Rims & Performance
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,421
Likes: 1
From: NY
I would say get any rim that you find nice from a reputable wheel manufacturer. The reason I say this is that you won't notice any performance gain unless you take your car to the track. The sc400 is underpowered and overweight. You won't notice much in cornering from rims alone. I'd suggest getting a better performing tire instead.
What you should be looking at in regards to rims is durability. Street driving can be rough at times. Cheap rims will bend and break. I am biased towards Volks.
What you should be looking at in regards to rims is durability. Street driving can be rough at times. Cheap rims will bend and break. I am biased towards Volks.
I would say get any rim that you find nice from a reputable wheel manufacturer. The reason I say this is that you won't notice any performance gain unless you take your car to the track. The sc400 is underpowered and overweight. You won't notice much in cornering from rims alone. I'd suggest getting a better performing tire instead.
What you should be looking at in regards to rims is durability. Street driving can be rough at times. Cheap rims will bend and break. I am biased towards Volks.
What you should be looking at in regards to rims is durability. Street driving can be rough at times. Cheap rims will bend and break. I am biased towards Volks.
good article here
http://planetsoarer.com/offset/studs.htm
btw since when are volks cheap???
If I went larger, I would go to 18-19 because I feel going to 17 would not justify a change. If I went that large, I would have to spend thousands to get a quality product that would enhance performance. I am just not seeing value there. I am currently on Michelin Pilot HX tires that are almost brand new. They should serve me well in the immediate future.
This is a very interesting debate however. I would love to hear more accounts regarding fuel economy both pre- and post-rim changes. That is an interesting topic to the utilitarian in me.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,421
Likes: 1
From: NY
Off the top of my head, here are the advantages I've noticed since getting my Volk Le37T's
1) Easy big brake clearance.
2) Less back strain when taking off the wheels.
3) 9.5 rears with summer tires help alot with traction.
I know my rims are alot lighter than stock. I'd like to say that they help with performance due to weight reduction. However, I haven't been to the track yet so I don't want to say anything I might have to correct later.
I think your main concerns should be durability, big brake clearance, and width of the wheel. Also, forget about about gas mileage. Leave the car stock if mpg is a concern.
P.S. I have 18's because that is the most common wheel size in the used wheel market. If it were up to me, I'd get 17x10 that clear a big brake set up. However, I think the only way to get wheels like that is to have them custom made.
1) Easy big brake clearance.
2) Less back strain when taking off the wheels.
3) 9.5 rears with summer tires help alot with traction.
I know my rims are alot lighter than stock. I'd like to say that they help with performance due to weight reduction. However, I haven't been to the track yet so I don't want to say anything I might have to correct later.
I think your main concerns should be durability, big brake clearance, and width of the wheel. Also, forget about about gas mileage. Leave the car stock if mpg is a concern.
P.S. I have 18's because that is the most common wheel size in the used wheel market. If it were up to me, I'd get 17x10 that clear a big brake set up. However, I think the only way to get wheels like that is to have them custom made.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,672
Likes: 1,435
From: Florida
My 17" SSR Integral A-2s are lightweight. The rear rims weigh 19.5lbs each and the fronts are 18lbs each. Also my rim + tire size = that of stock rims + tires, so my drive is unchanged. All in all I'd say my wheel choice improves performance all around since they are lightweight and the thinner and wider tires help cornering
Last edited by np20412; Dec 20, 2006 at 05:52 PM.
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Off the top of my head, here are the advantages I've noticed since getting my Volk Le37T's
1) Easy big brake clearance.
2) Less back strain when taking off the wheels.
3) 9.5 rears with summer tires help alot with traction.
I know my rims are alot lighter than stock. I'd like to say that they help with performance due to weight reduction. However, I haven't been to the track yet so I don't want to say anything I might have to correct later.
I think your main concerns should be durability, big brake clearance, and width of the wheel.
1) Easy big brake clearance.
2) Less back strain when taking off the wheels.
3) 9.5 rears with summer tires help alot with traction.
I know my rims are alot lighter than stock. I'd like to say that they help with performance due to weight reduction. However, I haven't been to the track yet so I don't want to say anything I might have to correct later.
I think your main concerns should be durability, big brake clearance, and width of the wheel.
It sounds inarguable that bigger rims offer significant gains in the traction department and allow for larger brakes, which is the safe thing to do in a fast car.
I am going to do more research, but I like what has been said in the last two posts.
If I go with a Torsen LSD at 3.76 (as compared to my strock 3.92) drive ratio, could I use a wheel/tire upgrade to bring me back up to stock gearing and an accurate speedo?
Any advice in this regard?
Any advice in this regard?
Banned - could not follow forum rules
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 0
From: CA
Just remember when ever you reduce the weight on moving parts it's very beneficial...Like the driveshaft, rims, etc......I got 10.5 alluminum rims, size 18's and the traction and handling is night and day from stock size...Also, the stock rims are heavy so try and dump them and get lighter rims that are fatter...That should be the goal..
I have a torsen LSD and it rocks!!!!
I have a torsen LSD and it rocks!!!!
the rotational mass on those Sportmax wheels are beyond reasonable. Those are the heaviest ****'s on the market. Performance and accelleration shouldnt be mentioned in the same sentence as those.
I had a guy loan me a set (18's,same style) to drive home on after a Drifting session and it felt like 4 anchors on my S13
Pole Position
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 318
Likes: 1
From: California
there is nothing sport about sportmax wheels. my buddy has those in 18x7 w/ 225/40 tires and they're still heaver than my 19x9.5 w/ 275/30
if you want cheap w/ performance get fn01rc.
if you want cheap w/ performance get fn01rc.
Last edited by slo86; Dec 21, 2006 at 04:13 AM.
Just remember when ever you reduce the weight on moving parts it's very beneficial...Like the driveshaft, rims, etc......I got 10.5 alluminum rims, size 18's and the traction and handling is night and day from stock size...Also, the stock rims are heavy so try and dump them and get lighter rims that are fatter...That should be the goal..
I have a torsen LSD and it rocks!!!!
I have a torsen LSD and it rocks!!!!
Does anyone have the weight on the 16" 7-spoke factory rims from 96? I am assuming about 20lbs even. Do you think I am close?
Some 18" forged models are around 16-17lbs. Forged magnesium runs like 13lbs. I have yet to run rotational inertia figures, but I will do the mr^2 calculations assuming the aftermarket products are more peripherally weighted. I am curious what I will find...
I would, and will eventually get lighter wheels, but I want to add that on back to back track days, my stock chrome 16's were no faster than my 18/19" TSW's... TSW's aren't exactly exotic like Volks, but they definitely aren't the cheapest wheel on the market either...
Keep a couple things in mind -
1) how important is 1/10th of a second in the 1/4 mile? Unless going with a wildly lighter tire/wheel combo, I've never seen wheels/tires make more than a 1/10th or two difference in the 1/4 mile...
2) how rugged do you really need? It's been my experience, a Volk or other lightweight wheel is just as fragile as any quality cast wheel... There are definitely CHEAP wheels out there - beware of these, but the stock wheels are most definitely the strongest (and heaviest)
If cornering is what you are looking for, tire selection is going to matter moreso than wheel diameter... You also might look at tire weights, as that will affect performance as well. 15's and 16's kinda suck for performance due to lack of tire sizes - about the widest 16" performance tire you will find is 245 or 255... 15's even less sizes... 17's there's a ton of stuff, 18's and 19's as well.
Keep a couple things in mind -
1) how important is 1/10th of a second in the 1/4 mile? Unless going with a wildly lighter tire/wheel combo, I've never seen wheels/tires make more than a 1/10th or two difference in the 1/4 mile...
2) how rugged do you really need? It's been my experience, a Volk or other lightweight wheel is just as fragile as any quality cast wheel... There are definitely CHEAP wheels out there - beware of these, but the stock wheels are most definitely the strongest (and heaviest)
If cornering is what you are looking for, tire selection is going to matter moreso than wheel diameter... You also might look at tire weights, as that will affect performance as well. 15's and 16's kinda suck for performance due to lack of tire sizes - about the widest 16" performance tire you will find is 245 or 255... 15's even less sizes... 17's there's a ton of stuff, 18's and 19's as well.