17 inch vs 18 inch

[Keenercarguy]

Didn't read the whole thread but I've been through 70,000 miles with the car and about five sets of tires, four sets of wheels. My current setup is by far my favorite: 17x8 +45 wheels (17lbs) with 235/40/17 tires (harder size to find but amazing for NA twins since it is 20mm wider and also a tad less diameter, and usually close to the same weight as stock size PSS). Current tires are Toyo Proxes T1Sport's and I really like them. Very comparable to PSS but despite the lower wear rating they've actually worn slower than my last three sets of PSS (also amazing tires).

Recap: get light 17x8's and 235/40/17's... same weight as stock, more grip, AND faster acceleration. My next set of 235/40/17's will be more toyo's, Nitto NT05's, or (most likely) Z2 Star Specs.

[Ernest72]

Originally Posted by StraightOuttaCanadaEh

I guess so. But honestly I went through the whole list of rims and there were very few that I liked in 17". I feel like, in my case at least, the minimal improvement in dynamics is not worth the aesthetic trade off, especially considering I never track my car. When I go FI, it'll matter even less.

Of course for DD, if you like the looks go for it. I just feel this car needs all the help it can get.

[lamawithonel]

Size your wheels to your brakes, just large enough to clear. Anything larger is just extra weight, with a larger moment of inertia, reduced comfort, and reduced pot-hole/kerb protection for the rims.

If you want to go all out, use 17s on the front and 16s or 15s on the rear. Honda did this for their 2010 Super GT GT500 car, the HSV-010, using 18s on the front and 17s on the rear.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/18/o...cs-on-hsv-010/

[allowe]

I'm so glad I made this post! I've learned a lot about rims and coilovers!

I'm still at a crossroads with what I should get as there are lots of variables to take into account. The cheapest way is just pss on my stock rims but according to most of you. Lightweight rims actually make a difference. Again, I don't mind a stiff ride, I find hard suspension to be fun.

What about ebach sportline springs? They're only an inch drop. Are those worth it?

Also, how long do pss last for? I thought u can get 2-3 years out of them. I do live in Canada and for half of the year, I'm on winter tires.


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[Gforce]

Performance tires are designed for about four years of service. After that the rubber starts getting really hard and useless for intended purpose. For most of us tread wear isn't relevant if we buy for high performance. Same for winter tires, same reason but much softer rubber to start with.

I too drive in Canadian "summers" and for that reason recommend you consider fitting the latest ultra high performance all season tires instead (did I really say that?). I'm not kidding. On the street these are actually higher performance than the dedicated summer tire most of the time.

Reason becomes clear if you've ever got your summer tires into their proper temperature window just driving on the road. The first time you do is a revelation. Trouble is you need about 30 minutes of pretty hard driving, cornering hard, getting on the gas and braking hard, to get those tires "up to temperature". A couple of laps on track will do it easily but not so much on the road.

The relatively softer compound used in the all season versions heats up to its optimum much more readily. Bottom line is you are able to drive the all season tire at its best temperature more of the time on the road then you can do with a summer tire. I'm not knocking the summer tire. If I lived in CA it'd be a no brainer. Up here, not so much.

Bonus, the all season tire still grips very well down to freezing whereas the summer tire gives up when ambient drops below about 10 C. I'm a happy convert.

PS you still need winter tires for snow and ice.

[Gforce]

Originally Posted by lamawithonel

Size your wheels to your brakes, just large enough to clear. Anything larger is just extra weight, with a larger moment of inertia, reduced comfort, and reduced pot-hole/kerb protection for the rims.

If you want to go all out, use 17s on the front and 16s or 15s on the rear. Honda did this for their 2010 Super GT GT500 car, the HSV-010, using 18s on the front and 17s on the rear.

This is the best advice for choosing your wheel size. If you can find the tires you want in that size the smaller wheels offer big advantages.

[Gforce]

Originally Posted by Ernest72

Of course for DD, if you like the looks go for it. I just feel this car needs all the help it can get.

And even if you add more power why make your car any slower than it has to be? Big wheels are just a style thing. There is a correct size. For road driving smaller is definitely better than larger.

[allowe]

Originally Posted by Gforce

Performance tires are designed for about four years of service. After that the rubber starts getting really hard and useless for intended purpose. For most of us tread wear isn't relevant if we buy for high performance. Same for winter tires, same reason but much softer rubber to start with.

I too drive in Canadian "summers" and for that reason recommend you consider fitting the latest ultra high performance all season tires instead (did I really say that?). I'm not kidding. On the street these are actually higher performance than the dedicated summer tire most of the time.

Reason becomes clear if you've ever got your summer tires into their proper temperature window just driving on the road. The first time you do is a revelation. Trouble is you need about 30 minutes of pretty hard driving, cornering hard, getting on the gas and braking hard, to get those tires "up to temperature". A couple of laps on track will do it easily but not so much on the road.

The relatively softer compound used in the all season versions heats up to its optimum much more readily. Bottom line is you are able to drive the all season tire at its best temperature more of the time on the road then you can do with a summer tire. I'm not knocking the summer tire. If I lived in CA it'd be a no brainer. Up here, not so much.

Bonus, the all season tire still grips very well down to freezing whereas the summer tire gives up when ambient drops below about 10 C. I'm a happy convert.

PS you still need winter tires for snow and ice.

What?! So you're saying a set of Michelin pilot super sports wouldn't perform as soon as an all season set like maybe our stock primacies? Can someone else confirm this? I have a friend running super sports in our Canadian weather and they are pretty damn grippy.. well then again that's compared to my nearly bald primacies.

I do have a set of winter tires.

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[gramicci101]

Ignore him. This is Gfarce's third or fourth username. He considers himself to be the only suspension expert there is, with zero actual knowledge, and will keep dispensing his "expertise" until he gets banned again.

Isn't that right, suberman?

[BuffDriver]

After driving several other local cars with 17 x 8 inch and 18 inch rim n tire combos, I went with stock rims and PSS 215/45/ZR17's. The car handles great and the other guys who then tried my car commented that it actually handled very satisfactorily. I might should have gone 225, maybe next set.
The bigest difference in cornering was increasing front camber to 1.7, helped even as a DD.

[ REALLY do have to watch agressive power application on wet roads with the MPSSes... GRIN! Drifting practice? ]

[Impureclient]

I'm confused by people saying they get so much life from PSS. I barely made it to 8k miles and that is with zero track time.

[allowe]

Originally Posted by Impureclient

I'm confused by people saying they get so much life from PSS. I barely made it to 8k miles and that is with zero track time.

Did you beat on them? Damn I drive more than 2k a month


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[Impureclient]

Originally Posted by allowe

Did you beat on them? Damn I drive more than 2k a month


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No more than the usual spirited street driving and taking corners a little hard and I've never had a tire last less than at least double of those. I'm not taking corners sideways and peeling out everywhere like a madman though. Most of the miles I put on my car is driving to the grocery store. Not only that but they didn't stick as well as the Firehawk Indy 500s I replaced them with. With the PSS on I went in a 360 drift more than once doing a u-turn really hard. Can't seem to do the same with these new Firestones with all the grip they have. I just didn't experience all the hype people talk about with PSS tires at all.

[SuperTom]

Originally Posted by Impureclient

No more than the usual spirited street driving and taking corners a little hard and I've never had a tire last less than at least double of those. I'm not taking corners sideways and peeling out everywhere like a madman though. Most of the miles I put on my car is driving to the grocery store. Not only that but they didn't stick as well as the Firehawk Indy 500s I replaced them with. With the PSS on I went in a 360 drift more than once doing a u-turn really hard. Can't seem to do the same with these new Firestones with all the grip they have. I just didn't experience all the hype people talk about with PSS tires at all.

Check born on date. where did you get them from . Worth it to pay extra $5 from reputable site like tirerack to get fresh tires