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Author Topic: 18",19",20" Wheels  (Read 3387 times)

Offline sailor723

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18",19",20" Wheels
« on: January 05, 2009, 03:55:26 pm »
OK....I'm sure this may qualify as the DQOTG but what's the point of wheels getting larger and larger? Is it just a styling exercise gone crazy like tailfins in the 50's or are there real benefits to out weigh the increased tire costs and reduced choices?

edit

To clarify ...I'm talking about these sizes coming as OEM on new cars,not aftermarket.
« Last Edit: January 05, 2009, 04:18:20 pm by sailor723 »
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Offline initial_D

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Re: 18",19",20" Wheels
« Reply #1 on: January 05, 2009, 04:06:41 pm »
22 inchers are also available.

In most cases, it is just a much easier ad faster way for some people to spend money they think they have.
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Online quadzilla

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Re: 18",19",20" Wheels
« Reply #2 on: January 05, 2009, 04:09:06 pm »
Bigger brakes?
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Offline Lexusfreak

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Re: 18",19",20" Wheels
« Reply #3 on: January 05, 2009, 04:11:42 pm »
I think the larger tire sizes are getting out of control personally.....the new Toyota Venza for example has 245 55 19's as standard equipment on the base model!   :shake: with optional 245 50 20's.  :fall:  

I'd like to see the 'sticker shock' on the first owner who need replacements in those sizes once more choices are available.  
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Offline ovr50

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Re: 18",19",20" Wheels
« Reply #4 on: January 05, 2009, 04:16:48 pm »
I can't think of a good reason other the "bling" effect of them? Maybe there is a reason, but someone smarter than me will have to explain it to me. Does a 20" wheel give better handling in dry conditions than a 18" wheel (assuming reasonable tire width sizes)? Maybe marginally.

I have 18" on the BMW with 17" in winter. The HL has 16" wheels all year. As prices go up and availability of tires goes down as wheel size grows, these seem plenty big for me.
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Offline gotak

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Re: 18",19",20" Wheels
« Reply #5 on: January 05, 2009, 04:19:28 pm »
It's just bling. Of you look at rally cars they don't go with 22 inch rims. There's no reason to. For them 17 18 is enough.

 
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Offline tpl

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Re: 18",19",20" Wheels
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2009, 04:51:32 pm »
The bigger overall diameter elongates the contact patch. 
 But if the overall diameter stays the same but the tire profile gets lower as the rim diameter goes up then all that happens is that the sidewall is/ has to be stiffer, the rims are more likely to be damaged on curbs and the suspension has to make up the difference in the overall compliance.   
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Offline sailor723

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Re: 18",19",20" Wheels
« Reply #7 on: January 05, 2009, 05:14:17 pm »
The long and the short of it seems to be "form over function" (and a pain for car owners when it comes time to replace tires or buy winters)  ::)

As an example.....I like the looks of the new Venza but 20" wheels would be,to me, a reason NOT to buy the vehicle rather than a desirable feature.
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Offline johngenx

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Re: 18",19",20" Wheels
« Reply #8 on: January 05, 2009, 05:20:32 pm »
I also noticed that the Venza has massive wheels and tres expensive tires OE.  Personally, for a "family hauler" kinda vehicle, I don't want to blow $300+ per tire.  A BMW M3 with 19" wheels makes sense to me.  A Camry-sibling?  No.
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Offline rrocket

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Re: 18",19",20" Wheels
« Reply #9 on: January 05, 2009, 05:42:05 pm »
When I spoke to someone at the SAE Motorsport conference about this issue, I was told that the best match between performance, weight, tuning, etc.. was an 18" wheel (generally).  Beyond that you DO get a wider footprint, but the weight of the wheel goes up and the tuning of the alignment, tire wear, etc gets to be a PITA.  I'm sure this doesn't matter on uber-performance cars.

FWIW, I stayed with 17" on my Supra since the performance of even the thin (relatively speaking) stockers offered amazing performance.  I just went up in tire and rim width and resisted the urge to go with 18".  My 17" are much wider than stock yet weigh less.  The only downside is that the rims had to be custom made....
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Offline wing

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Re: 18",19",20" Wheels
« Reply #10 on: January 05, 2009, 07:39:34 pm »
17's are big enough for me, larger brakes on some cars mean 18" but beyond that is ridiculous.
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Offline Sir Osis of Liver

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Re: 18",19",20" Wheels
« Reply #11 on: January 05, 2009, 08:02:10 pm »
Strictly bling.

The way 90% of the public drive 14" wheels and 80 series tires would be more than sufficient. Larger wheels and lower aspect ratios only help if you actually bother to induce lateral loads. Taking off ramps at 40km/hr, it's just massive overkill.

When I was in Canadian Tire just before Christmas, the fellow in front of me asked about 20" winter tires for his truck. I didn't catch the tire model, but I caught the response: "$1300 plus tax and installation." Buddy wasn't prepared for that. He left the store looking a bit green. :shake:

I was talking to an owner of a tire shop quite a while back. He's seen a huge increase in the number of damaged wheels and tires over the last few years. He's of the opinion than in NB, at least, anything lower than a 50 aspect ratio is going to end up with some damage, it's just a question of when.
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Offline rrocket

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Re: 18",19",20" Wheels
« Reply #12 on: January 05, 2009, 08:09:34 pm »
Quote from: Big_Thumb on January 05, 2009, 08:02:10 pm


When I was in Canadian Tire just before Christmas, the fellow in front of me asked about 20" winter tires for his truck. I didn't catch the tire model, but I caught the response: "$1300 plus tax and installation." Buddy wasn't prepared for that. He left the store looking a bit green. :shake:


I would guess Dodge Ram.  They've had 20's for a few years now.
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Offline Sir Osis of Liver

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Re: 18",19",20" Wheels
« Reply #13 on: January 05, 2009, 09:07:41 pm »
Man, $1300 for tires really brings out my inner Scotsman. I just don't think I could do it.
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Offline rrocket

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Re: 18",19",20" Wheels
« Reply #14 on: January 05, 2009, 09:15:18 pm »
Quote from: Big_Thumb on January 05, 2009, 09:07:41 pm
Man, $1300 for tires really brings out my inner Scotsman. I just don't think I could do it.

Yea...you said it!!  I nearly fainted when I was quoted the price for my 315/35 tires in Canada.   :thumbdown:

FWIW, the Dodge uses 275/60/20
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Offline HeliDriver

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Re: 18",19",20" Wheels
« Reply #15 on: January 05, 2009, 11:32:18 pm »
It's all about the bling. From a performance point of view, I want my wheels to be just big enough to clear the brake rotors. Any bigger just adds unsprung weight (which is bad for handling) and increases rotational inertia (which is bad for acceleration).

Although, I did read somewhere that with the new mandatory increases in front-end height (for pedestrian safety), cars are becoming much taller visually when seen from the side. In order to keep things in proportion, the wheel/tire combo has had to get bigger, too. Since 85-series tires on 15" rims aren't really an option, the only other way to increase the overall diameter is to go with the bigger rims.
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Offline gthal

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Re: 18",19",20" Wheels
« Reply #16 on: January 06, 2009, 10:46:41 am »
In some cars it is the brakes for sure.  I have a 2008 G37S and you can't get rims to clear the brake that are less than 19" (well, there are a few 18" rims but are generally not widely available).  The BMW 335i with sport package also has a hard time with rims less than 18" (which, again, are possible but hard to find that will clear the brakes).

Having said that, I believe esthetics are, for most cars, the reason but I will say that a car with nice 18" rims is FAR more visually appealing than one with 15" rims.  Take any car that has, say for example, a base version with 15" or 16" rims and compare it to the same car with an optional "sport" package with 17" or 18" rims and the car with the bigger rim almost always looks much better.  Now, once you go above 18" or so, I think it is getting a little silly.
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Offline safristi

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Re: 18",19",20" Wheels
« Reply #17 on: January 06, 2009, 10:48:38 am »
"inner Scotsman" time ta let tha BIG MAN OOT....................... ;D ??? ::) :P aye i remember tha McBasils a tough sell fer tha new cars smell..eh!!!.................
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Offline wing

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Re: 18",19",20" Wheels
« Reply #18 on: January 06, 2009, 11:21:22 am »
Geez people get your prioritizes right.  $1300 for tires is a drop in the bucket!

18's and 17's on my truck 17's on the S2000.  Even the 18's on the truck are pricey :(.
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Offline ovr50

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Re: 18",19",20" Wheels
« Reply #19 on: January 06, 2009, 11:24:42 am »
Quote from: wing on January 06, 2009, 11:21:22 am
Geez people get your prioritizes right.  $1300 for tires is a drop in the bucket!

18's and 17's on my truck 17's on the S2000.  Even the 18's on the truck are pricey :(.

+1
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