17 vs 18 inch wheels

[DJHA90]

Im sure that the pros and cons have already been discussed. Anybody have the address of a good thread??

Thanks

 

[Venom351R]

18's will fill out the wheel wells more but the rubber for them is more expensive. 17's are also lighter and have less rotating mass when at the track.

 

[Caldwell]

17s are a compromise to an 18 inch.
I wanted 18s, but the price of rubber in comparison wasn't worth it.
Especially since I pound on my car... and in truth...
i love my wheels.
Now that I have these, i wouldn't buy an 18!
my kinda compromise

 

[super302]

i personally think 18's are for show cars, the rubber is way to expensive/hard to find and they will "slow you down"

 

[91LX_5L]

I love my 18s. Caldwell yours look like 18s must be the design of the saleens.

 

[SN95StangMan]

If my 18's are good enough for a Cobra R, they are good enough for me. My car isnt necessarily a slug off the line with the 18" tires either...

My .02

 

[Caldwell]

I love my 18s. Caldwell yours look like 18s must be the design of the saleens.

that's what i was betting on
plus the slam doesn't hurt either.
i made sure it was the look i wanted before the purchase.

 

[Nik_95Cobra]

Stangman I love your car. IMO...18's look the best on a street car for our year.

 

[jasonlee0704]

15" (draglites, etc.) = lightest, best for straight-line acceleration

17" = fit Cobra brakes, wider performance tire selection than 15", in general lighter than 18"

18" = fit 4-piston brakes, best handling (stiffer sidewalls), worst weight in general so worst acceleration

 

[super302]

15" (draglites, etc.) = lightest, best for straight-line acceleration

17" = fit Cobra brakes, wider performance tire selection than 15", in general lighter than 18"

18" = fit 4-piston brakes, best handling (stiffer sidewalls), worst weight in general so worst acceleration

 

[KingDiamond]

I like my 17's but if I ever replace these wheels I'll get 18's. They definately look better.

 

[Engel]

4 pistons wont clear a 17"?

 

[slytherin]

It's 17's for me I just cant fathom ponying up for 18's, that and it would stretch out my 4.10's a little-I don't want that I like the snap.

 

[nmcgrawj]

It's 17's for me I just cant fathom ponying up for 18's, that and it would stretch out my 4.10's a little-I don't want that I like the snap.

You get tires so that its the same height as it would be with 17's...or 16's or 15's for that matter. The tire/wheel combo is the same height for any rim. Mine is the same as stock.


How big of a difference in weight is it between an average 18 and a 17? The BIGGEST concern is the cost of the tires....to me that makes or breaks it. The result is more than worth it. If you want to go fast keep your stock wheels around....but im willing to bet that a 18 isnt going to "hurt" you that much more than a 17 would.

If you can handle the cost of tires, get the 18's. You will still have your stock wheels for the track if need be.

IMHO, 18's are just right for sn-95's....and 19-20's are a MUST have for the new 05. I thought our wheel wells are huge......

 

[91LX_5L]

How much would 18s actually slow a car vs 17s?

 

[nmcgrawj]

How much would 18s actually slow a car vs 17s?

I dont know..doubt there has ever been a test with equal tires and such. I doubt there is very much difference...we are not talking about 20's here.

Oh yea, tires have weight too....and an 18 has less tire

 

[SN95StangMan]

Oh yea, tires have weight too....and an 18 has less tire

good point.

 

[nmcgrawj]

good point.

haha yea i got that from you in another thread


I know when i put my 18's on, i didnt notice any loss in power/torque......just a hell of a lot better looking stang Oh yea...and my pockets were a little emptier

 

[SN95StangMan]

haha yea i got that from you in another thread


I know when i put my 18's on, i didnt notice any loss in power/torque......just a hell of a lot better looking stang Oh yea...and my pockets were a little emptier

Haha, that sounds like something I would say. I didnt realize you got that from me, just thought it was a good point.

My pockets were a little emptier too. I think that helps discourage me from doing unnecessary burnouts. People are always requesting that I do a burnout, and I just tell them to give me some money for my tires. The only time I burn rubber is to heat up the tires at the dragstrip. Once the local dragstrip was having a burnout contest, and the guy asked me to join. I asked what prize the winner gets... He told me "Burned tires." Yea right buddy.

 

[Nik_95Cobra]

How much would 18s actually slow a car vs 17s

By no means a comparison to our cars...But on my friends 94 civic when he went from the stock 14's with 60 series tires to 17's with 40 series and he lost over a second lol. Was a while ago so it's hard to remember but he ran a high 17.something lol. In a 5-Speed.