17's VS 18's
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 201
From: Somerville MASS
Um sorry but
the larger the diameter, the larger the commensurate tire width
Lol just kidding but still, the rim diameter has NOTHING do do with width, and therefor, nothing to do with traction. In fact Larger diamerter rims can actually HARM traction, due to the less flexible sidewall, not allowing the tire to conform to the roads surface(due to the fact that in most cases, when you get a larger rim, you get a lower profile of the sidewall)
That said, I will be buying 18's in the spring, as a 40 series tire is fine, if you get a decent tire. You wont lose any power, IF you dont go heavier. I have 17" P1's on my car now, and they weigh in at 19lbs each, the Rotas I am looking at in 18, weigh 18 each, a 1lb lighter wheel. I willl not lose any performance.
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dip****
Originally posted by davenow
[B]That is just 100% false information.
[B]That is just 100% false information.
the correct size tire for the stock 16" is 205/55
the correct size tire for a 17x7 is 215/45
the correct size tire for a 18x7.5 is 225/40
I see a commensurate increase in width..
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 201
From: Somerville MASS
OK wrong
The optional wheel(like my, and many wrx's have) is 17x7, the tire that comes on it is 215, But here is the thing.99.9% of ppl that replace their factory 16's with 17's go with 225's. SO if they then go to 18's they stick with 225's, making no difference in width, making no difference in traction.
I admnit, that with the 17's that my car came with, I do tend to forget that I already have upgraded wheels/tires, but while your statement IS true if you follow your reasoning
But the thing is, you dont always go with those sizes. I have seen a wrx with 215 width 18's, as well as most wrx's with aftermarket 17's use 225's. so if they go to 18's they still use 225's.
I dunno. just playing devils advocate I guess
I admnit, that with the 17's that my car came with, I do tend to forget that I already have upgraded wheels/tires, but while your statement IS true if you follow your reasoning
the correct size tire for the stock 16" is 205/55
the correct size tire for a 17x7 is 215/45
the correct size tire for a 18x7.5 is 225/40
the correct size tire for a 17x7 is 215/45
the correct size tire for a 18x7.5 is 225/40
I dunno. just playing devils advocate I guess
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Heh, those 19 inchers are hurt lookin! I think I'd go with 17's. I think they look quite nice even without any lowering (STi versions have 17's and I think they look superb). I always thought 18's didn't seem quite right for the WRX, I dunno... Just my 2 cents. Plus, many on this thread gave very convincing arguments for 17s 
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 201
From: Somerville MASS
BUT
if you are looking at Prodrive springs, remember this
Prodrive designed ALL of their suspension around 18inch P1's
The brand/style of the wheel dont matter, as long as its an 18.
I myself am sticking with 17s (I think lol)
Prodrive designed ALL of their suspension around 18inch P1's
The brand/style of the wheel dont matter, as long as its an 18.
I myself am sticking with 17s (I think lol)
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 275
From: NY
Car Info: o2 duburu arr exu
Re: BUT
Originally posted by davenow
if you are looking at Prodrive springs, remember this
Prodrive designed ALL of their suspension around 18inch P1's
The brand/style of the wheel dont matter, as long as its an 18.
I myself am sticking with 17s (I think lol)
if you are looking at Prodrive springs, remember this
Prodrive designed ALL of their suspension around 18inch P1's
The brand/style of the wheel dont matter, as long as its an 18.
I myself am sticking with 17s (I think lol)
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Re: BUT
Originally posted by davenow
if you are looking at Prodrive springs, remember this
Prodrive designed ALL of their suspension around 18inch P1's
if you are looking at Prodrive springs, remember this
Prodrive designed ALL of their suspension around 18inch P1's
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As far as I'm concerned, going one or two up (in inches) really isnt going to make that much of a difference, unless u get mega heavy 18s. My car came standard with 17s so I'd hazard to say 18s would be waaaay ok. If u intend to race or auto x, whatever, just use ur standard 16s..cos semi slicks etc on 17 to 18 inch sizes cost a FORTUNE....
So what do I think...heck, just get the 18s, geez get 19s if u are so inclined, just make sure u retain ur 16s for winter or track days...
So what do I think...heck, just get the 18s, geez get 19s if u are so inclined, just make sure u retain ur 16s for winter or track days...
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 201
From: Somerville MASS
some 18's lose A LOT
my buddy has a GTI and when he got 18'2, he ended up going back to 17's in a week because he hated the power loss.
even a 1lb heavier wheel, will make a difference, as it isnt just the weight, its how far out from the center it is
even a 1lb heavier wheel, will make a difference, as it isnt just the weight, its how far out from the center it is
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Thats true...abt the power loss..when I went to 17s on my other car (I had a Honda Civic a few yrs ago...whilst i was in 11th grade) MAN my car was even more of a SLUG..but thats going from 14s to 17s....on an already powerless car. For the WRX...I dont see a prob. ample power I say. even a GTi isnt exactly a powerhouse right?
as far as looks go, in terms of the after effects of going to bigger rims...cant do much abt that unless the guy upgrades...as for me, the standard WRX brakes on my MY02 is pretty big anyway
as far as looks go, in terms of the after effects of going to bigger rims...cant do much abt that unless the guy upgrades...as for me, the standard WRX brakes on my MY02 is pretty big anyway
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Re: Um sorry but
Originally posted by davenow
That is just 100% false information. A 225 tire is 225 wide regardless of what the diameter is. Or do you think that 225mm sudennly gets longer when the whell gets bigger?
Lol just kidding but still, the rim diameter has NOTHING do do with width, and therefor, nothing to do with traction
That is just 100% false information. A 225 tire is 225 wide regardless of what the diameter is. Or do you think that 225mm sudennly gets longer when the whell gets bigger?
Lol just kidding but still, the rim diameter has NOTHING do do with width, and therefor, nothing to do with traction
If you were to look at a tire head-on (i.e. from the front, not from the side) you'd see that the tire is not perfectly flat on the sides - it bulges. There is a width at the bead, a width and the "center" of the bulge (known as the section width), and another width at the tread, or the "contact patch." When the number on the side says 225 - what do you think that refers to? The contact patch? BZZZT! Wrong again. It's the section width. So the section width will be wider than the contact patch. However... as the rim diameter gets bigger, (assuming that the overall tire diam stays about the same, and the optimum rim width is used) the sidewall actually gets shorter and does not bulge as much, so the difference between the section width and the treadwidth or contact patch gets smaller and smaller.
So technically speaking, the contact patch should get larger as the rim diameter increases. Is it noticable performance-wise? Well, YMMV, but I've always been a proponent of more rubber on the ground is better. Within reason, of course.
Last edited by Drewski; Nov 24, 2002 at 01:24 AM.
