Is a 15-inch wheel on the T500 crazy?

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Paul33993

Paul33993

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So I've been looking for a wheel for my DSD adapter, and I've found some new old stock that I'm absolutely in love with. It's from an iconic sports car of the 80s.

The wheel is listed as 330mm, but I'm fairly certain that's the interior diameter (since that's the proper way to measure according to some). If you added another two inches to account for the rim, that would come to 15 inches. If I google pictures of that car, it does seem like it is a standard size car rim of 15 inches. Cause it looks big.

Is this way too big? On the plus side, the rim is crazy efficient in terms of material. So it'll be very light for its size.

EDIT: NEVERMIND. I'm an idiot. I just edited the photo in photoshop. Being as we know it's 2.75 inches between the top and bottom screws, I was just able to confirm it's 330mm:)

I'm happy about this. Probably should have did that before I ordered:) or made this thread. It just looked a lot bigger in the car pictures.
 
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Mechanically, the 15" should be fine. I ran a 15" wheel on a G27 for a while and it worked quite well. From a feel perspective, the FFB becomes less strong as you have more leverage on the motors. This was significant on the G27, but if the wheel is light, it shouldn't be dramatic on the T500.

BUT (isn't there always one of those...), you have to know why you want to increase the wheel size. If you like driving formula cars at Monaco (Cote d'Azur), you will hate the 15" as it just takes too long to get from lock to lock due to the much larger circumference. As a real world example, in NASCAR, we use a 15" wheel on ovals where you need smooth and precise small inputs on the long corners, but on road courses we use a 14" wheel. This is further amplified by reducing the steering box ratio (less degrees from lock-to-lock) for road courses.

So 15" is good for big heavy cars (they are slow to roll from one side to the other in change of direction), but smaller wheels are better for fast nimble cars.
 
lunarwolf
why crazy? if that is what you like. just make sure your fingers can reach the paddles ;)
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I don't know if I'd like it is the problem;) It's a flat wheel, so I could easily reach the paddles (although I'd mostly use the Thrustmaster shifter with this wheel).

pilmat
Mechanically, the 15" should be fine. I ran a 15" wheel on a G27 for a while and it worked quite well. From a feel perspective, the FFB becomes less strong as you have more leverage on the motors. This was significant on the G27, but if the wheel is light, it shouldn't be dramatic on the T500.

BUT (isn't there always one of those...), you have to know why you want to increase the wheel size. If you like driving formula cars at Monaco (Cote d'Azur), you will hate the 15" as it just takes too long to get from lock to lock due to the much larger circumference. As a real world example, in NASCAR, we use a 15" wheel on ovals where you need smooth and precise small inputs on the long corners, but on road courses we use a 14" wheel. This is further amplified by reducing the steering box ratio (less degrees from lock-to-lock) for road courses.

So 15" is good for big heavy cars (they are slow to roll from one side to the other in change of direction), but smaller wheels are better for fast nimble cars.
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I've got the small GTE add-on wheel, so I can always use that for the formula cars.

EDIT: Sounds like you guys aren't raising any super red flags, so I'm going to go order it. It'll be interesting to say the least.

2nd EDIT: Ordered. Here are the ebay links:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Momo-Veloce...Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a7f2f1629&vxp=mtr



Same wheel, but with a more general car heading and with faster shipping:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Momo-Veloce...rth-Ritmo-112-Delta-131-205-106-/251133756364

Here's a google pic of the car:

7BFZIzD.jpg


Looks like a legit seller who just found a stock of new old stock in some warehouse. For a 30 year old Momo in prestine condition, I can't help but feel that's an excellent price. There's just so much supply, it suppressed prices.
 
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Oh, its just 330mm. I run a 350mm wheel on my T500 and can still comfortably use the paddles with my small hands. Maybe more comfortably even as I never fear anymore that I will hit my hands against them.

Enjoy the new wheel. ;)
 
LogiForce
Oh, its just 330mm. I run a 350mm wheel on my T500 and can still comfortably use the paddles with my small hands. Maybe more comfortably even as I never fear anymore that I will hit my hands against them.

Enjoy the new wheel. ;)
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We'll see. I have a suspicion it's 330mm measured inside and 380mm measured at the less traditional outer dimension.

Anyways, I'm excited. It's a bit of mystery this way.

I'm only bringing this up, because some ebay car seller made a great speil about how he was listing the outer dimension on his wheel, but that wasn't the proper way to measure a wheel. So I think there are two distinct methods. And being as 15 inches is kind of standard in real cars, I'm leaning 80/20 that it's really bigger than the quoted 330mm.

EDIT: NEVERMIND. I'm an idiot. I just edited the photo in photoshop. Being as we know it's 2.75 inches between the top and bottom screws, I was just able to confirm it's 330mm:)

I'm happy about this. Probably should have did that before I ordered:)
 
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Personally I am still looking at a leather version of the Mod 26 for use with the vintage F1 cars as well as cars like the Caterhams. Sure, I could use my GT rim but the very hard rubber just feels horrible in comparison to a proper wheel. :p

The problem with the Mod 26 is that you have to drill the holes yourself. :nervous:
I haven't found any good guide yet on how to do this. Best is to use the wheel I have as a template I reckon. Maybe I could use tie-wraps to keep the template wheel in place while I drill through the holes or something.

Decisions decisions. The biggest want might be more of a Formula styled rim of sorts, but I can only find suede/alcantara ones and I actually want a leather wrap myself.


When is your wheel coming in?
 
I went from 320 mm to 350 mm. I am now contemplating a 380 mm. Bigger is better and I believe even at 380 mm I will reach the paddles.... But it depend on what you drive I mostly drives GT cars and slower but I had superb success driving F3 with the 320 mm rim. 320 mm feels a bit bulky for RBR though so depending on driving style you may be off with smaller but I say maybe. There was definiatly an adjustment period going from the 270 mm to 320 mm. I wasn´t comfortable with the 320 mm straight away initially kind of favoured the 270 mm F1 rim. But I do feel I get more precision with the 350 mm rim. You just reduce steering lock and you are quite fine also for F1 but the immersion factor having a F1 type of rim mean I always go for that anyway.
 
In a few words who give a toss !!! If it appeals to you and you want to spend the money because you want to customise your set up then in reality who cares. If it works for you then go for it
 

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