17" vs 18" wheels
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17" vs 18" wheels
After driving my new (2001) WRX around the mountain tracks of East Sussex that are supposed to pass as roads, I'm wondering if the 18" wheels are not doing the ride comfort any favours and that i maybe should swop to 17's with a higher profile tyre.
I have spent a small fortune on other cars in the past changing wheels and tyre combos and it's only made a small difference in ride comfort at the end of the day.
Save my money and leave well alone or switch to 17's? I see some cars even run 16's.
cheers.
I have spent a small fortune on other cars in the past changing wheels and tyre combos and it's only made a small difference in ride comfort at the end of the day.
Save my money and leave well alone or switch to 17's? I see some cars even run 16's.
cheers.
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[QUOTE=kdh;11357571]Hi Rob. No suspension mods, no real issues apart from a slightly jarring ride over uneven road surfaces.
Same as mine , stops you falling asleep at the wheel.
Same as mine , stops you falling asleep at the wheel.
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As some one said to me "18's for show 17's for go" that said I have 18's on my blob wagon and like the slightly firmer feel and handling characteristics that you get from smaller profile and firmer sidewalls, but I also have my geometry set to be slightly tail happy. For me it's a better way to go on standard suspension than fitting coilovers, though I think I have non standard springs as the ride is firmer than my previous blob, which was a saloon so maybe that has something to do with it.
A lot depends on the tyres themselves and the stiffness of the sidewall too.
A lot depends on the tyres themselves and the stiffness of the sidewall too.
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Prodrive actually advise changing to 18"s when the PPP is fitted to a newage to make the most of the extra bhp/torque.
From experience the 17"s are more comfortable and the 18"s a little harsher but with more feedback, plus they do seem to suit a newage better than 17"s imho.
Siv
From experience the 17"s are more comfortable and the 18"s a little harsher but with more feedback, plus they do seem to suit a newage better than 17"s imho.
Siv
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As others have touched on it is very dependent on what wheel/tyre package your comparing, a quality lightweight 18" wheel matched to a good tyre with some give in the sidewall may provide a decent ride or as good as some 17's, and could be why some experience an improvement when switching to 18s, but of course a heavy 18" wheel compared to a light 17" with the right tyre would be a noticeable difference. The width of the wheel will also play a factor.
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Yes good point. On another car I owned the ride was bad and I blamed the larger wheels and it ended up being a Geo problem.
It's never going to ride like a Merc and for a car with 18" wheels I think it's pretty good. It's just that the roads are becoming so bad.
It's never going to ride like a Merc and for a car with 18" wheels I think it's pretty good. It's just that the roads are becoming so bad.
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The Michelins on the front are dated 2002 and the Chinese horrors on the back 2003, so definitely time for a change.
Can anyone recommend an 18" tyre with a nice amount of 'give' in the sidewall please? (I can't afford the Yokahamas at £163 each.)
Can anyone recommend an 18" tyre with a nice amount of 'give' in the sidewall please? (I can't afford the Yokahamas at £163 each.)
Last edited by kdh; 22 February 2014 at 04:13 PM.
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