Optimal Wheel Size for Stock Power - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Tanuki · 08-26-2012, 02:45 PM

I suppose I should be able to answer this on my own, and maybe I have, but I want your opinions.

Because of the ride height, size, and power of the FT86, I am seriously considering going to a smaller wheel size. I have some 18x9 Work XD9's, but after putting them on the car and driving a few miles, I really think they feel a little bit too big for the car. I know I don't have the car lowered (yet), but you can still get a feel for the wheel/ tire size without being lowered.

Here they are when I test fitted them:

Honestly they are probably a great sized wheel for this car aesthetically, but I can't decide if I like the feel of them.

So I know that we all have our own opinions, but is there an optimal performance size for wheels and tires for this car? Where are the limits of too big vs too small if you are keeping the car near stock power? I am mostly going to daily drive the car, but I will be getting a couple of track days here and there as well.

I am thinking that a 17x9 would probably be that perfect size, and I could get take offs in that size as well for the occasional track day in the car.

Thoughts?

JimmyMac · 08-26-2012, 03:37 PM

For a stock car and keeping performance, 17x7 or 17x7.5 with better rubber is the performance bet. You can probably go with 17x8 but a wider rubber selection will increase diameter and likely slow the car down a few tenths for certain situations. If its a track day it may help, but for street driving it'll be slower. Most might not notice or not care.

Tanuki · 08-26-2012, 03:40 PM

^Thanks. My thought was maybe a 17x8 for a daily, then save these work 18x9's for track rubber, or something along those lines.

Tanuki · 08-26-2012, 03:56 PM

This should help too:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_IWa_qlt3g&feature=player_embedded"]2013 Scion FR-S - YouTube[/ame]

JimmyMac · 08-26-2012, 04:00 PM

Yeah, it sucks. You want to keep the performance yet look good. That's why I'm having a had time picking out wheels. I wanna stick with stock rubber size (215/45), but I want a light weight wheel that has some decent offset without looking too bad. Maybe some Work Emotion 17x7 or 7.5 and 32? Offset? I don't remember the exact size. Or go cheap and get some Rota Torque 17x7.5 for the time being until I decide if I want the Enkei RPF1 17x9 +45 that will be coming out in November.

Tanuki · 08-26-2012, 04:02 PM

I think I will do the 17x8 TE37's. I just wish the offsets were a bit lower. I am having a heck of a time deciding on wheels for this car. Usually the choices are pretty easy.

JimmyMac · 08-26-2012, 04:03 PM

Yeah seen that video. I should of kept my MS3! Hehe This FR-S is a fun car. Someday I'll turbo it. Just waiting for the dust to settle and see how reliability is on this engine. I won't jump the gun like I did my Mazda.

Tanuki · 08-26-2012, 04:05 PM

I actually dont want FI. MAYBE if they release a factory supercharger with a warranty, but honestly I have had lots of turbo cars, big and small, and I have always enjoyed my NA cars more. My M3 was probably the best so far. The superchargers on my mini coopers were rockin' though. Anyway I want my engine to gain some power, but I don't anticipate going to a turbo.

JimmyMac · 08-26-2012, 04:13 PM

That's why I'm going with the Visconte tune first. Just wish they had a local E85 station around here!! Bastards!! Haha

Kairos · 08-26-2012, 04:29 PM

The problem is not that they are 18's, it's that you bought 28+ lb. wheels. Get a 18x9 that weight 18 lbs and I guarantee you'll see a huge difference. I believe the stockers are 20-22 lbs so you added alot of extra weight to rotate.

Kairos · 08-26-2012, 04:34 PM

Obviously a 17" wheel can be lighter and have less rotational mass, but there's no reason you can't get the great aesthetics of an 18" wheels without destroying your cars performance.

Skyllz · 08-26-2012, 04:37 PM

some lightweight 16x8 with some Star Spec or something along the lines.

Less weight = more powah.

dabocx · 08-26-2012, 05:08 PM

I might do SSRs type F in 18X8.5. or in 17s.

Just wish they made them in a wider size

D1cker · 08-26-2012, 06:09 PM

a light 17x9 with a 245/40/17 will be ideal for a car that sees the track and autocross as well as the street, if it's more of a street car, go with 235/40/17.

18's look better but the 17 will be better for performance.

View Poll Results: Best wheel size for stock power?
17x8	173	36.58%
17x8.5	29	6.13%
17x9	80	16.91%
18x8.5	37	7.82%
18x9	21	4.44%
18x9.5	22	4.65%
Staggered (please list sizes below)	14	2.96%
Other- I am interested to know.	97	20.51%
Voters: 473. You may not vote on this poll

08-26-2012, 02:45 PM	#1
Tanuki Turtle Factory Join Date: Oct 2009 Drives: Mint M3 Location: PDX Posts: 1,286 Thanks: 1,021 Thanked 614 Times in 312 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Optimal Wheel Size for Stock Power I suppose I should be able to answer this on my own, and maybe I have, but I want your opinions. Because of the ride height, size, and power of the FT86, I am seriously considering going to a smaller wheel size. I have some 18x9 Work XD9's, but after putting them on the car and driving a few miles, I really think they feel a little bit too big for the car. I know I don't have the car lowered (yet), but you can still get a feel for the wheel/ tire size without being lowered. Here they are when I test fitted them: Honestly they are probably a great sized wheel for this car aesthetically, but I can't decide if I like the feel of them. So I know that we all have our own opinions, but is there an optimal performance size for wheels and tires for this car? Where are the limits of too big vs too small if you are keeping the car near stock power? I am mostly going to daily drive the car, but I will be getting a couple of track days here and there as well. I am thinking that a 17x9 would probably be that perfect size, and I could get take offs in that size as well for the occasional track day in the car. Thoughts?

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08-26-2012, 03:37 PM	#2
JimmyMac Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: 2013 FR-S, 2016 Miata Club Location: NC Posts: 785 Thanks: 183 Thanked 258 Times in 171 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	For a stock car and keeping performance, 17x7 or 17x7.5 with better rubber is the performance bet. You can probably go with 17x8 but a wider rubber selection will increase diameter and likely slow the car down a few tenths for certain situations. If its a track day it may help, but for street driving it'll be slower. Most might not notice or not care.

08-26-2012, 03:40 PM	#3
Tanuki Turtle Factory Join Date: Oct 2009 Drives: Mint M3 Location: PDX Posts: 1,286 Thanks: 1,021 Thanked 614 Times in 312 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	^Thanks. My thought was maybe a 17x8 for a daily, then save these work 18x9's for track rubber, or something along those lines.

08-26-2012, 03:56 PM	#4
Tanuki Turtle Factory Join Date: Oct 2009 Drives: Mint M3 Location: PDX Posts: 1,286 Thanks: 1,021 Thanked 614 Times in 312 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	This should help too: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_IWa_qlt3g&feature=player_embedded"]2013 Scion FR-S - YouTube[/ame]

08-26-2012, 04:00 PM	#5
JimmyMac Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: 2013 FR-S, 2016 Miata Club Location: NC Posts: 785 Thanks: 183 Thanked 258 Times in 171 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Yeah, it sucks. You want to keep the performance yet look good. That's why I'm having a had time picking out wheels. I wanna stick with stock rubber size (215/45), but I want a light weight wheel that has some decent offset without looking too bad. Maybe some Work Emotion 17x7 or 7.5 and 32? Offset? I don't remember the exact size. Or go cheap and get some Rota Torque 17x7.5 for the time being until I decide if I want the Enkei RPF1 17x9 +45 that will be coming out in November.

08-26-2012, 04:02 PM	#6
Tanuki Turtle Factory Join Date: Oct 2009 Drives: Mint M3 Location: PDX Posts: 1,286 Thanks: 1,021 Thanked 614 Times in 312 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	I think I will do the 17x8 TE37's. I just wish the offsets were a bit lower. I am having a heck of a time deciding on wheels for this car. Usually the choices are pretty easy.

08-26-2012, 04:03 PM	#7
JimmyMac Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: 2013 FR-S, 2016 Miata Club Location: NC Posts: 785 Thanks: 183 Thanked 258 Times in 171 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Yeah seen that video. I should of kept my MS3! Hehe This FR-S is a fun car. Someday I'll turbo it. Just waiting for the dust to settle and see how reliability is on this engine. I won't jump the gun like I did my Mazda.

08-26-2012, 04:05 PM	#8
Tanuki Turtle Factory Join Date: Oct 2009 Drives: Mint M3 Location: PDX Posts: 1,286 Thanks: 1,021 Thanked 614 Times in 312 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	I actually dont want FI. MAYBE if they release a factory supercharger with a warranty, but honestly I have had lots of turbo cars, big and small, and I have always enjoyed my NA cars more. My M3 was probably the best so far. The superchargers on my mini coopers were rockin' though. Anyway I want my engine to gain some power, but I don't anticipate going to a turbo.

08-26-2012, 04:13 PM	#9
JimmyMac Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: 2013 FR-S, 2016 Miata Club Location: NC Posts: 785 Thanks: 183 Thanked 258 Times in 171 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	That's why I'm going with the Visconte tune first. Just wish they had a local E85 station around here!! Bastards!! Haha

08-26-2012, 04:29 PM	#10
Kairos Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: 2013 Whiteout Scion FR-S Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	The problem is not that they are 18's, it's that you bought 28+ lb. wheels. Get a 18x9 that weight 18 lbs and I guarantee you'll see a huge difference. I believe the stockers are 20-22 lbs so you added alot of extra weight to rotate.

08-26-2012, 04:34 PM	#11
Kairos Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: 2013 Whiteout Scion FR-S Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Obviously a 17" wheel can be lighter and have less rotational mass, but there's no reason you can't get the great aesthetics of an 18" wheels without destroying your cars performance.

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08-26-2012, 04:37 PM	#12
Skyllz Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: Something fun. Location: Canada Posts: 106 Thanks: 39 Thanked 54 Times in 19 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	some lightweight 16x8 with some Star Spec or something along the lines. Less weight = more powah.

08-26-2012, 05:08 PM	#13
dabocx Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Drives: Scion FRS Location: United States Posts: 1,267 Thanks: 564 Thanked 261 Times in 191 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I might do SSRs type F in 18X8.5. or in 17s. Just wish they made them in a wider size

08-26-2012, 06:09 PM	#14
D1cker Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: B9 S4/ND2 Location: Fullerton, CA Posts: 522 Thanks: 190 Thanked 182 Times in 106 Posts Mentioned: 21 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	a light 17x9 with a 245/40/17 will be ideal for a car that sees the track and autocross as well as the street, if it's more of a street car, go with 235/40/17. 18's look better but the 17 will be better for performance.