17's or 18's....that is the question

[sential]

I'm thinking about getting new rims for my 95 gst... Right now I have some 17" volk challenge knock offs...just the basic 5 spoke rims. They looks alright, but I'm ready for something new...But i can't decide if I should stick with 17's or go to 18's. I like the way 18's look on eclipses, but i'm afraid of adding weight. What do you guys think? What are some good size tires for 18's too?

 

[bryan_tberry]

go with 18's. Not only do they look better but... well.... they look better. And although youll be saving a few pounds and youll have a TAD better acceleration due to not as much inertia needed to spin the wheel, it will probably be unnoticable. I mean, Ive ridden in a GST with 19's and a GST with 16's. VERY small difference in how it felt. I know its not a controlled comparison, but it gave me a good idea. Now about tires for 18's... If you want to keep the proper speedometer reading, youll want to go with either 225/40-18 or 235/40-18. The latter being a bit wider, but, with anything that small, its probably unnoticable. Hope this helps man. Happy hunting.

 

[Wiggy44k]

Definetly go with 18's. You'll soon regret 17's as I did. The better looks definetly is more valuable than the negligible weight difference.

 

[chriw21_2000]

18's or 19's all the way. 17's are just too small. I wish I would have gone bigger to begin with

Laterz

 

[ckozlgod]

Bigger is almost always better

 

[DSMhelex]

you guys do understand that the 18" tires are almost 50% more expensive than 17"s, right???

www.tires.com sells 205/40/17 for $62/tire, and you jump to 225/40/18, and its $110/tire. i dunno about you guys, but i'd rather go with 17"s and save $200 and buy some more performance parts.... also they have free shipping on all tires.

you guys dont agree with me?


cheapest 18" - 215 wide tire:
Falken Ziex ZE-512 = $131/tire

cheapest 18" - 225 wide tire:
Visa VK-04WGS ZR - $110

cheapest 18" - 235 wide tire:
Hankook Ventus HRII H405 - $118

cheapest 17" - 205 wide tire:
Nankang NS-1 Radial - $62

cheapest 17" - 215 wide tire:
Hankook Ventus HRII H405 - $84

 

[dsmjay]

i agree with helex. and to help you answer question....notice how ppl telling to you to go bigger are non turbo ppl that dont have a fast car so they make it look better...either you want speed or looks. and and the added weight is quite noticable

 

[sential]

thanks for the replies guys. I'm still debating, but i've been finding out weight differences in the wheels i'm looking at.

I found a set of 18" 5zigens with tires brand new...super sick....for 1200. But they weigh 26 lbs a piece.

I found some cheaper wheels in 17's that are nice with tires for 750....they weigh 18 lbs a piece. THen I found the same wheels in an 18 with tires for about 900... and they weigh 20 lbs a piece.

Its hard to decide cause the 5zigens are soooooo nice and its a reputable name. But the other wheels are cheaper and lighter. So I'm stuck.

I'll post some pics and see what you guys think. my car is silver. click on profile to see what it looks like...

 

[DSMhelex]

i dunno man.... im looking at buying some rims and ive set my limit at 20lbs... i found a nice set of rims that weigh in at 17lbs for 17x7....

if you got lots of money to blow, i'd buy buddy club or racing hart rims... buddy club's 18x8 rims weigh only 19lbs and then you'll probably end up spending another $500 on tires... personally thats too much money for me, i'd probably rather get 17"s and take the money i'd save and get a full exhaust.
just my opinion, but if 18"s is the way you want to go... go ahead, its your car.

 

[Wiggy44k]

Originally posted by dsmjay
i agree with helex. and to help you answer question....notice how ppl telling to you to go bigger are non turbo ppl that dont have a fast car so they make it look better...either you want speed or looks. and and the added weight is quite noticable

Yes DSMJay, I have a non-turbo. The T is simply for looks.

Anyway, DSMHelex, tires are not twice as much. A 225/45/17 Kumho Ecsta 712 tire is about $86. The same tire in 225/40/18 is but $10 more at $96.

 

[Spidey]

5Zigen FN01R-C in 18x7.5 is only 17lbs and only $222 a wheel at Discount Tire.

 

[DSMhelex]

Originally posted by Wiggy44k
Yes DSMJay, I have a non-turbo. The T is simply for looks.

Anyway, DSMHelex, tires are not twice as much. A 225/45/17 Kumho Ecsta 712 tire is about $86. The same tire in 225/40/18 is but $10 more at $96.

I was refering to the cheapest 17" tire possible, which is $62 a tire. Of course you could always spend alot of money on 17" tires... just as much as you would pay for 18"s, but thats your decision. Personally i'd grab the $62 ones and call it a deal. $62 vs $96, i'd save $136.

 

[STECARS]

The Velox Pro-gear series rims at 18's are very light . i think 16-18 lbs. depending on style. they are also very affordable.

 

[unlikely hero]

Originally posted by DSMhelex
I was refering to the cheapest 17" tire possible, which is $62 a tire. Of course you could always spend alot of money on 17" tires... just as much as you would pay for 18"s, but thats your decision. Personally i'd grab the $62 ones and call it a deal. $62 vs $96, i'd save $136.

Remember though you get what you paid for. Sure you might save yourself 50 bucks in getting the cheaper tire but I bet you'll be buying a new set sooner because those cheap tires are gonna go bald on you pretty quick. I learned this lesson the hard way after about 3 sets of tires in 2 years.
=Jason-

 

[sential]

thanks for the added help. I like both of those rims....the 5zigen FN01 R-C and the velox progear, the five spoke with polished lip...

I think i'm going to shoot for a lightweight 18" wheel, that way I get the looks and perfomance. the hard part is staying within my budget.

if anyone has some other rim choices...let me hear them...

 

[teme]

SPIDEY: is your avatar photoshop or real thing it's pretty cool

 

[Chuckt]

i baught a set of 17x7 ADR Concept Pros and they came in the mail 2 at a time with the boxes labeled as 28lbs. 14lbs isnt bad for 17's IMO.

 

[trig21turbo]

I say you slap on some 19" and call it a day especially if you don't plan on doing anything else to your car

 

[RipperXX]

I am thinking about puting 19's on my next DSM just because people say axis's spins are easy to do with them. weeeeeeeee ah f0rk what broke!!

 

[paranoidTSi]

I wouldn't put anything larger than 17s, I think 18s are just too big for a DSM (course this depends on the RIM weight). My car went from 16s to 18s, then back to 16s as the 18s caused a performance drop. If you are concerned about your vehicles look and not performance by all means go for 18s then, but it made a noticable performance change between 16s and 18s.

 

[trig21turbo]

Don't listen to the guy above he has no idea what could fit on your car or his, he's obviously broke. You have a choice of 17's 18's or 19's you choose. 17's are too small 18's are good 19's are perfect!!

 

[Stock_Eclipse]

18" ADR gunmedal whit a polished lip (Deepdish)

 

[99gst_racer]

17's are too small. Get 18"s!! And if you use 225/35/18 tires, your speedo will be accurate. Mine is only off by 4 mph.

 

[sential]

225/35's...isn't that smaller than the overall factory diameter? I already dont want to ride on 40's cause of the ride, but 35's. Do you feel every single bump or what?

 

[98eclipseRS]

I would honestly stick with 17's this is just my honest opinion, please don't try and come on here and get sick with me because I have a different point of view on these things. Anyway once you start to make serious hp in a fwd dsm you are going to want the extra sidewall that smaller rims offer. 18's on a gst get pretty sketch with whell hop and traction once you start to make some serious power. If i were you i would get a set nice 17's and a set of lighweight 16's or 15's(front only) and mount some drag radials or slicks to them for those track days or summer nights when you know you will be cruising. I know from personal experiance in a high power fwd dsm with 18's and the freeway was a pretty scary place to try and get on it.