LB4,

Then why do you think Mike Wood, as well as evo mag love 18inch wheels so much? as found on 911's, NSX's and Ferrari's??)
(Mike went so far as to reccomend 18 over 17's for road use.) Could it be that the manufacturers now know how to get around the problem? That they can somehow make 18's provide progression and break-away like 16's?? The qustion still seems rather unresolved at this point.

 

I agree a rear wash wipe and maybe some electric folding mirrors aswell.
Trouble is tyres are a trade off like anything in life. Its not just ride quality and handling its also the cost of replacing 18" tyres, compared to 17".
Subaru are being kind to us and saving us money so we can spend it at the dealers on Mugs, laptop bags and remote controlled cars

Jas

 

If they came with 18's, you'd want to upgrade to 19's!

 

See - told you it was a ridiculous thread

 

there are a few technical reasons for going 'up one'

+ you can. tyre companies have only recently been able to produce low profile tyres

+ the relative light weight of the alloy wheel compared to rubber & steel reduces the unweighted mass on the wheel/hub. This allows you to have far more progressive suspension so you have better small bump sensitivity - i.e. the car doesn't jump off the road you hit a rut

+ as someone else said above - you get better cornering ability.

personally speaking - I use 17" wheels on track and road. no need to go to 18" - roads are not good enough in the UK to warrant them.

rd

 

If Prodrive are considered to be Subaru's main UK tuning arm then surely if they modify cars and produce specials for Subaru UK then they should fit the most appropriate wheel. I.e UK 300 (Styled and tuned by Prodrive) came with 18's yet previous specials such as P1 RB5 came with 17's

 

Whats the reason we never see F1 cars with low profile tyres. Are they almost solid rubber, or what.

 

If F1 cars had low profile tyres the drivers would break their backs as the car would be so 'hard' (using the existing suspension)..... plus the rules don't allow them too. As it is the engineers use the tyre flex as part of the suspension (if you like)... that's why the tyre pressures are sooooo critical.

Tony.

 

I just went from 16" to 17" - they **look** much better, and are a little lighter than stock. Tramlines more and the ride is worse though. I'm glad some of you agree with me at least!

If you are a man who uses Clinique moisturiser daily to improve your looks, you need 18" wheels. The scruffier of us lot should make do with less - esp if you wear dentures

 

I run 17" as I found 18"s to harsh on the roads I use - cos I managed to make one of my 18"s egg shaped previously

Horses for courses, really.

IMHO, the GX should have had 16"s as standard, seeing as the WRX got 17"s this time round.

But 18"s would not appeal to all.

Alex

 

18s as standard might load up the insurance more?

 

I have 18"s but I wouldn't want to see them as standard until the price of tires comes down. It is also a compromise for ride comfort.

 

If you had 18's you would want 19's, and then we would see this thread appear.

18" or 19" wheels - Another Subaru rip off ???????

 

If you had 18" wheels you's all be whinging that they get kerbed to **** within two weeks. That's why I have a forester with 215/65/16 wheels, to cope with having to go on the pavement all the time 'cos the roads here are so narrow.

 

agree with diesel. running an rb5 with 18s at the moment and definitely suffers after 17s. Lucky I kept hold of them. Usual faults: tramlining, hard ride. Look good though and very stable at speed. Wouldn't rate them through the twisties though. Soon as its dry (and warm enough) to get it on jacks the 17s are going back on.
Might be able to lower it a bit too, without losing my teeth every time I go over a bump in the road.