17" or 18"

[Bogus]

I'm having trouble choosing between 17" or 18" wheels.

this is the setup I want:
Sparco Assetto Gara (Black Painted)
BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2

Here's some photos of a Sonic with 18" wheels.
Ames Performance Tuning Sonic
It definitely looks great, my main question is weight.
I know it wouldn't be much, but which would weight less? More rubber or more metal?

Also what kind of differences would i see in performance?

 

[laborsmith]

I will answer like this: an 18" rim with a tire that fits will weight more than a 17" rim with a tire that fits, even though the sidewall of the 18" tire will not be as tall as the sidewall of the 17" tire.

I have not done recent research, but ten years ago when trying to determine the optimum for looks AND performance, I went with 17"ers.

Things may have changed to some degree but I suspect the difference between the two sizes will still be eye opening.

Laborsmith

And you can't go wrong with the set up you are considering whether you go 17" or 18"

 

[Bogus]

laborsmith has all the answers.

17" sounds like the best choice for me.

I think this thread can be closed now with that answer. haha

 

[esymr2]

With that rim, I'd go with 225/45/17 tires though. Maybe even 235/45/17. I wouldn't go with that stock 17 inch size unless you're into that stretched tire look.

 

[rdss]

I agree with everyone above. 18's looks cool but all the research I have found is the tires and wheels both weigh more than the comporable 17" options. I am stuck between the two but will probably end up going with a 17" wheel, either the Sparco (Gun Metal) or LTZ (black). I don't plan on track days with my Sonic so weight isn't a huge deal.

 

[laborsmith]

With that rim, I'd go with 225/45/17 tires though. Maybe even 235/45/17. I wouldn't go with that stock 17 inch size unless you're into that stretched tire look.

Ditto. 225/45 will definitely fit. 235/45 would be close. It is in the rear where there is not a lot of room.

Laborsmith

 

[Opticon]

A 205mm (8.07 inches) tire fits perfectly on a 7.5" wide rim. I just installed a set of Gforce Comp2s and 17x7.5s on a Neon R/T. Very nice combo.

A 235 would look bloated. The Comp2s have some very beefy sidewalls.

 

[Bogus]

Oh yeah I'm not very experienced with tire sizes. So 225/45r17 would be the best fit for me?

 

[Opticon]

No. 205/50R17 is the best fit for that wheel and a Sonic. It maintains the stock overall diameter and a verticle sidewall.

 

[Bogus]

No. 205/50R17 is the best fit for that wheel and a Sonic. It maintains the stock overall diameter and a verticle sidewall.

What's the difference between 225/45 and 205/50? I know someone has tried explaining tire sizes to me before but I'm too stupid to remember.

 

[theenico]

What's the difference between 225/45 and 205/50? I know someone has tried explaining tire sizes to me before but I'm too stupid to remember.

Then this is a wonderfull opportunity to try using Google.

Let me google that for you

 

[Opticon]

Number before the slash is treadwidth in millimeters. The number after the slash is a percentage of that width that equals the sidewall height. As you get wider you need to shrink you ratio to keep the same overall diameter.

A 225mm wide tire is fat for a 7.5" rim. Especially the BFG tire you selected (beefy sidwalls). You will be better off with a 205mm wide tire. It will look better and the steering will be more responsive.

EDIT: Everybody starts out in the "wider is better" camp (me included). But after you throw a few bloated tire combos on a few cars and notice they all become less responsive, you start to realise that the sidewall angle and limiting 'squirm' is more important than the amount of rubber on the road.

 

[laborsmith]

225 is not quite an inch wider than the 205.

The 225/45 is very close to OEM as far as revolutions per mile.

I prefer the 225 width on the Sonic HB as a matter of my perception of what looks good. But other opinions of what looks good would be just as valid.

Laborsmith

 

[Opticon]

Remember that 1 inch in width makes a big difference in sidewall angle when it's only 4 inches tall.

A 225 would certainly fit though.

 

[Bogus]

My initial thought was I wanted wider tires for better traction and less squirm from cracks in the road.
I chose that BFG tire because it had the best corner stability rating.
So with purely performance in mind, what would be the best size?

Or should I consider another tire?

 

[SSpeckerwood]

i've been absolutely pleased with my capitol UHP sports. there a 205/50/17R.

i've taken corners very hard and still haven't heard a squeal out of them.

 

[laborsmith]

Your BFG choice would be a good choice; the Comp II is the new kid on the block but has received very good reviews in the mags. I am partial to Kuhmo but that is just me. The Comp II would be considered a summer tire which to me it would be good in your area year round. Reference to the beefy sidewall would be a reference to the ability of a tire to handle quick turns at speed and that would be one of the areas the BFG was designed to be good at.

I prefer a wider tire for aesthetics - you may give up some marginal quickness in performance the wider you go. But a 205 on a 7.5 rim, tho feasible, does not seem right. 215 would seem to me to be a better choice, although my feeling is 225 would be the best.

The BFG would be a performance choice, pure and simple, and is made in the USA at the Michelin plant, if that is something you consider.

Laborsmith

 

[Bogus]

From everyone's responses, I'm thinking I'll go in the middle with 215?
I love the look of wide tires, but I want performance over looks.

 

[J T]

How about 225/45R17 on these rims?

Wheel Details - Discount Tire

According to the tire size calculator on tires.com, the 225 rim width range is: 7 - 8.5 in

Would that tire size look fine on the 7.5 inch rim (and not bloated as mentioned above)?

 

[Bogus]

How about 225/45R17 on these rims?

Wheel Details - Discount Tire

those are some nice wheels! but they're 20lbs!