Hey all. I have a question or two for you. I'm getting an RS xA at the end of the month, and I'm going to try and put some aftermarket wheels on it. I can't stand plastic hubcaps. My last two cars (And only two that I've purchased) had factory alloys on them, so I left them alone. I have absolutely no experience whatsoever with wheel and tire shopping.

First question is this: How will a set of 17" wheels affect the ride and performance of the xA. I know it will depend a great deal on which wheels and tires I buy, but I mean, basically, hat does upgrading to a bigger wheel size mean to a car like the xA. Does it alter gas consumption, smoothness, etc. in general?

Second question: I am looking to put wheels on the xA for one thing, because I can't see having the RS and not having something more attractive than plastic caps, and for another thing, because I want something that isn't prone to cracking and/or popping off and rolling away. However, I'm not looking to show the car, or impress people (too much anyway) with my fab wheels. I'm looking for basic 17"s with an aftermarket look, but nothing like spinners or flashing lights or anything. :) What can I expect to pay for a basic set of wheels and tires like that?

Also, who wants to buy a set of factory wheels and tires for an xA? Barely used. :)

Thanks a bunch all!
~~Sel

Moving from 15 to 17 inch wheels will have an affect on both the ride comfort and the noise level in the cabin. Tire selection can somewhat help minimize the effects, however, the change will be noticeable. Regarding gas mileage, acceleration, and braking power, these will also be affected. The key here is the weight! The heavier the 17 inch tire and wheel package the more the these three areas (gas mileage, acceleration, and braking power) will be impacted. Finally, we offer several 17inch wheels and a selection of matching tires to fit your new xA. Click on the web page listed below for more details, or if you prefer, for personal service, feel free to give me a call.

I am about to launch into the world of custom wheels for my Xb. I realize larger diameter rims and lower profile tires will reduce ride comfort and increas road noise, but what I can't find are numbers, or even subjective comparisons. How harsher is the ride between the stock 15" and say a 18"/35 profile tire? And how much noisier? Surely someone could put a dB meter inside a car and measure the difference?
I'm trying to convince my wife, who's car it will be M-F, that she can handle 18/35 tires.
Any and all help appreciated.
Ptg

stock 15" has way more sidewall than a 35% aspect ratio...it's like driving on rubber bands. The smaller the sidewall, the stiffer it must be, and thus less of the road shocks and irregularities are absorbed by the smaller, stiffer amount of rubber. Handling increases due to the sidewall change, less flex, etc...as well as tread design, but that's basically the only difference. Marginal increase at that too, since there is the added weight. I'd recommend getting a set of Goldines or something similar since they offer a better ride than stockers apparently, that way you can stay as close to stock comfort as possible. Road noise...depends entirely on the tire. Changing tires on the stock 15''s will change the noise if it's a different design.

From other posts, I gather you are getting the RS package without the Enkei wheels etc. Is it possible for you to request the package WITH the wheels? For $800 more you will have the 17 inch wheels and Yokahama tires. I'm not all that sure that I am happy that I WILL be getting them. I guess I'll see what the car drives like when I get it. I really just wanted the most comfortable tires, not the flashiest. Oh well. Good luck to you!
Becky :wink:

That's a great suggestion using a db meter to compare noise levels and I will see if we can do anything with that. However, it's normally more the ride degradation that's the big issue. I recommend that whenever possible, you try and go for a "Real World Road Ride" with someone that has already bolted bigger wheels on their vehicle for that "In-Your-Face" experience!

you know, you do get 17" Enkei wheels with the RS edition. :)