Wheel sizes bigger=better?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,502
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From: Sayville NY
Wheel sizes bigger=better?
Hey Im just wondering if bigger(as in 19" rim is better than and 18") is necessarily better? Or is wider better?
The wheels Im planning to get are 17x9 and 18x10. I just wondering how they will "perform" compared to say a 19" rim in rear and 18" in front.
As an aside, what is the largest tire I can fir on a 17x9?
The wheels Im planning to get are 17x9 and 18x10. I just wondering how they will "perform" compared to say a 19" rim in rear and 18" in front.
As an aside, what is the largest tire I can fir on a 17x9?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,071
Likes: 297
From: Savannah GA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: Wheel sizes bigger=better? (needhlp)
Not necessarily. 18" tires all around or 17f, 18r is probably the best sizes for performance. Also a 12" rear with 335/18's or 345(if you go with 19's). Then you could stick some 275's up front to help the brakes out.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 199
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Re: Wheel sizes bigger=better? (needhlp)
Bigger tires and wheels aren't always better, especially if the stock tire/wheel size is sufficient for your needs--street use I'm guessing.
I've owned several sports cars. This is my first Vette, but I've owned a '88 911 Targa, '93 300ZX Turbo, '93 RX7 TT, and '86 VW GTI. Only in the instance of the GTI did I actually feel that the grip/handling improved noticeably. That said, this was for street use as I've never raced my cars. Even when racing sportbikes (which I refer to since that is the area with which I'm familiar)--a 180/55ZR17 rear responds better than a wider 190/50ZR17. Apples to oranges I know.
A wider tire/larger wheel also weighs more in some instances and has more rolling resistance if you go extreme. That isn't a big deal, but is something to consider when selecting a bigger tire/wheel. My 50 cents!
Regards,
Karl
I've owned several sports cars. This is my first Vette, but I've owned a '88 911 Targa, '93 300ZX Turbo, '93 RX7 TT, and '86 VW GTI. Only in the instance of the GTI did I actually feel that the grip/handling improved noticeably. That said, this was for street use as I've never raced my cars. Even when racing sportbikes (which I refer to since that is the area with which I'm familiar)--a 180/55ZR17 rear responds better than a wider 190/50ZR17. Apples to oranges I know.
A wider tire/larger wheel also weighs more in some instances and has more rolling resistance if you go extreme. That isn't a big deal, but is something to consider when selecting a bigger tire/wheel. My 50 cents!
Regards,
Karl
Safety Car
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,823
Likes: 347
From: Albuquerque NM
Re: Wheel sizes bigger=better? (KAH_BigRedCorvette)
As others have said, depends on your use. For the street (let's be honest here) stock sized performance tires are more than enough. For the track, it used to be better to go with 17's all the way around, because of better tire choices available. Now that Z06 size tires are available, they will probably work as well. Most people go to larged diameter wheels for the "look", not for performance gains. The downside to bigger diameter wheels is greater rotating weight, further away from the hub (19" Vs 18" or 17") which makes it even harder to accelerate (rotate). This will slow your car down . Wider tires will help in lateral acceleration, but will tramline, follow every rut and rain groove in the road. Taller wheels require shorter sidewall tires, making them very stiff , and giving a very bouncy ride, and will make rim damage from potholes more likely to happen. But hey, they look :cool: don't they?
:party:
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