Why are rims so big now days?

Edster · Mar 19, 2007

It seems the new cars all have large rims (eg 17 inch and larger) what is the purpose of this?. It seems ya would have a harder time figurin gear ratios etc. Also the tires to fit these rims are more exspensive. With the really low profiles it seems the tires are more for looks than performance. Any insight on this?
Thanks

chromedog · Mar 19, 2007

to a point, its for looks, but also low profile tires really make corner carving a ball! the shorter sidewall doesnt flex as much as a taller one.

iskwezm · Mar 19, 2007

Times have changed Edster, as well as advancements in wheel/tire technology. The tires for 17+" wheels are a liitle more expensive,but the trade off for the increased performance is worth it. The old 14/15" tires did nothing for handling becuase the sidewalls were so tall they "rolled" with the weight of the car when taking a tigher turn with more speed.They might have had a "softer" ride, but i dont miss it. The bigger wheels also means bigger brakes.

You can either fight it roll with the times.

Edster · Mar 19, 2007

Now I see. How do the newer tire combos work on 1/4 mile?

10secgoal · Mar 19, 2007

Edster said:
Now I see. How do the newer tire combos work on 1/4 mile?

Still not as good as the tried and true. You do want the sidewall in those instances also.
And alot of people want huge brakes, which requires a bigger rim.

ga289stocker · Mar 19, 2007

Yeah i really don't get some of these guys........

LOL!!!!!!!!!!

NasaGT · Mar 19, 2007

What? No spinners?

1320stang · Mar 19, 2007

Most of the newer cars also have larger wheel wells. Notice those wheels on the mid 70's designed car above don't fit the wheel wells too precisely.

Edster · Mar 19, 2007

Yeah The last time I lived in the US the thin was to put really small rims w/ really wide tire that stuck out from the fenders. BTW How do ya figure back spacing?

ultrastang · Mar 19, 2007

With the 16" & 17" wheels, you are trading off tire height for wheel diameter. With the 20" and larger wheels, I think it's just basically a statment of "how 'gawdy' can I make it look?"

I currently have 15" Weld Draglites on my '68 with 245/60-15 Goodyears on the rear. The overall tire height on it is 26".

My '03 Mach 1 has 17" factory wheels with 245/45-17 Goodyears. The overall tire height on the 17" wheels is actually 1-inch shorter than the 15" wheels/tires on the '68 --at 25" high.

danny clemens · Mar 19, 2007

Them great big wheels look good ridin' through the hood. Specially the ones that keep spinnin' after you stop.

D.Hearne · Mar 19, 2007

My 06 Stang came with 27" tires and 17" wheels. They SUCK, big time at the drag strip. Car handles like it's on rails. Ride suffers though. It's all a trade off. My 89 Ranger rides better than the Stang, it's got 195/75/15's up front, 275/60/15's out back riding on a set of vintage 15 x 7 & 15 x 10 aluminum slots.

mattrod70 · Mar 19, 2007

that box is whack, check the shoes on this monster

matt

PJx5x · Mar 20, 2007

A 17" drag radial can hook very well at the track if setup right. My buddy was running 17" Nittos (not the best option) and snapped an axle and tore out his torque box. A 17" MT ET/Street is probably also good for a 1.5 second 60'

To me, 17" is the limit (18" on S197s). Anything beyond that just looks stupid...

Decurion · Mar 20, 2007

mattrod70 said:
that box is whack, check the shoes on this monster

matt

This monster was at the Detroit Autorama last week. Its uh... different...

Edster · Mar 20, 2007

Looks like I'm in the market for some 17s. I'mwonderin what back spacing I would need for a stock 66 GT model. I'm not lookin to do a bunch of suspesion mods or other radical changes. I do like the idea of great handling although I thought it handle fairly well the last time I drove it a year ago.

ga289stocker · Mar 20, 2007

mattrod70 said:
that box is whack, check the shoes on this monster

matt

That's the one i was trying to find to post, that's one tight whip dogg, rolling pimp savvy in the hisssoooodddd w/ that one playah, playah and off Daaa-Chain suckaaa....worddddd....

D.Hearne · Mar 20, 2007

Decurion said:
This monster was at the Detroit Autorama last week. Its uh... different...

Come on now, it's not different , it's just plain RETARDED. It falls under what we in deep east Texas used to call "eat up with the dumb ass"

chromedog · Mar 20, 2007

17 x 8 ... 4 3/4 backspacing, and thats pushing it, imho.

wicked93gs · Mar 20, 2007

I'd suggest 16" myself, theres really no reason go 17" if you can find 16s wide enough...but thats just me

Why are rims so big now days?

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