18's or 17's?

[VicBoost]

k well i was thinking of putting 18 inch chrome rims on my black 1995 tsi talon and i also want too lower my car. Are these rims too big and how low should i go? This car is my daily driver so i want a nice smooth ride but i also want it too look nice.

 

[Lunch_Box]

18's are fine on the car for daily driving tons of people are using them.

 

[-DSM2NR-]

17's for performance, 18's for looks. Personally, I prefer performance over looks even though looks are important too. You shouldn't have problems with 18's. It should be safe to lower the car an inch or a little more.

 

[raverboy]

17 inch rims are perfect for drag racing at thetrack, but 18's are perfect for when you are traveling at higher speeds and 18 inch rims allow for more rotation . Up to you,I currently have 18's and sometimes worry about the strain on my tranny on launches. Good luck

 

[5150]

I personally prefer 19" with low pro's but thats just me.

 

[K_Hill]

I prefer 17s myself ( they weigh less ), but thats me.. Just do whatever you like best man.

 

[rs-t eclipse]

17's for performance, 18's for looks. Personally, I prefer performance over looks even though looks are important too. You shouldn't have problems with 18's. It should be safe to lower the car an inch or a little more.

ok first off any wheel with a low profile tire is goin to suck at the track . because the side wall is thickend there for the tire doesn't winkle. take a lesson from the v8 guys WTF ever watch a rear wheel car picture with the car pulling the wheels look at the slicks they winkle the side walls. slicks have thin side walls and soft rubber. soft and sticky is good for racing.

2nd i would go with 18's they are just so sexy. i have 18's and i love them 17's look small on 2nd gens because we have big wheel gaps if you ever install a body kit you well think the 17's look like there 16's so if you want a performace keep your stocks or get some black steelies with soft low mileage tires for the track and get the 18's for the driving around town, car shows and lookin like a damn pimp.

and last of all why the chrome. personal i hate chrome on imports there ugly and heavyer then tuner rims. mainly ungly chrome is for you cadillics, bmw's, and suv's not your tuner.

 

[wret]

...at higher speeds and 18 inch rims allow for more rotation.

Can you explain this?

 

[-DSM2NR-]

ok first off any wheel with a low profile tire is goin to suck at the track . because the side wall is thickend there for the tire doesn't winkle. take a lesson from the v8 guys WTF ever watch a rear wheel car picture with the car pulling the wheels look at the slicks they winkle the side walls. slicks have thin side walls and soft rubber. soft and sticky is good for racing.

2nd i would go with 18's they are just so sexy. i have 18's and i love them 17's look small on 2nd gens because we have big wheel gaps if you ever install a body kit you well think the 17's look like there 16's so if you want a performace keep your stocks or get some black steelies with soft low mileage tires for the track and get the 18's for the driving around town, car shows and lookin like a damn pimp.

and last of all why the chrome. personal i hate chrome on imports there ugly and heavyer then tuner rims. mainly ungly chrome is for you cadillics, bmw's, and suv's not your tuner.

Yeah, I don't disagree that 18's look better than 17's on 2gens but you'll still cross the 1/4 line slower on 18's.

 

[larsenracing]

Im with wret please explain.if you have the right tire on your 18's the overall diameter or rollout should be real close to the same so rotation would be the same. the only thing is that 18's are usually heaver so there is more rotating mass in other words more work to turn them and stop them.

PS. i like the look of 18's but the size of the wheel must work with how far the car is dropped. just my opinion.

 

[dr_fatkins]

Can you explain this?

I believe he was referring to changing the final drive ratio intended by the factory by actually having a larger outside diameter of the tire. This would mean installing a tire with the incorrect profile, making the speedo inaccurate, and placing more strain on the drivetrain.

I would caution readers using this type of configuration without these considerations. Of course, we do a lot of things not intended by the factory, doubling torque for instance.

 

[SethA]

All other things being equal, a 17" wheel and tire should give you a smoother ride than a 18" setup. Another point is that the taller sidewall on a 17" tire will help save the wheel when you encounter potholes.

If you plan to use the wheels in the winter and want specific all season or snow tires, you should make sure that they are available in the size you want before choosing wheels. I have not shopped for tires in a while but there used to be a limited selection of 18" winter tires.

(I really like the looks of a 5 or 6 spoke 18" wheel on a 2g dsm though)

Seth

 

[clipse0001]

Get a nice set of 17s with some good tires. Dont make my mistake.

With 18s:
1. The ride sucks
2. You have to overinflate the tires to not bend the lip on your rim which makes ride worse
3. They are mostly heavier wheels.
4. Not all good tires are available
5. Mine dont look that much bigger then 17s (I got Konig Holes hypersilver)

Now I am getting tein coilovers and i strongly believe i will end up switching to 17 inch Gram Lights with some Neros because i have to drive a lot and roads around here suck a$$

 

[K_Hill]

The tires for the 17s will be cheaper also ( most of the time )..

 

[VicBoost]

how low you think i should go with 18's 1.5ish?

 

[tibby_boy]

how low you think i should go with 18's 1.5ish?

yeah, 1.5 is easy. just a set of eibach sportlines and then get kyb adjustable shocks to adjust ride comfort and stiffness at the track.

 

[VicBoost]

how about the stock shocks becuase this not going too track i just cruise with this in town. i rarely go track but i do want it too have go and show but i dunno i don't go too track. Not many around here in winnipeg. My buddy running with lowering springs around 2 inches and stock springs and it rides pretty good. Let me know cuz i do want a comfotable ride.

 

[tibby_boy]

i have stock shocks as well. my ride is fine as well. the stock shocks are fine if thats all you want. some people will say that the stock ones will go bad because of the new springs but mine have been on for a year now with no problems. so stick with stock ones if you want.

 

[Gary 420A RS]

17 inch rims are perfect for drag racing at thetrack or on the streets, but 18's are perfect for when you freeway racing (my fancy)becuase you are traveling at higher speeds and 18 inch rims allow for more rotation . Up to you,I currently have 18's and sometimes worry about the strain on my tranny on launches. Good luck

you should go back through and delete a few items. its good you reply but remember the rules. if your not familiar with them it might be to your interest to review them.

 

[playitlouddsm]

MachV has some good info on wheel and tire fitment.....http://www.machv.com/95wit17wheel.html

 

[L2RTSiAWD]

i have stock shocks as well. my ride is fine as well. the stock shocks are fine if thats all you want. some people will say that the stock ones will go bad because of the new springs but mine have been on for a year now with no problems. so stick with stock ones if you want.

I had stock shocks with eiback sportlines, and they one blew completely and another 2 were on there way out. Don't stick with the stock ones. Suspension is something people try to skimp on and I don't know why. If you want to lower your car without getting better shocks your ride will suffer, it's a fact.

The stock shocks are NOT fine with lowering springs.

 

[SprayinGS-T]

Just a side note to any Spyder owners wanting to lower thier cars...i origionally stuck with my stock shocks and only bought coil-overs, once lowered the top of the shocks stick up so high in the rear of the trunk that dropping my convertible top popped a hole in the side of it....get aftermarket adjustables.

 

[Talon_n00b]

Regarding suspension, occasionaly when driving... I randomly hear what can best be described as a metal bad hitting a metal pole, you know that nice ding sound... comming from the rear of my car, Ive check all my struts and everything seems fine. Id say I hear this sound a few times a month... Maybe its just debree hitting something but... it scares the hell out of me..

 

[wret]

We're getting way off topic here guys.

 

[csgsx23]

Hey, 17's are better for several reasons.
1, they are usually cheaper
2, they offer better track performance
3, dont affect ride quality as much as 18's
Only downside is that they don't look quite as well as 18's depending on your ride height. If your car is dropped 2 or more inches then go with 17's but if your riding stock and dont make it out to the track much go for 18's.

-Clark