PDA

View Full Version : 17 inch vs 18 inch wheels


markus
03-30-2007, 10:32 PM
im curious to see how many people in here would prefer 18 over 17 inch wheels.

reason being I can get a set of brand new M par reps for a little over $500 and people want crazy money for used E39 wheels.
weiss_535is
03-30-2007, 10:36 PM
im curious to see how many people in here would prefer 18 over 17 inch wheels.

reason being I can get a set of brand new M par reps for a little over $500 and people want crazy money for used E39 wheels.


I think the ride is alot better on 17s, I noticed quite a difference when putting 18s on my car. So IMHO I would stick with 17s
BillionPa
03-30-2007, 11:48 PM
17s
Incantation
03-31-2007, 03:42 AM
18 looks nicer but 17 still looks great. difference in ride quality is minor
shrike071
03-31-2007, 06:45 AM
18 looks nicer but 17 still looks great. difference in ride quality is minor

+1. I'm running 18's on the car now. IMHO, what really makes a difference is the quality of the tire. If you get a craptastic el-cheapo 18" tire, like a Fuzion or some Falkens, expect a horrible ride. If you spend the money on some rubber - then the ride will be great. A nice 18" tire will run you at least $220 each....
Dave M
03-31-2007, 07:10 AM
+1. A nice 18" tire will run you at least $220 each....

Ouch........I definitely can't afford 18". Thats like buying a new set of wheels every few years. Glad I'm quite happy with my 16"ers :)

Dave
Macv
03-31-2007, 11:00 AM
17
bsell
03-31-2007, 12:18 PM
+1. I'm running 18's on the car now. IMHO, what really makes a difference is the quality of the tire. If you get a craptastic el-cheapo 18" tire, like a Fuzion or some Falkens, expect a horrible ride. If you spend the money on some rubber - then the ride will be great. A nice 18" tire will run you at least $220 each....

Don't remind me how much these 18"ers cost!;)

I just swapped the winter 15"ers for my Type III 18" and man what a difference on the twisty roads! There is nothing like short sidewalls to make you the car feel like it is on rails. These things hold the road so strongly, I worry that my front suspension will snap off before the tire give up.:D

Brian
Incantation
03-31-2007, 08:45 PM
my buddies have 26" and 30" on their suv's.. u don't even want to know how much they paid for rubber
attack eagle
03-31-2007, 09:10 PM
+1. I'm running 18's on the car now. IMHO, what really makes a difference is the quality of the tire. If you get a craptastic el-cheapo 18" tire, like a Fuzion or some Falkens, expect a horrible ride. If you spend the money on some rubber - then the ride will be great. A nice 18" tire will run you at least $220 each....
my bridgestone RE750s actually ride much nicer than the RE730 they replaced, and at 160 a pop from tire rack they are not expensive either.

Other than broken pavement ( which can be a bit jostling), the ride is very nice.
AngryPopTart
03-31-2007, 11:51 PM
There is nothing like short sidewalls to give you no notice that you're about to break loose.

Brian

Fixed.
bsell
04-03-2007, 12:34 PM
Fixed.

My Goodyears do pretty well in giving me feedback that they are struggling, especially in the wet.

What are you running that snap out from under you?

Brian
AngryPopTart
04-07-2007, 01:06 PM
Hehehe, I'm just joking around. Low profile tires don't give give it away with lots of squealing like tall tires tend to do. But then... I have factory size tires on my 15's and I don't remember the last time I heard them squeal, even when pushing them to the point of washing out. O_O.oO( ? ) Oh well.