17" vs 16"
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I'm new to all this, and will be collecting my first scooby in a couple of weeks - I now have the decision - to stick with the std 16" wheels or go to 17".
How does the lower profile of 17" tyres cope with our road surfaces - I'm a bit worried about the increased risk of punctures and wheel damage.
Is the ride much harsher ? and is the better handling worth it ?
How does the lower profile of 17" tyres cope with our road surfaces - I'm a bit worried about the increased risk of punctures and wheel damage.
Is the ride much harsher ? and is the better handling worth it ?
Jason,
I upgraded from 16" to 17" alloys and have never looked back - in fact the wheels on my WRX look like 18" due to the fact they have 7 spokes and a narrow rim. I understand that some brake conversions need a 17" wheel size - don't quote me but that it what I have heard. I have not noticed any particular difference in ride. Hope this helps.
I upgraded from 16" to 17" alloys and have never looked back - in fact the wheels on my WRX look like 18" due to the fact they have 7 spokes and a narrow rim. I understand that some brake conversions need a 17" wheel size - don't quote me but that it what I have heard. I have not noticed any particular difference in ride. Hope this helps.
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Etheridge-Bird:
<B>Jason,
I upgraded from 16" to 17" alloys and have never looked back - in fact the wheels on my WRX look like 18" due to the fact they have 7 spokes and a narrow rim. I understand that some brake conversions need a 17" wheel size - don't quote me but that it what I have heard. I have not noticed any particular difference in ride. Hope this helps.[/quote]
Looks like it's the 17's then .
Thanks
<B>Jason,
I upgraded from 16" to 17" alloys and have never looked back - in fact the wheels on my WRX look like 18" due to the fact they have 7 spokes and a narrow rim. I understand that some brake conversions need a 17" wheel size - don't quote me but that it what I have heard. I have not noticed any particular difference in ride. Hope this helps.[/quote]
Looks like it's the 17's then .
Thanks
Scooby Newbie
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Jason Hm:
<B> Looks like it's the 17's then .
Thanks
[/quote]
I talked to power engineering. Bigger wheels =slightly better handling. Smaller wheels=more power and speed.
<B> Looks like it's the 17's then .
Thanks
[/quote]
I talked to power engineering. Bigger wheels =slightly better handling. Smaller wheels=more power and speed.
Scooby Regular
Joined: May 1999
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Bit confused here..smaller wheels = more power and speed 
don't think so somehow.
Scooby wheels have increased in size from 15" to 16" and in some OE fits to 17" for many reasons (brakes being one) over the duration of the car and the power/performance issue has never come up before. The only discussion gone through on the BBS is about rolling circumference being maintained so the handling of the car is not upset from the OE settings. Hence, I believe, 50 series on 16" rims and 45 series on 17" rims are the norm, please put me right if I am wrong.
From a purely personal point of view the 17" rims on my RB5 feel much more positive than the 16" rims on my previous UK MY98 car...but it could also have something to do with the ProDrive kit I have fitted.
Yex
don't think so somehow.Scooby wheels have increased in size from 15" to 16" and in some OE fits to 17" for many reasons (brakes being one) over the duration of the car and the power/performance issue has never come up before. The only discussion gone through on the BBS is about rolling circumference being maintained so the handling of the car is not upset from the OE settings. Hence, I believe, 50 series on 16" rims and 45 series on 17" rims are the norm, please put me right if I am wrong.
From a purely personal point of view the 17" rims on my RB5 feel much more positive than the 16" rims on my previous UK MY98 car...but it could also have something to do with the ProDrive kit I have fitted.
Yex
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To be very pedantic!!!!
With a larger wheel and therefore lower profile tyre of the same overall diameter then more of the weight will be further from the centre of the wheel - this will give a larger moment of inertia - which will lead to slower acceleration, lower deceleration (you will need the bigger brakes that you can now fit under the bigger wheels - although that will again increase the moment of inertia causing you to fit yet larger brakes and therefore need 18s etc. etc.
) and less responsive steering (more gyroscope effect) and a harder ride (unless you let most the air out of course 
) and more chance of damaging the rims 
But they look much better
and the lower profile tyre can give better handling
(although often a less progessive breakaway)
Paul (feeling pedantic and liking his 17s with big brakes)
[This message has been edited by pnebbs (edited 31 August 2000).]
[This message has been edited by pnebbs (edited 31 August 2000).]
With a larger wheel and therefore lower profile tyre of the same overall diameter then more of the weight will be further from the centre of the wheel - this will give a larger moment of inertia - which will lead to slower acceleration, lower deceleration (you will need the bigger brakes that you can now fit under the bigger wheels - although that will again increase the moment of inertia causing you to fit yet larger brakes and therefore need 18s etc. etc.
) and less responsive steering (more gyroscope effect) and a harder ride (unless you let most the air out of course ) and more chance of damaging the rims But they look much better
and the lower profile tyre can give better handling (although often a less progessive breakaway)
Paul (feeling pedantic and liking his 17s with big brakes)
[This message has been edited by pnebbs (edited 31 August 2000).]
[This message has been edited by pnebbs (edited 31 August 2000).]
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Oh bu99er, guess I'll be needing bigger brakes now then !!! I wonder which brand/supplier I should use ? (whoops, seems like a sore subject at the moment ).
However I am now confused cos my 17" wheels came with 215/40/ZR17 toyo's on, not 45's as suggested earlier? They were the same overall circumference though.
Just a thought.
!!! I wonder which brand/supplier I should use ? (whoops, seems like a sore subject at the moment ).However I am now confused cos my 17" wheels came with 215/40/ZR17 toyo's on, not 45's as suggested earlier? They were the same overall circumference though.
Just a thought.
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Steve don't worry
you've got the correct size. If you had 205 width, then it's 45. With 215 you need 40 sidewall height. It's the height of the sidewalls measured in percentage compared to the width of the tyres. Without being Einstein if you have wider tyres (215 compared to 205) the figures has to be different and in this case smaller to retain the same circumference
Cheers
Mike
you've got the correct size. If you had 205 width, then it's 45. With 215 you need 40 sidewall height. It's the height of the sidewalls measured in percentage compared to the width of the tyres. Without being Einstein if you have wider tyres (215 compared to 205) the figures has to be different and in this case smaller to retain the same circumference
Cheers
Mike