15" vs. 17"
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,938
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From: hebron IL
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
15" vs. 17"
I can't decide what looks better. 15 or 17 wheels. 15 would be cheaper for me since I have the tires already and I have been told the car ride is better. But the 17 look a little more update. I really like the torque thrust wheels , but they , in my opinion , look better in a 17" . What do you guys prefer? Maybe some more pics would help. Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Plano TX
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Fayetteville Arkansas
on my 72 I went with 2002 thinspokes which are 17" in the front and 18" in the back. I'll see if I can find a good pic of them. But I think they look great and to me seem like they are "supposed to" be there. They fit the wheel wells great.
Sully
Sully
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Team Owner
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From: Orange Park Florida
Race Director
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From: Sierra Foothills CA
For this reason alone I'd go with 17s. If you like the looks better that's a bonus. I run 15s because that's what I bought many years ago when tire choice wasn't so limited and 17s weren't yet much of a factor. However, if I was deciding on which size to buy now like you are I'd get 17s without hesitation.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
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From: Livonia MI
I'd say 17's, just because these are more the standard size lately, and 15's are getting harder to find. I rent cars all the time, and find even basic Impals's are wearing 17's. I recently got a Blizzak winter package from the Tire Rack, and 17's were very easy to get. The nice aluminum 17x7.5" wheels were only $105 bucks each.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Putnam county NY
2025 c3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I split the difference and went 16" TT II. I think the sidewall looks too thin on an old car with the 17, besides the ride must be rough.
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From: Science Bitch! Mississauga, Ontario
Canadian Events Coordinator
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Sierra Foothills CA
You would. 
I should add something to what I said before. After some pondering (yea, we do that here in the country) I remembered that part of why I stayed with 15s last year when I needed new tires is that I had made up my mind to put Mickey Thompson ET Street Radials on the back, but I needed a 27" tire. They don't make that tire in 27" for a 17" wheel, so that made it a no brainer. Besides, I really like the way my wheels look on my car...and now when I nail the throttle I hook almost every time instead of putting on a smoke show. 
I should add something to what I said before. After some pondering (yea, we do that here in the country) I remembered that part of why I stayed with 15s last year when I needed new tires is that I had made up my mind to put Mickey Thompson ET Street Radials on the back, but I needed a 27" tire. They don't make that tire in 27" for a 17" wheel, so that made it a no brainer. Besides, I really like the way my wheels look on my car...and now when I nail the throttle I hook almost every time instead of putting on a smoke show.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Santa Ana CA
17" wheels will add performance in the corners.
But you may find that you loose straight line accelleration as the taller wheels shift the mass further outward creating a higher inertial moment to overcome when accellerating.
A friend put 17" wheels on his Fox Mustang and even though they had the same outside rolling diameter, he found the car to accelerate noticably slower.
If you look at 15"-18"+ tires of the make/design you will find that even though the "taller wheel" tires have the same rolling diameter as the "smaller wheel" tires, they have much less sidewall and still weigh the same, so much of that weight has been shifted away from the centerline of rotation and this increases the inertial moment that must be overcome.
But you may find that you loose straight line accelleration as the taller wheels shift the mass further outward creating a higher inertial moment to overcome when accellerating.
A friend put 17" wheels on his Fox Mustang and even though they had the same outside rolling diameter, he found the car to accelerate noticably slower.
If you look at 15"-18"+ tires of the make/design you will find that even though the "taller wheel" tires have the same rolling diameter as the "smaller wheel" tires, they have much less sidewall and still weigh the same, so much of that weight has been shifted away from the centerline of rotation and this increases the inertial moment that must be overcome.