To Change or not to Change...

[ChrisH]

Hi All

The 4200 is in need of a new set of tyres... so I am weighing up whether I want to swap out to a set of the EuroSpares replica GS alloys. It's a facelift 4200 with a GS grill already... so they would go I think... but I cant quite decide whether I want to... whether it's worth it etc.

Or do I just lower the stance a little and stick with the originals... I think if it sat a little lower that would add in just a touch of aggression missing on the std setup (its with Emblem at the mo and alignment is on the list anyway).

I know technical view that the 18s are a smoother ride... so I guess I'm after the subjective opinion of people as to what looks best.

Any thoughts welcome.

Cheers

Chris

 

[Vampyrebat]

Do we know if the EuroSpare replicas are stronger than the original Maserati GS alloys? If so I think that would be a great idea. I do like the GS 19" alloys but they are so fragile that I wouldn't go for them myself. Being a face-lift model I assume you have the 7 spoke alloys rather than the multi-spoke? Which I also like. I also have a face-lift with a GS grill and I think both look great so sticking with my 7 spokes. Saying that, I swapped my Barchetta original 15" steel wheels for some 17" multi-spoke alloys and it now looks a thousand times better!!

 

[FIFTY]

Do we know if the EuroSpare replicas are stronger than the original Maserati GS alloys? If so I think that would be a great idea. I do like the GS 19" alloys but they are so fragile that I wouldn't go for them myself. Being a face-lift model I assume you have the 7 spoke alloys rather than the multi-spoke? Which I also like. I also have a face-lift with a GS grill and I think both look great so sticking with my 7 spokes. Saying that, I swapped my Barchetta original 15" steel wheels for some 17" multi-spoke alloys and it now looks a thousand times better!!

I think they are a little stronger, also heavier than stock GS alloys

Personally I would not do it for ride comfort reasons

 

[TimR]

Im on the same page as FIFTY on this...
That said, there were late late facelift cars released with GS alloys @ 19" (in stealth black paint to boot...) It isnt like Maserati havent been there first..
For me, it is purely a judgement call as to ride and robustness of wheel manufacture.
Im with you on lowering the car...

 

[Ewan]

If it were mine, I'd lower the car but stick with the original wheels.

 

[rockits]

I've got a late 2007 facelift 4200 with 19" GS alloys from the factory. They were stock silver but had them refurbed and painted mid grey last year.

Also had the suspension wound down to GS specs. For me the stock 4200 doesn't look right with too much gap between top of tyre and bottom of arch.

The new to me 2005 facelift 4200 has 7 spoke 18" facelift wheels and does ride a bit better. Neither compare to the XJL ride of course and neither are properly comfortable. For a sports car I wouldn't say I find the later 4200 with 19's uncomfortable though.

Both alloys are better than the earlier twin spoke classico wheels IMHO though. Not a fan of those.

 

[MaserCoupe]

Im on the same page as FIFTY on this...
That said, there were late late facelift cars released with GS alloys @ 19" (in stealth black paint to boot...) It isnt like Maserati havent been there first..
For me, it is purely a judgement call as to ride and robustness of wheel manufacture.
Im with you on lowering the car...

Your wish is my command.....Yes that’s right, not all 89 facelifts got the factory fitted 19” GS rims as standard. Possibly only the last 20 or so did (but I’m still researching the figure). The factory order sheet will confirm this. The ones that did were factory painted and supplied in a choice of 3 colours....Either a polished painted finish, or silver or mercury grey. At the back of these rims, all 3 of the paint codes were stamped, to determine which colour. These can be cross referenced with PPG. This is my car with factory fitted and painted mercury grey GS rims, on “jacked up” standard ride height.. let’s call it “rally spec ride height”

 

[ChrisH]

Thanks guys...

I actually think seeing that last pic in particular... that actually dropping the ride height a little is probably more important than swapping the rims. The 'rally spec' so to speak... doesn't really match the wheel aggression for me... and I think Maserati prob got it right realising it also needed the big side boards to boot.

I've seen some pictures of your car Rockits which marries a bit better for me... prob because the colour is softer (mines the same actually)... but tonight verdict is drop a bit... spend on good tyres... and stick there.

That said I may 180 by morning!

 

[TimR]

That said I may 180 by morning!

Lets hope so when it comes to the surf boards...
Crass, ugly, steroid induced abominations...
There, I said it...

 

[pj_sibley]

If it were mine, I'd lower the car but stick with the original wheels.

I also thought about switching to the GS 19” replicas from Eurospares but have now swapped out the springs for H&R items and will be refurbishing my 7-spoke 18s over the summer. The car looks great sat a little lower and I already have 15mm spacers fitted.