Forget how the rims will look for a minute. What are the actual impacts of moving from 15's to 17's?

Is handling significantly different? In what way?
Will it change the MPG?
Will it throw off the speedometer?
Are lower profile 17's more likely to suffer damage than stock 15's? I had some low profile tires in my 240Z that kept going flat for no reason and when they went, the sidewalls collapsed. When I switched to a more conventional tire I had no problems.

Just trying to figure out if it's really worth it to move up for any reason other than looks. I just have stock rims now but want to get some 15" or 17" rims.

Thanks!

 

You're the only person who can put a worth on the new rims dude.

Handling will be sharper. Faster response, and not so floaty.

May or may not affect MPG depending on the weight of your rims. Even then, it should be minimal impact.

The speedometer will be fine if you get the same overall height combination with wheels and tires. You're looking for overall diameter.

17s will have less side wall than 15s, and unless you get some good wheels, the stock steelies are really tough. Cheap alloys are prone to cracking. it depends on if there are lots of potholes and crap where you drive.

stock 15 steel wheels with hub caps look silly on the xB. If you don't care about looks, don't mind the floaty handling, then stay with the stockers. I've got 18s.

 

I think 18's are the perfect size for the xB... I have 17's and would go with 18's if I could do it all over again.

Incrementally, the differences in ride, handling and MPG aren't going to be detrimental enough to prohibit consideration of moving up the one size.

Go to 19's and it seems that's where the fitment problems start...

For looks, I think 18's are best - 17's and smaller just look too small in my opinion.

And go with spokes... a wheel with too much frontal mass draws attention to the flat expanse of the xB's sides - spoked or open wheels complement the xB by drawing attention away from and minimizing the side mass.

Just my opinions... wanna buy some used 17's

 

I'm definitely not keeping the stock steel rims. The question is whether to get 15" rims and keep the stock tires or to get 17" rims and new tires.

 

If you have the money .Get the 17,s with new tires .If you like big wheels though .The 17 inch will get to look real small to you real quick.I have 18,s and they look like 15,s to me already.As far as ride you should be pleased with a nice 17-18 inch combination-if this is what you like .You could spend all day on here looking at the wheels all the nice rides these scion members have .

 

Two equally built rims, 15 and 17, the 15 far beats the 17 for acceleration. Less rotational mass = more hp to the ground. This is a fact. It's been documented in Dyno tests; sport compact car magazine has done a few of them. They've documented as much as 10hp loss at the wheels. However, with 17's, you will have a smaller sidewall, thus a more responsive, better handling ride. You will, however, feel bumps and imperfections in the road more often, as you no longer have a large tire to absorb the impacts. Larger wheels are also more prone to damage from curbs and pot holes, although if you are careful you can avoid damage. Tire blowouts are when it pays to have a smaller wheel. Expect considerable damage on a 17" rim or larger, especially if you compensated for increased rotational mass by going for a light weight wheel. I'm not talking about flats, but blowouts. Drag racers, don't use skinny tires on big rims for a reason. In fact the most common racing wheel is 15", but you never see race cars going larger than 17". HOWEVER BIGGER RIMS LOOK GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!! And these cars are not race cars, and you will gain performance in the corners.

My opinion: my xA only has 108hp. . . I need as much of that to get to the ground as possible. I personally would take a good light weight 15", as I couldn't bear to be any slower. To address handling concerns, I would fix the problem at its source, the suspension. However its your car, and you need to address your driving needs.

 

I'm going to go against the grain. I have 15s and am very happy. My only suggestion is to not keep the stock tires but get something a little wider that fills up the wheel well a little better. I have the 15" 7 spokes from the dealer. I really like the wheels but the stock tires are to skinny. I'm going to put some wider wheels on them and maybe a little taller tire too. If I still have to much gap after then I'll think about lowering my box.

 

Oh yeah, and btw, in all respects, performance whatever, 15, 16, 17, or possibly even 18, any of the these in an alloy will far outperform a 15" STEEL wheel.

 

I disagree. My 18" wheels are considerably heavier than the stockers. In addition to the additional mass of the 18" wheel, you have more rubber.


Keep your stock stuff or go with 17s? Just keep the 15s already. If you wanted the 17s enough, you would have got them by now.

If people are going to quibble over the differences of accelration we are going to have between the tire/wheel sizes, I'll tell you that driving skill is going to play a bigger factor than wheel weight, although one of the things biggest factors to make your car faster on a track will be your tire and wheel choice.

HOWEVER, if you are planning on racing your xB, then you might as well plan on losing already, as it is slow in a straight line or doesn't corner exceptionally well. Unless you can drive! (I heard a story of an F1/CART driver racing a dude using his mini-van against a BMW on a mountain road in Europe... and winning... )

Am I making any sense? Maybe not, but you're going to find people feel one way or another about this topic. Do what you want. Look at pics on this website. Lots of people have cool looking cars with 15" wheels looking like a modern astro-van, and some people running all pimped-out on 18, 19, or even 20" wheels! They are all pretty good looking in their own way. If you try to build your car to other people's taste, then maybe you'll never be satisfied with it. Build it for yourself, and you'll like it no matter what...unless you are a show car dude, then blah blah blah blah

 

Yeah my previous posts tend to agree with you, if you read them. I said POSSIBLY 18". I know that some performance 17" lightweight rims are lighter than 15" steelies, so I stretched the line with a maybe. But you do make good points. To me, yes these cars aren't racers, but the acceleration is barely acceptable. It's right on the point of tolerable for me. Any slower would be dangerous (for me) with my driving style. Like I said 108hp, even with a good driver, you need every hp you can get outta that thing.

 

I went from 18 inch wheels down to 17 inch wheels--and I couldn't be happier.

It's all up to you--people are over obsessed with having large diameter wheels, but they forget about how important WIDTH is...would you want to have a big bicycle wheel on your car? Then don't buy 18x7s.

I would much rather have 15/16/17x 8 or x9 over a 18x7.5 wheel, it just makes for a more PRACTICAL upgrade. Think about it.

 

An 18 looks good though with a tanable df 210- goldline though ,sits and looks perfect ,ride isnt all that bad either.

 

Just curious. How wide are the stock tires?

 

Just curious too. How heavy are stock steel wheels?

 

try and tuck the biggest rims you can, you will love it, yes it will effect ur spedo, but you can get it reprogramed at any tire/wheel shop. and Acceleration will be decreased. you will also need/want a bigger brake system, with that much of a increase in mass you will want something more trusty to slow you down.