17 or 18 inch wheels?
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 116
From: Woodinville, WA
im not sure why you can go "lower" on 17's you should be sizing the tire according to the oem tire diameter. the only way to go lower on 17's than 18's is using a smaller tire than stock. If saving money is also an issue don't go with different sizes front rear, you wont be able to rotate the tire and will have to replace them sooner. I have had anything from 16's to 19's on my tc. The 16's were just a cheap set with winter tires that i got looked a little small. I really liked the look of the 19's for pure street looks I loved them I could not go quite as low on them but that was due to them being 19x10 with 265/30 on all 4 corners. My other favorite was a set of team dynamics 17x7 with 225/45 subaru sti spec tires that i got from a friend. with the sticky tires and smaller wheels performance was much better. I will see if I can source some pics..
Thanks for the pics. I really like the look of those 19's I think I might just have to go with the 18's. Are you lowered at all while running that setup? If so how much.
Wheel fitment is not my area of expertise.
I could save money going with 17's since I just bought new tires but I dont want to regret it in the long run if 18's looks THAT much nicer.
Senior Member
SL Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 117
From: Lawrence, KS
i was lowered on ground control coilover springs, if I remember it was 1.5-2" lower. performance wise i like my 17's they were team dynamics pro race 2 wheels 17x7 weighed about 17lbs i also really like how they looked. I will see if i can find a pic. One thing you might look for is a wheel that has spokes that go all the way to the outer edge of the rim it can make a smaller rim look bigger than it really is.
Senior Member
SL Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 117
From: Lawrence, KS
Go check out the aggressive fitment thread if ur going for stance and u will notice alot of peeps go 17 and wide and low offset so u can go lower..if ur just going for looks than I'd check out that thread..when u put big wheels on the tc and aren't low doesn't look good IMO..those 19s almost look 4x4ish..
Senior Member
SL Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,337
From: Merced, CA
If you're going for performance, 17's are generally lighter and 18's. Reading around the forums, 18's have a harsher ride quality due to smaller tire sidewalls. Also as you stated, tires for 18's cost more, but considering the fact that you're going with wider rims, that may just even out the price on tires. 18's do look better on the tC because they fill up the wheel wells better but you do have to make sure you drop the car properlly or else you're going to run into a lot of rubbing and performance issues.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 116
From: Woodinville, WA
If you're going for performance, 17's are generally lighter and 18's. Reading around the forums, 18's have a harsher ride quality due to smaller tire sidewalls. Also as you stated, tires for 18's cost more, but considering the fact that you're going with wider rims, that may just even out the price on tires. 18's do look better on the tC because they fill up the wheel wells better but you do have to make sure you drop the car properlly or else you're going to run into a lot of rubbing and performance issues.
I wont be tracking the car... Im currently dropped on springs(back is tucked and front has no gap. Im not as interested in performance at this point but I'd like the ride to not be too harsh. Might be switching to Raceland, Rokkor, or Tein Basic coilovers soon.
I just dont want to make the mistake buying 17's and later regretting not spending the extra money because they look too small.(not looking to 4x4 either)
im telling you 17's look way better on a dropped tC..you can go lower and it looks better..if your not tryin to go low than ya 18's will fill your wheel wells but if your going for looks and stance 17s is the best way..
i was happy with my 17s until i saw the 18s on the car.... now im in LOVE with these 18s.... i worried about that the new wheel has a different color ( not gunmetal but silver) but actually i like it a lot!
btw... both sizes = same wheels
btw... both sizes = same wheels
can't close the the website without responding to this one... TOTALLY WROOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG!!!
first of all the outer diameter should be the same with both rims ( 17,1
so makes no difference when you get a nice drop, what i have.And 18 does look much better.
whats low for ya?
air bags and you want to see no tires at the fender????
i got no gap, scrape everywhere every day, what do you mean its not low???? you cant get lower than that and not to call it : for show only....
im not talking bout bags..im talking bout being low thou..but my car is alot lower than yours and i hardly scrape at all and i see tC's alot lower than mine stanced on 17's DD it..soo really just comes down to that..
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 116
From: Woodinville, WA
As for Moose being low... I thought I was low. In fact I had to take my widebody kit off because it got trashed due to how low I was in WA. Then I met Moose. As much as people tell me my car is too low I feel like Im 4x4 when I see his tC. I honestly dont know how he drives around in WA
It looks really sweet though and makes me want to lower.
I appreciate the responses. If all goes as planned I have my wheels by March.