17in vs 18in

[*Hachiroku86*]

Hello all,

Please leave your PROs and CONs of either size. Which size will you go with??

[jdubious]

Wow, never been first before. Guess I'll comment.

Looking to get some lightweight 18s primarily for the look of them. I don't want anything super heavy but am not convinced I will notice a few extra pounds.

[aLaFleur]

I'm running 17x9's right now just for he simple fact that I could swap my stock tires over haha. However I'll be stepping up to 18's soon. Unless you're out tracking your car at it's full potential every week, I highly doubt you'll be able to notice a difference in performance so mainly it's going to come down to personal preference.

[DarkSunrise]

18's definitely look better, but 17's for

(1) less unsprung, rotational mass
(2) better ride quality, and
(3) cheaper tires

No right or wrong answer though.

[sluflyer06]

It depends on the car, on this platform 17s look big enough to me, given that I prefer 17" because my goals are performance not looks.

Cheap rubber
lower weight

[ToyoburuBRZ]

Originally Posted by Iceman86

Hello all,

Please leave your PROs and CONs of either size. Which size will you go with??

I suggest you do a search in this sub forum. This topic has been discussed multiple times.

Summary - it depends what you want from your car. If you are just doing it for looks and don't car about performance than go with 18s. But if you plan on keeping the same tire diameter as stock expect a harsher ride.

If you plan on tracking/autocrossing your car you should go with 17s that are lighter than stock. This reduces your unsprung weight as well as your rotating inertia helping you accelerate faster.

[FRS_FIEND]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

18's definitely look better, but 17's for

(1) less unsprung, rotational mass
(2) better ride quality, and
(3) cheaper tires

No right or wrong answer though.

yeah what this guy said!

My frs is a DD with a possibility of 2 track days in a year. So I'm going with lightweight wide 18s for Looks, if I was going for a fully dedicated Track car I would definitely go with 17s for the exact same reasons this guy posted above

[Karl07]

I only went 18s to cover my upcoming brakes.
Otherwise I would have stuck with 17s.
Though I did get very light 18s.

[TrogDor the Burninator]

It's too simple to say 17s are for performance and anything else is for looks ...

My 18x9 Volk TE37SL with Direzza Z11 255/35 has the same circumference as stock, and weighs CONSIDERABLY less than stock.

I'm pretty sure pure race car FR-S (such as the Scion Racing FR-S) aren't kicking 17s ...

yes - they may have superchargers and turbos - but again - that is why it is too simplistic to say 17s are for performance and 18s are for looks ...

[continuecrushing]

truth be told, most people on the forums will NEVER notice the difference between 17 and 18's...even on the track. You think you're so great at driving, that your 18's are holding you back and making you slower?

The people who do notice the weight between 17 and 18 are either really good drivers(with times to show), or are the people who notice how much power their car got with their drop-in filter or catback...


Unless you're really into racing(and have the budget to support it) or making money at it, go with the wheel you like! Otherwise, IMO its pointless/dumb to dump a ton of money getting a "light" wheel so we can make our "slow" car marginally faster.

Spend some time on the track and figure out what YOU want to upgrade/change...not just what everyone else says.

[Karl07]

Originally Posted by TrogDor the Burninator

It's too simple to say 17s are for performance and anything else is for looks ...

My 18x9 Volk TE37SL with Direzza Z11 255/35 has the same circumference as stock, and weighs CONSIDERABLY less than stock.

I'm pretty sure pure race car FR-S (such as the Scion Racing FR-S) aren't kicking 17s ...

yes - they may have superchargers and turbos - but again - that is why it is too simplistic to say 17s are for performance and 18s are for looks ...

I agree completely...however you have to think too, that while, yes your 18x9 Volks are lighter than stock (as are my wheels), but they are heavier than 17" volks.

Also the tyres are substantially heavier for a 18x9 vs say tyres for a 17x7.

My two rear tyres weigh more than three of my wheels.


However, as @Shutter mentioned...I'd say very few of us would ever really notice the difference.

I know I'm not good enough to notice 1kg unsprung weight at each corner, but when I consider the weight of the tyres, the wheels, the brakes, etc...it all adds up so that's the only reason I'm keeping as light as possible.

Do it once, do it right for my goals.

[FRS_FIEND]

Originally Posted by TrogDor the Burninator

It's too simple to say 17s are for performance and anything else is for looks ...

My 18x9 Volk TE37SL with Direzza Z11 255/35 has the same circumference as stock, and weighs CONSIDERABLY less than stock.

I'm pretty sure pure race car FR-S (such as the Scion Racing FR-S) aren't kicking 17s ...

yes - they may have superchargers and turbos - but again - that is why it is too simplistic to say 17s are for performance and 18s are for looks ...

Originally Posted by Shutter

truth be told, most people on the forums will NEVER notice the difference between 17 and 18's...even on the track. You think you're so great at driving, that your 18's are holding you back and making you slower?

The people who do notice the weight between 17 and 18 are either really good drivers(with times to show), or are the people who notice how much power their car got with their drop-in filter or catback...


Unless you're really into racing(and have the budget to support it) or making money at it, go with the wheel you like! Otherwise, IMO its pointless/dumb to dump a ton of money getting a "light" wheel so we can make our "slow" car marginally faster.

Spend some time on the track and figure out what YOU want to upgrade/change...not just what everyone else says.

Originally Posted by Karl07

I agree completely...however you have to think too, that while, yes your 18x9 Volks are lighter than stock (as are my wheels), but they are heavier than 17" volks.

Also the tyres are substantially heavier for a 18x9 vs say tyres for a 17x7.

My two rear tyres weigh more than three of my wheels.


However, as @Shutter mentioned...I'd say very few of us would ever really notice the difference.

I know I'm not good enough to notice 1kg unsprung weight at each corner, but when I consider the weight of the tyres, the wheels, the brakes, etc...it all adds up so that's the only reason I'm keeping as light as possible.

Do it once, do it right for my goals.

I guess my main reason is cost of tires.Thats mostly the reason I would go with 17s, not because I think I'm Aryton senna, but because low cost tires as a noob on the track and the frs being my dd, low cost tires would be the best benefit.

[PHLonomenal]

I believe 18inch is the sweet spot/best compromise and gives the best of all possible worlds explained above. Definitely look better. IMHO


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[jdmblood]

i think the only reason to ever go 18s are for looks or if your going forced induction and need to fit bigger brakes. other than that 17s are cheaper to buy and are lighter. Tires are also generally cheaper for 17s than for 18s...