18" Wheels too big?
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Joined: Jun 2007
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18" Wheels too big?
Would 18" wheels be too big to fit on my 85 while still maintaining good ride quality and handling? I think I once read that anything bigger than 18's will sacrifice greatly on ride quality, is this true? Im pretty much going to keep the same overall diameter of the tire and wheel now by going with a low profile tire and im going to go wider in the back than the fronts. Here's what im looking at:
http://www.wheelsnext.com/default-ho...lor-Chrome.htm
And this is what it would look like: (I photoshoped it)
http://www.wheelsnext.com/default-ho...lor-Chrome.htm
And this is what it would look like: (I photoshoped it)
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
Whenever you got with a smaller aspect ratio tire you're going to lose some ride quality in terms of smoothness over bumps and such in the road. I dont think it would affect handling negatively at all unless you put like 20"+ wheels on it.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 174
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From: OH/FL
I've got 18's all around (check my Avatar for a small shot). However, they came with Kumho tires that were good but too small...they are almost bald so I'm upgrading from 245front/275rear to 265/295.
The TIRES are just as important as the wheel. As long as you have some good tires that ride well, they will make the combo work for you.
The TIRES are just as important as the wheel. As long as you have some good tires that ride well, they will make the combo work for you.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,816
Likes: 2
From: Austin, TX
I have 18's on mine and they ride just as well as the original GSC's did (which isn't hard to do). You'll want to make sure the overall tire diameter is as close as possible to original to maintain speedometer accuracy and wheel well clearance (as you already mentioned). As long as you do that and make sure you get the appropriate offset wheels, you'll be just fine.
Also, some 18's can be very heavy. This will hurt ride quality as well. Check the weights on the new ones compared to your factory wheels.
Personally, I think they're nice looking wheels and go well with your car.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4,659
Likes: 82
From: Toronto ontario
Here's the bottom line.
18s are fine and look better. IF you want the same ride quality and go with a baloony tire then ride quality will not suffer, but the look WILL suffer. the bigger tire will have a larger overall diameter giving your car an off-road look and raising your car higher from the ground. This in turn gives the wheels the 'too big' look for the car.
18s are fine and look better. IF you want the same ride quality and go with a baloony tire then ride quality will not suffer, but the look WILL suffer. the bigger tire will have a larger overall diameter giving your car an off-road look and raising your car higher from the ground. This in turn gives the wheels the 'too big' look for the car.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
show or go ???
wheel size is not important, the amount of rubber between the rim and the road is critical IF you want drive it...very "short" sidewalls, used to maintain correct overall diameter with oversized rims, result in easily damaged/destroyed tires and/or rims when encountering "normal" road hazards such ad curbs at driveways/ potholes/ railroad tracks...several c5 buds have had "expensive" lessons with their oem 18's here on what passes for public highways...if it's only for show, "elephant foreskins on ferris wheels" is OK if you want that look, but don't expect to get far on the highway without a scout preceding you.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Riverside County Southern California
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IslandVette808,
It's all about the money. I have 285/40ZR18 all around and I lowered the Vette an inch. Here are two pictures. Yes, you'll feel a small difference but it will look great. BTW I like those rims, are those the ones you are thinking about buying
It's all about the money. I have 285/40ZR18 all around and I lowered the Vette an inch. Here are two pictures. Yes, you'll feel a small difference but it will look great. BTW I like those rims, are those the ones you are thinking about buying
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
Those wheels are NICE! Your photoshop pic looks perfect.
I never liked 18's with the stock tire size because the wheels just looked too big and out of proportion on the C4 Vette.
The wheels in your picture with 285/35's would look great. The wheels need to have a small sidewall too keep the overall look in proportion but, ride quality will suffer a little. I'm all about the looks and I think those wheels are one of the best aftermarket wheels I've seen, I like the old school flat deep dish look a lot.
I never liked 18's with the stock tire size because the wheels just looked too big and out of proportion on the C4 Vette.
The wheels in your picture with 285/35's would look great. The wheels need to have a small sidewall too keep the overall look in proportion but, ride quality will suffer a little. I'm all about the looks and I think those wheels are one of the best aftermarket wheels I've seen, I like the old school flat deep dish look a lot.
Last edited by GKK; Jul 15, 2008 at 04:33 PM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 83
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Yes, these are the wheels that I will get once the funds come in for it. lol. It just gives the car an agressive look that im looking for, plus has the lip that I wanted.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 555
Likes: 2
From: RDU NC
I've got 18's all around (check my Avatar for a small shot). However, they came with Kumho tires that were good but too small...they are almost bald so I'm upgrading from 245front/275rear to 265/295.
The TIRES are just as important as the wheel. As long as you have some good tires that ride well, they will make the combo work for you.
The TIRES are just as important as the wheel. As long as you have some good tires that ride well, they will make the combo work for you.
I have the ruff 278 wheel/tire combo (18x8.5-245 Front/18x9.5-275 Rear) on my silver 85, and certainly agree that you should go with 265/295 front/rear tires. I love the way mine look and like the firmer ride better, plus I lowered the rear which makes all the difference. I wanted to lower the front .5 inch and the rear by another .5, but don't think it's needed now with the 18's.
