Topic: 16" Wheels vs. 17" Wheels

[Ilpav]

I am just wondering because my mom has just bought a 2005 Toyota Matrix that has 17" alloy wheels. I would like to know how would they compare with the Matrix's stock 16" alloy wheels in terms of performance, acceleration, braking, fuel consumption, and winter performance.

I know 17s will give the car more grip, will make it handle better, and be more expensive to replace tires, but how to 16s and 17s generally compare?

Thanks.

[Titanium48]

The improvements in handling and cornering grip will probably be small (even the 16s use 55 series tires), and acceleration, braking and winter performance will probably be worse.  Compromised acceleration and braking occurs because larger wheels are usually heavier and have a higher moment of inertia (the weight is farther from the center of the wheel).  The 17s are also wider (215s instead of 205s), which won't help in the winter. 

[Ilpav]

Are you sure about the winter safety? Wouldn't a wider wheel have more contact with the surface and therefore have more traction?

[johngenx]

Are you sure about the winter safety? Wouldn't a wider wheel have more contact with the surface and therefore have more traction?

No.  A taller (sidewall) tire has a longer, thinner contact patch, much better in snow.  Wide contact patches do not work as well in the winter.

On a Matrix, there is pretty much no benefit going from a 205/55-16 tire to 17" set-up.  Only at the very extreme limit of adhesion will you see even a marginal difference.  It's about looks and bench racing or brochure bragging.

[tpl]

Wider tires have more difficulty scavenging water and slush from under the tread.

To keep the same total rolling diameter, taller sidewalls will usually mean a narrower tread. Because of the "flattening" of a radial ply tire where it is in contact with the road, this means a longer contact patch which is desirable for better directional stability in winter.

[safristi]

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