I know this has been talked about but I think it needs a revival. Im refering to this in terms of ASTHETICS and PERFORMANCE.

 

WOW! Dont everybody speak at once now! -- not even a link to a discussion? -- Lame

 

Perofrmance = 17s
Upgraded looks without too much of a hit in perf = 18s
Show = 19s

Even if an 18 is lighter that a 17 by 1 or 2 pounds the rotational inertia will still be higher since more weight is further out on the wheel. This will end up with an effectively heavier wheel than a 17 when the tires have the same overall diameter. If you were to dyno them the 18 would be anywhere from 3-10 HP less than the 17. A 19 would only make the situation worse.

Depending on what you are doing with the car and what sized brakes you need to run for heat capacity, the smaller lighter wheel will be the best choice.

 

i am all about looks and style......19" for me

 

Im about handling so I went with 17s. RPF1s in 17x8 +35...only 16 lbs each

 

i was looking for better looks in my daily driver so i went with 18s

imo, the tC should not wear higher than 18s.

 

i'm gonna go with 18's. the roads here SUCK!

 

Can you get 18x8.5?
I want a wide tire and rim. If someone can figure out a way to get wider let me know...
I was thinking about 19x8.5's on gold lines. Not to mention I drive an auto who cares about speed.

I just want to pick up the chicks...

 

those are nice rims, personally........its a commuter car for me too and from work.
If i was to go the performance route. I could deffinalty see getting some of those enkeis.....

unless your on a track does a 18" or higher really matter for performance, I ask becuase I know you work for stoptech and your information is usually right on....
i dont see a big issue with 19's, the ride is not terribly bad.... and under normal driving the 19's seem ok.

 

The performance difference on the street isnt huge but it is there. You may get a lower MPG and reduced acceleration due to the effect of moving the weight further out on the wheel, but if you arent racing then so what. There is the benefit of larger wheels maintaining rotation once they get up to speed so you will probably get that lost MPG back in momentum if you do a lot of highway driving, but you will always lose in acceleration and braking. I feel that 17s offer better ride quality and less noice so you really do get the most out of a 17" wheel. Next to a car with 19s or 20s the wheels may look small but on their own they really compliment the car nicely. I plan on tracking the car quite a bit and 17" tires can be had in lots of sizes and compounds at relatively low prices. With all of these aspects in mind they really are the best choice for me. Your wants and needs are likely different than mine so choose what you like and what suits your needs.

 

the excess weight issues can be felt, my stops are spongy......and my gas milage has decrease a little.
I will be doing your stage2 upgrade kit i spoke with you about a month ago for that reason, but the gas milage....i dont care anymore........

thanks for the info, its always helpful

 

It depends how YOU want it to look. To me the aesthetic difference w/ 18s and 19s are night and day..then again i doubt your butt-dyno will be able to tell the difference between 18s and 19s

 

To me it seems like the size of our the car warrants a bigger wheel (19's) purely from a visual stand point. But is this going to result in a BIG loss of performance? I like the show but also need the go!


-- p.s. GREAT info guys -- keep it coming

 

Well it also depends on your set up and what you want out of it. I want perfomance and show too. So i opted for 19's and a TURBO KIT!!!


Cant tell the difference except i have to watch for any kind of bump in the road or else there goes my 3 1/2 lip

although i did have 18's before my 19's and were pleased with those also. I say that if your stuck in between get 18's but go with a rim that doesnt have a lip and not a lot going on in the actual rim.... for example a traditional 5 star rim without a lip could pass as 19's!!!! Honestly...my 18s were the TSW turn 5's and i had so many people think i had 19's.