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View Full Version : 17" or 18" wheels....



Howie
02-29-2004, 01:38 AM
it's almost time for me to get new tires.. and i'm thinking about maybe getting 18" wheels.

Can anybody tell me the diff between 18x8.5 and 17x8 in regards to performance, ride quality, and overall pros and cons?

I do mostly street driving, with occasional canyon runs, and plan on doing a few autox's in the future. thx.

rizalhoo
02-29-2004, 02:08 AM
well if u wanna get new rims may as well get 18", i got the 5 zigen fn01r-c 18x8.5 and they are awesome and like 6lbs lighter than stock rims :thumbup: IMHO it is a waste of money on the rims if u were thinking to get the 17" since our stock enkeis 17x8 is GOOD enough with light weight and so all.

overall, if I were u id change to 18". if u wanna get 17"s, IMO id stick to stock rims and use the money for power mods

just my 2c.

Whendidieatcorn
02-29-2004, 02:53 AM
with the evo the simple fact is 18's are for looking pretty and 17's are for performance. i bought a pair of 18's for daily driving cause they are pretty, and kept my stockers for the track.

just my .02

Chris in SD
02-29-2004, 08:02 AM
with the evo the simple fact is 18's are for looking pretty and 17's are for performance. i bought a pair of 18's for daily driving cause they are pretty, and kept my stockers for the track.

just my .02


This is not true generally. While a 17" wheel will be lighter (comparing like wheels), the 18" wheel will allow for a shorter, stiffer sidewall and give more room for bigger brakes. In almost every type of motorsport where wheelsize is not regulated, EVERY competitor runs 18" wheels. The exception is WRC where the 18s are only on tarmac. I wrote a HUGE post about it on EvoM. My only disappointment with 18s is the lack of availability for the A-046 Advans. BTW, my 18x8.5 BBS wheels weigh 18 pounds each - 6 pounds less than the heaviest estimate of the stock 17" Evo wheels. My 17s are for my winter tires (bummer).

mprtklr
02-29-2004, 11:15 AM
my 18" SSR's weigh in at 14.6 pound s apiece

my yokahama tires weigh more than the rim by 2 pounds.

MrBubbler
02-29-2004, 02:54 PM
hmm i bought a pair of 19's fro daily driving and couldnt be more happy! sad thing is they weight less or the same as the stockers = P