How do larger wheels affect ride and handling?
01-17-13, 12:39 AM
#1
How do larger wheels affect ride and handling?
How do larger wheels affect ride and handling? I purchased my car with 17 inch wheels. I was shopping for 18s but i thought, why not 19 inch?
What are the pros and cons of a 19 with regard to ride and handling?
Thank you,
What are the pros and cons of a 19 with regard to ride and handling?
Thank you,
01-17-13, 01:52 AM
#3
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well with either size (18s or 19s) you would usually pair the wheels with low-profile tires (50/45 vs 35-25). These tires have less of a sidewall that absorbs the bumps on the roads. Of course you can put on fatter tires, but why? compromises are always made when you upgrade anything. It's up to you how far are you willing to let your butt bear the brunt of the bumps.
01-17-13, 03:19 AM
#4
I currently have 18's with Tein Comfort sport or whatever theyre called. It's really not a bumpy ride, I like it a lot rather. Especially with the Teins, Since I have wider tires, feels like I'll have a hard time trying to slide out of control 
Keep in mind that if you go bigger in wheels and also depending how much the wheels weigh, it can make the car feel a bit sluggish. Which is why I like it at 18". Also don't have to worry about the expensive cost to buy 19" wheels and tires!
Just make sure your alignment is good after the wheels are installed. That can definitely affect the ride and handling.
Keep in mind that if you go bigger in wheels and also depending how much the wheels weigh, it can make the car feel a bit sluggish. Which is why I like it at 18". Also don't have to worry about the expensive cost to buy 19" wheels and tires!
Just make sure your alignment is good after the wheels are installed. That can definitely affect the ride and handling.
01-17-13, 04:05 AM
#5
Handling in general will not improve once you go beyond 17" or 18" rims.
18's are as big as you would want to go if you're remotely concerned about handling, not to mention acceleration. I am running 17's with 255/45R-17 rear and 235/40R-17 front and that's actually very close to the factory 15-inch OD tires. I used to run 275's in the rear and the acceleration is better (non turbo) with a near-stock OD. This applies to non-turbo cars. With a turbo, you may want 265, 275, or even 285 width tires in the rear.
To achieve the same with 18's you'd need an even smaller diameter tire in the rear but you should have some width back there-- no less than 255mm if you want some handling and traction. Lastly, weight should be a concern if you want to preserve acceleration. TT rims, for example, are 17x8 front and 17x9.5 rear and are somewhat light weight, although not the lightest available.
I don't personally feel 19's look good on SC's but if you're really interested you should also be looking into a turbo setup for more power because your car will be slower than stock with such large diameter wheels and you'll be running some very, very low profile rubber. See again the note about having some width to the wheels. Turn-in may be affected with a large diameter rim. If you're really going to look into 19's, try to see if there is anything in 19x10 for rear fitment in the correct offset. I do believe a 9.5" width rim will fit up front but that may be the maximum width in the front if you are looking for a matched and not staggered setup. Front shouldn't be too wide but rear should have a wide footprint.
18's are as big as you would want to go if you're remotely concerned about handling, not to mention acceleration. I am running 17's with 255/45R-17 rear and 235/40R-17 front and that's actually very close to the factory 15-inch OD tires. I used to run 275's in the rear and the acceleration is better (non turbo) with a near-stock OD. This applies to non-turbo cars. With a turbo, you may want 265, 275, or even 285 width tires in the rear.
To achieve the same with 18's you'd need an even smaller diameter tire in the rear but you should have some width back there-- no less than 255mm if you want some handling and traction. Lastly, weight should be a concern if you want to preserve acceleration. TT rims, for example, are 17x8 front and 17x9.5 rear and are somewhat light weight, although not the lightest available.
I don't personally feel 19's look good on SC's but if you're really interested you should also be looking into a turbo setup for more power because your car will be slower than stock with such large diameter wheels and you'll be running some very, very low profile rubber. See again the note about having some width to the wheels. Turn-in may be affected with a large diameter rim. If you're really going to look into 19's, try to see if there is anything in 19x10 for rear fitment in the correct offset. I do believe a 9.5" width rim will fit up front but that may be the maximum width in the front if you are looking for a matched and not staggered setup. Front shouldn't be too wide but rear should have a wide footprint.
Last edited by KahnBB6; 01-17-13 at 04:11 AM.
01-17-13, 05:07 AM
#6
Handling in general will not improve once you go beyond 17" or 18" rims.
18's are as big as you would want to go if you're remotely concerned about handling, not to mention acceleration. I am running 17's with 255/45R-17 rear and 235/40R-17 front and that's actually very close to the factory 15-inch OD tires. I used to run 275's in the rear and the acceleration is better (non turbo) with a near-stock OD. This applies to non-turbo cars. With a turbo, you may want 265, 275, or even 285 width tires in the rear.
To achieve the same with 18's you'd need an even smaller diameter tire in the rear but you should have some width back there-- no less than 255mm if you want some handling and traction. Lastly, weight should be a concern if you want to preserve acceleration. TT rims, for example, are 17x8 front and 17x9.5 rear and are somewhat light weight, although not the lightest available.
I don't personally feel 19's look good on SC's but if you're really interested you should also be looking into a turbo setup for more power because your car will be slower than stock with such large diameter wheels and you'll be running some very, very low profile rubber. See again the note about having some width to the wheels. Turn-in may be affected with a large diameter rim. If you're really going to look into 19's, try to see if there is anything in 19x10 for rear fitment in the correct offset. I do believe a 9.5" width rim will fit up front but that may be the maximum width in the front if you are looking for a matched and not staggered setup. Front shouldn't be too wide but rear should have a wide footprint.
18's are as big as you would want to go if you're remotely concerned about handling, not to mention acceleration. I am running 17's with 255/45R-17 rear and 235/40R-17 front and that's actually very close to the factory 15-inch OD tires. I used to run 275's in the rear and the acceleration is better (non turbo) with a near-stock OD. This applies to non-turbo cars. With a turbo, you may want 265, 275, or even 285 width tires in the rear.
To achieve the same with 18's you'd need an even smaller diameter tire in the rear but you should have some width back there-- no less than 255mm if you want some handling and traction. Lastly, weight should be a concern if you want to preserve acceleration. TT rims, for example, are 17x8 front and 17x9.5 rear and are somewhat light weight, although not the lightest available.
I don't personally feel 19's look good on SC's but if you're really interested you should also be looking into a turbo setup for more power because your car will be slower than stock with such large diameter wheels and you'll be running some very, very low profile rubber. See again the note about having some width to the wheels. Turn-in may be affected with a large diameter rim. If you're really going to look into 19's, try to see if there is anything in 19x10 for rear fitment in the correct offset. I do believe a 9.5" width rim will fit up front but that may be the maximum width in the front if you are looking for a matched and not staggered setup. Front shouldn't be too wide but rear should have a wide footprint.
Awesome answer! EXTREMELY helpful.
17s or 18s it is!
Thank You,
SG
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01-17-13, 08:15 AM
#10
01-17-13, 12:32 PM
#12
16"s with 50 wall tires = luxury
17"s with 45 wall tires = comfortable
18"s with 40 wall tires = not bad
19"s with 35 wall tires = bouncy, terrible, would consider jumping off a bridge
20"s with 30 wall tires = **** rape by an angry polar bear
Before I sold my 19"s, I hated putting them on during the summer season for daily driving. I'm sure if you're only driving a car on the weekends or meets, no big deal. But driving 50+ miles per day with 35 or 30 wall tires in stop and go traffic, occasional construction at highway speeds, dealing with back road pot holes, railroad crossings, etc...it will borderline make you crazy.
17"s with 45 wall tires = comfortable
18"s with 40 wall tires = not bad
19"s with 35 wall tires = bouncy, terrible, would consider jumping off a bridge
20"s with 30 wall tires = **** rape by an angry polar bear
Before I sold my 19"s, I hated putting them on during the summer season for daily driving. I'm sure if you're only driving a car on the weekends or meets, no big deal. But driving 50+ miles per day with 35 or 30 wall tires in stop and go traffic, occasional construction at highway speeds, dealing with back road pot holes, railroad crossings, etc...it will borderline make you crazy.
01-17-13, 01:46 PM
#13
16"s with 50 wall tires = luxury
17"s with 45 wall tires = comfortable
18"s with 40 wall tires = not bad
19"s with 35 wall tires = bouncy, terrible, would consider jumping off a bridge
20"s with 30 wall tires = **** rape by an angry polar bear
Before I sold my 19"s, I hated putting them on during the summer season for daily driving. I'm sure if you're only driving a car on the weekends or meets, no big deal. But driving 50+ miles per day with 35 or 30 wall tires in stop and go traffic, occasional construction at highway speeds, dealing with back road pot holes, railroad crossings, etc...it will borderline make you crazy.
17"s with 45 wall tires = comfortable
18"s with 40 wall tires = not bad
19"s with 35 wall tires = bouncy, terrible, would consider jumping off a bridge
20"s with 30 wall tires = **** rape by an angry polar bear
Before I sold my 19"s, I hated putting them on during the summer season for daily driving. I'm sure if you're only driving a car on the weekends or meets, no big deal. But driving 50+ miles per day with 35 or 30 wall tires in stop and go traffic, occasional construction at highway speeds, dealing with back road pot holes, railroad crossings, etc...it will borderline make you crazy.
Wonderfully colorful descriptions..... ;-)
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