Sup, just throwing the question out there since i have heard two opinions.

Whats the best size wheels for performance, 17",18" or 19".

performance specifically meaning in this case braking and handling.

I was told 18 is better for performance, but my minds tells me should a larger tire/wheel(19s) give you better handling and braking...

not sure so im asking all you experts out there

 

I like 18 better then 19.. 19 look too big for IS..

 

depends on the weight and quality of the wheel. Lots of people run 16s and 17s for performance. In general 19s and 20+s are for looks, though there are some very nice, lightweight 19s available. For the IS, a good (meaning probably not chrome) lightweight 19" wheel is an ideal balance between performance and looks....thought purists will probably tell you to get 16s.

So to correct your friend's statement:

Assuming two wheels, one 18" and one 19", where both are the same design (manufacturer), width and composition, and the 19" weighs more because of the extra material required:

The 18 will probably be a better choice based only on performance.

However, to say that an any 18 is better than a 19 is incorrect, because wheel A in 18 might weigh 35 pounds, and wheel B in 19 might weigh 18 pounds.

 

For weight the smaller the better...so 17" would be "best" all other things being equal. Like 5 Oh 9 said if you can get 16" over the brakes they would be lighter still. One piece forged wheels are lightest of the lot.

For cornering, the short sidewalls of larger wheels give a more direct steering response...again all other things being equal, meaning, stick some greasy all-season tires on a 19" wheel and some super sticky DOT Racing tires on a 16" wheel and the smaller wheel might "feel" better.

A 19" wheel will NOT "give you better braking" though, in reality heavier wheels stress the braking system more. Keep in mind, for any given wheel model the larger ones are heavier. Maybe the person who told you this was thinking that bigger brakes can be fitted with a larger wheel, but of course that entails major additional $$$$.

I think a nice-looking, forged one-piece 18" wheel that actually fits the application without spacers are, in my opinion, the "best choice" for an IS, although they aren't cheap there are some out there.

 

Weight is a very important consideration when going to 19's (or 20's). Heavier wheels will degrade performance, especially if they are chrome cast alloy rims. If you are thinking about 19" wheels, go with forged wheels (and stay away from chrome which only adds more weight). Forged rims are stronger, and lighter than any similar sized non-forged wheels, and won't negatively effect performace. When I eventually upgrade my rims, I'm going to 19" forged rims.

 

Just like a couple of people ahead of me have stated, it's a compromise between looks and performance. You can get a one piece forged 19" rim which will be a pound or two heavier than a light weight 18" rim. I got 19" Volk CE28s and they weigh roughly around 19 lbs for the front and just under 20lbs for the rear rim. Keep in mind that it will cost you money to get a good set of light weight forged rims.

As for braking performance, you need to get a good set of tires. It's one of the most common misconception that a lot of folks assume that brakes stop the car. Actually, your tires are the ones giving you the grip for handling (of course you will require suspension mods to achieve the optimum) and your braking performance.


Terrance

 

19s FTW! Sorry pointless post Im getting Volks and Im sure its either equivalent or a tad heavier than the stock 18s.

 

Volk's should be quite a bit lighter than our stock 18's.

 

thanks alot for all of your feed back, i think im going to go with 18" lite rims for the performance, and i agree if you get 18x9 they fit an is very well.

 

Thats what I thought, cause mines are 1pc forged too

 

No aftermarket wheels for me , there's a reason why I got X-Package wheels