was great, the only downside was that the offset caused the wheels to stick out beyond the arches and be a little bit illegal.

        Mark
        S2Poy ser

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        • #5
          Front offset is ET27 and rear offset is ET-1.

          The crossblade wheels which the pink one had needed a specific size spacer made up for the fronts, which took a bit of trial and error.

          The new size rims direct from smart are also this offset, except the brabus/after market ones.



          Edited by - Big on 01 April 2003 18:13:32

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          • #6
            So what would you need to do to rear wheels to get them to be correctly offset for the fronts . . . or can't you??

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            • #7
              Sorry you cant do it SAFELY.

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              • #8
                It is cheaper in the long run to buy a new set of wheels, and also more safe to use the correct offsets since wrong offset also put strain on the bearings.
                I also asked this Q in this forum some months ago, but I decide to go for new wheels. Rial LeMans like Mark also have.
                They are goodlooking easy to clean and legal<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>.
                You can also check out the forum Tech.Problems/Wheels.
                You will maybe find some useful stuff there.

                Edited by - Taarzaahn on 02/04/2003 00:55:10

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                • #9
                  Hi, I'm new on here so all the techy lingo goes right over my head.
                  I've got a 450 2002 pure and was given a full set of Smart alloy wheels plus extra 2 rear alloy wheels.
                  So can I Use all 4 of the rear wheels on it and will it be safe?
                  will I need to put spacers at the front to stop arch rubbing at full lock?

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Morph1964 View Post
                    .
                    So can I Use all 4 of the rear wheels on it and will it be safe?
                    will I need to put spacers at the front to stop arch rubbing at full lock?
                    They will foul the arches, negative spacers haven't been invented yet, and the steering becomes slap happy.

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