Tire/Wheel Size

by **dbanker** » Mon Dec 30, 2002 9:17 pm

I'm wondering whether I should go with either '17 or '18 tires/wheels. I'm looking to upgrade once the winter is over and am also going to get the tokico/eibach combination.

Basically my question is how will either of these two sizes affect noise, the drive, handling, the speedometer, or anything else? I know it'll depend on which brand and model I go with but was wondering what general differences there are.

by **ICUFG** » Mon Dec 30, 2002 9:33 pm

I have 18's and no speedo problems i love them go with 222 40 18's.

http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=263511&page=1

by **Flipside909** » Mon Dec 30, 2002 11:02 pm

dbanker wrote:I'm wondering whether I should go with either '17 or '18 tires/wheels. I'm looking to upgrade once the winter is over and am also going to get the tokico/eibach combination.

Basically my question is how will either of these two sizes affect noise, the drive, handling, the speedometer, or anything else? I know it'll depend on which brand and model I go with but was wondering what general differences there are.

I've been on 225/45WR17 and now 225/40WR18. Harshness...not much difference at all, steering response is way better with the 18s, the overall diameter of 225/40R18 is closer to oem than the 17s (you will clearly notice this when you have the tires side by side). If your car is a daily driver...and the roads in your area are so so...stick to the 17s. If you don't mind driving slow over road irregularities...get the 18's.

by **dbanker** » Mon Dec 30, 2002 11:52 pm

I don't really understand...what do you mean by the overall diameter of the 18s being closer to OEM than the 17s when you look at them?

One more quick thing- do you need to be more careful with the 18's because of potential rubbing, or is it something else? And should I wait to get larger tires/wheels until I get the tokico & eibach's?

by **Jay** » Tue Dec 31, 2002 12:15 am

dbanker wrote:I don't really understand...what do you mean by the overall diameter of the 18s being closer to OEM than the 17s when you look at them?

One more quick thing- do you need to be more careful with the 18's because of potential rubbing, or is it something else? And should I wait to get larger tires/wheels until I get the tokico & eibach's?

Go with your common sense. Of course you have to be more careful when parallel parking, and try to avoid large pot holes. Or else you will grind the heck out of the 18" rims or bend it.

Overall diameter means the diameter of the rims + tire side walls. Go to tirerack.com and read up on FAQ. Don't worry about it and just get what other guys recommanded you. Your speedometer might be off 1 or 2 MPH. No big deal.

It might be a good idea to wait until you get eibach and tokico.. If you want your car to look bad a$$, you should lower your car at the same time you get yourself a larger wheels.. Or else it looks pretty lame....

by **cdssolara** » Tue Dec 31, 2002 4:51 pm

dbanker wrote:I don't really understand...what do you mean by the overall diameter of the 18s being closer to OEM than the 17s when you look at them?

One more quick thing- do you need to be more careful with the 18's because of potential rubbing, or is it something else? And should I wait to get larger tires/wheels until I get the tokico & eibach's?

Your speedometer and ABS are geared to the wheel/tire size that came as original equipment on your car. Generally speaking, when you go to larger rims, you want the overall diameter of the wheel and tire to be as close as possible to your original equipment (OEM). Assuming that your original tire size is 205/60/16, the best size tire for 17" rims is 225/45/17, especially if you plan to lower your car. This size is actually somewhat smaller in diameter than your current tire, but not enough to affect the speedo too much. Ryan (Flipside909) is saying that if you go to 18" rims, the 225/40/18 tire is actually closer in size to the original equipment tire than the 225/45/17 tire.

You only need to be careful about rubbing if you go to a tire wider than 225, or a wheel wider than 7.5". The larger the diameter of the wheel, however, the more potential problems you have with scratching and bending them. You have less sidewall, so there is less cushioning against road irregularities. It's easier to scratch the larger wheels on the curb when parking.

As Jay said in the last post, you should probably wait till you lower the car before going to the bigger wheels and tires. Otherwise, you'll get a bit of an SUV look.

by **dbanker** » Mon Jan 06, 2003 5:07 pm

Thanks for all the great info...

Just curious though- If you all mentioned that the '18s are very similar to the overall diameter of my current '16s, how is that switching will give me more of an suv look? I need to get new tires and wheels here in May or so and want something larger. However, I now won't be able to afford the eibach/tokico for a while. So should I just stick with the '16 and get new tires and wheels that size, or could I still do the larger size (either '17 or '18) and have it still look good?

by **ICUFG** » Mon Jan 06, 2003 7:00 pm

click on my link below and the top pic is without lowering and the bottom one is lowered if you notice the gaps thats what they are talking about.

by **dbanker** » Mon Jan 06, 2003 7:21 pm

Thanks for giving me the link to that pic. I looked at it before but didn't notice they were before and after pics.

I have a question though...I notice the gap, but if I get the new wheels and tires the gap will be there but it won't be any different then the gap that is already there from the OEM 16's right? I just looked at my car and the gap looks pretty much on par with your top picture except for the different wheel size.

If so it seems like the SUV look is just due to the OEM springs/struts and not because of switching tire/wheel size. btw - are those 19'?

by **ICUFG** » Mon Jan 06, 2003 7:51 pm

They are 18's, the low series tire gives you the illusion of a larger gap if the gap doesnt bother you dont lower it. I just like the stiffer suspension and the looks of it.

by **dbanker** » Mon Jan 06, 2003 8:26 pm

I agree. I like the lowered look with a stiffer suspension. I basically have a choice whether to get new wheels/tires or new springs/struts right now. I really need new tires so my options are limited!

So you're pretty much saying that the larger wheel/tire combo gap size is the same as the OEM '16s, but the slimmer profile of the larger tire only inhances this gap? In your opinion did the 18s with the OEM springs/struts look really bad, or similar? Also...what kind of wheels and tires are on there? Thanks for all the help-

by **ICUFG** » Mon Jan 06, 2003 8:32 pm

Honestly I didnt want to drive the car until it was lowered I thought it looked terrible and unfinished. It is a good investment and very well worth it. I would probably lowered it first if I had to do it again. The rims are Enkei RS6 and Nitto 555's 235/40/18's.

by **dbanker** » Mon Jan 06, 2003 8:47 pm

Yeah the more I think about it I agree with you...I wish I could do both right now dangit. Well, maybe if I went with '17s instead of '18s it wouldn't be as bad and a good compromise between the two. What do you think?

by **ICUFG** » Mon Jan 06, 2003 8:53 pm

In my opinion the eighteens are the way to go best fit, look, and handleing. If I had to do again I would still go with 18's

by **Jay** » Mon Jan 06, 2003 9:25 pm

Nawh.. 19"s

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