5 June 2009

Car Modification Advice

| canberracapital
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Hello Riot Act Readers,

I have a 02 VY Commodore and I want to put new rims and low profile tyres on it. I dont know much about cars. I want to put bigger rims on it (maybe 19″) with black and chrome. And if I have any more money left over, get an exhaust on it.

Does anyone know of any good and competitive places to get rims and tyres? I know there are some obvious places, but does anyone know about special deals, or hidden gems around Canberra?

It needs to be a chrome or black/chrome rim with low profile tyres that look great on a white 02 VY Commodore. It also needs to be completely legal. I believe you can only go 2 inches above your stock wheel (i think mine is 16″ or 17″)??

Any other advice/tips or tricks??

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canberracapital said :

NEW DEVELOPMENT: I HAVE CHECKED WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY HAVE SAID THAT IF I PUT NEW, BIGGER, CHROME WHEELS AND A EXHAUST SYSTEM IT WILL COST ME AN EXTRA $51 A YEAR ON TOP OF WHAT I AM ALREADY PAYING. THEY HAVE NO LIMIT ON THE AMOUNT OF MODIFICATIONS YOU CAN HAVE, THEY JUST CHARGE EXTRA.

I would be very careful about that, unless you are iwth a specialist insurer like Shannons. .. Even then, with Shannons all modifications need to be legal or engineered otherwise they have the right to refuse or reduce a claim

canberracapital1:35 am 08 Jun 09

NEW DEVELOPMENT: I HAVE CHECKED WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY HAVE SAID THAT IF I PUT NEW, BIGGER, CHROME WHEELS AND A EXHAUST SYSTEM IT WILL COST ME AN EXTRA $51 A YEAR ON TOP OF WHAT I AM ALREADY PAYING. THEY HAVE NO LIMIT ON THE AMOUNT OF MODIFICATIONS YOU CAN HAVE, THEY JUST CHARGE EXTRA.

CoffinRX2 is correct. Any modification you make to a car can void the insurance and you usually won’t find out until you have an accident. In my case I had to speak to the insurance company 3 times and get it in writing that lowering my car would not void my insurance. This was done before the modifications were made. I got a different answer each time until I got them to look at my file. I carefully explained that I was not a 17 year old P plater and had a clean driving record for 15 years. They saw logic in the end.

Felix the Cat9:27 pm 05 Jun 09

ahappychappy said :

But in all serious-ness, have a look at the many places up in Sydney. They’re cheaper by a fair bit, it allows you to take a weekend trip if need be, and you get a nice long drive with the new wheels to wear them in and get used to the new shoes. Here are two of the better known places up there…

http://www.tempetyres.com.au – (02) 9573 1010

I believe Injekt’d (now) in Mitchell are agents for Tempe Tyres – http://www.injektd.com.au

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy said :

The question, though, is why you would want to go bigger than 18s anyway. Cars with wheel waaay bigger than standard actually look kinda stupid (a bit toy-like, I think), and the vehicle is unlikely to handle and grip as well anyway.

+1

Also, keep some money aside for some suspension mods. On most cars, bigger wheels just don’t look right unless the car is lowered too.

Reprobate said :

G-Fresh said :

CoffinRX2 said :

I personally havent had anything done from Gentech, but have learnt very fast that there are very very very few tuners in Canberra capable of doing the job asked of them

You’ve got to know where to go.
But I digress. There are very few people on the web who properly use English.

Or who use english properly…

Or who correctly infer error…

G-Fresh said :

CoffinRX2 said :

I personally havent had anything done from Gentech, but have learnt very fast that there are very very very few tuners in Canberra capable of doing the job asked of them

You’ve got to know where to go.
But I digress. There are very few people on the web who properly use English.

Or who use english properly…

Boy things have changed since I use to hot up my old HD Auto………..

They have indeed… You need engineering certs for basically everything now!

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy3:24 pm 05 Jun 09

The question, though, is why you would want to go bigger than 18s anyway. Cars with wheel waaay bigger than standard actually look kinda stupid (a bit toy-like, I think), and the vehicle is unlikely to handle and grip as well anyway.

Plus you’ve got the cost of the tyres to consider. Decent quality ultra low profile tyres are pretty pricey.

If it were me, I’d be focussing more on the tuning and performance aspects rather than the look.

Rawhide Kid No 23:22 pm 05 Jun 09

Boy things have changed since I use to hot up my old HD Auto………..

Yes you need to advise your insurer of any modifications, and lots of companies will void your insurance for something as simple as a set of alloy wheels.

As for the tuners and where to go? I’ve had my car at 2 “highly respectable” tuners over the past 3 months, … its now at a 3rd getting all the mess fixed, and now will be going to Castle Hill Exhaust & Performance in Sydney for any further work

happychappy is correct when he says its about rolling diamters. If you excced the original cars specs you require an engineers report. I reckon you’d get away with the biggest wheel/tyre combo fitted to an SS – 18s at a guess.

Have a look on ebay: http://shop.ebay.com.au/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=VY+wheels&_sacat=See-All-Categories And try some of the options listed there ie ” commodore wheels, vz wheels, hsv wheels, vy rims, vx wheels”

CoffinRX2 said :

I personally havent had anything done from Gentech, but have learnt very fast that there are very very very few tuners in Canberra capable of doing the job asked of them

You’ve got to know where to go.
But I digress. There are very few people on the web who properly use English.

frank 2112 – how do you know? ; )

For performance, I wouldnt go past Castle Hill Exhaust & Performance centre in Sydney.

Dale has done extensive work retuning the LS1’s and the Alloytec 6’s.

I personally havent had anything done from Gentech, but have learnt very fast that there are very very very few tuners in Canberra capable of doing the job asked of them, no matter how much of a specialist they think they are

I agree with VY – Gentech are great. But if you are planning on doing the Sydney day trip thing I’d skip out on going to Tempe – they aren’t as good as people think they are.

And +1 frank – putting bigger rims on and low profiles will up your insurance a fair bit, so make sure you have money left for that!

Before you do anything else check with your insurance company some are really particular about modified cars (ask me how I know). If you don’t tell them everything they can deny a claim and/or refuse insurance cover.

If you do have a V6 VY canberracapital, all is not lost. Gentech have experience fitting a Whipple Supercharger to this very model. Then you can get some reasonable poke from the old slug.

For more info on the weapon Gentech built, see here.

😀

dosomethinguseful11:04 am 05 Jun 09

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy said :

ls1.com.au

Seriously, jump on there and do some searches. Huge amounts of information available.

Also, go have a chat to the guys at Gentech in Mitchell for mods to your VY.

+1 for http://www.ls1.com.au
+1 for Gentech in Mitchell

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy10:46 am 05 Jun 09

That being said, I hope it’s a proper commodore i.e. V8 and not a pansy V6 you’re jazzing.

Amen.

gentech are the go for performance mods…..i would suggest a sports exhaust and then get gentech to do a custom tune on the computer

New exhaust, tune and maybe a lower diff ratio, and your car will go like a cut cat – you will amazed how quick these LS1s can be made to go with some clever modding.

gentech are the go for performance mods…..i would suggest a sports exhaust and then get gentech to do a custom tune on the computer…..dont worry about bigger wheels…..messes with the balance and handling of the car….buy some pretty ones the same diameter and a little wider than the standard wheels

ahappychappy10:09 am 05 Jun 09

+1 for gentech.

One other thing – Make sure you do your research. Don’t rush into things.

Also, I dealt with Jax Woden with my dad’s car for new wheels/tyres. If I had my chance again, I would not go there. Expensive for what he got, and like most tradesmen these days, once they get their money they’re no help. Unfortunately, I didn’t do my research and neither did my Dad, so we had the wool pulled over our eyes like the fools we were!

Big sad face from ahappychappy.

If you want to stay local Bob Jane are probably the best bet. You can legally go to 20’s if you get a tyre with the correct diameter/load rating but that’s difficult. 19’s is the easiest bet and you won’t require modification. You’ll need 235/35/19 tyres

That being said, I hope it’s a proper commodore i.e. V8 and not a pansy V6 you’re jazzing.

Look here for more advice on wheel/tyre size able to fit your VY.

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy9:52 am 05 Jun 09

ls1.com.au

Seriously, jump on there and do some searches. Huge amounts of information available.

Also, go have a chat to the guys at Gentech in Mitchell for mods to your VY.

i saw a short section of the aussie top gear program a couple weeks back and they drove the souped up holden (i think, or was it a falcon? dun’matta…) and they said the low profile option was a quite several grand extra, then showed that these actually slowed the thing down and recommended the stock wheels.

not sure if this is relevant to your beast or wishes, but thought it might save you some readies…

and from what i understand, chappy’s recommendation to go to the bigger retail centres is good advice, though nice to keep canberra places in business too.

ahappychappy9:16 am 05 Jun 09

Ash RushHour hahaha…

But in all serious-ness, have a look at the many places up in Sydney. They’re cheaper by a fair bit, it allows you to take a weekend trip if need be, and you get a nice long drive with the new wheels to wear them in and get used to the new shoes. Here are two of the better known places up there…

http://www.tempetyres.com.au – (02) 9573 1010
http://www.talebtyres.com.au – (02) 9567 2888

Either that, or speak to OzzyTyres here in Fyshwick. I think they’re a bit more expensive, but obviously a bit more convenient if you don’t want to drive to Sydney.

As for the 2″ rule, I’m not sure if this is correct anymore. I think it is now judged by the overall rolling diameter (including tyres). For example a 17″ rim with 17/235/50 rubber is roughly similar to a 19″ with 19/235/30 tyre. Someone correct me if I’m mistaken? (The example is probably wrong, but you get the picture)

Best way to find that out is probably ask Tempe or whoever you go through via phone.

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