48 replies to this topic

[swedishiron]

No problems so far with 18inch Tritons on the rough Atlanta streets other than the ride was still "Old West" after new
Koni Yellow adjustables up front (set at their softest setting) and Bilsteins (tourings?) rear on a 1998 C70 coupe. I also have truss style strut brace up front. The car will take an on ramp and with unbelievable grip though. I don't feel like I need anything beyond stock sway bars.

[ryan850-t5]

What are your highest priorities?

if ride quality -> 17's (how bad are the roads where you are?) The 17's are both a cosmetic upgrade and still give you good ride quality so its kinda the best of both worlds

if

if cosmetic -> 18's

[speedn_j]

youll still mess a 17" rim up just as bad as a 18" rim.

[devolv]

Not nearly as bad. With 18's your forced to run with thinner sidewalls ie; 215/40/18 or 225/35/18, especially with 850s the wheel wells are just too small at the front. If you have an S70, fine, 18s will be no problem and run 225/40/18 and it won't rub. But with 850s, you need to do a complete fender roll etc even with thinner sidewalls and they still rub if you lock the steering all the way.

[adamdrives]

Obviously there are many pros and cons to both-
it really comes down to what will cost me the least in the long and short run.
The roads can be pretty bad, and i spend alot of time driving through unfamiliar places.
Unless a pair of cheap 18's comes up, i'll get 17's.
Thanks everyone for your opinions.

[Matty Moo]

if you drive on shitty roads, avoid the 18's. All it takes is one good pothole.

Our roads suck, and even with 17's I'm worried on unfamiliar roads, plus it's not the smoothest ride. I'm actually considering going back to 16's.

I absolutely love the way 15's ride on the highway, but don't care for the way they look or handle.

[ryan850-t5]

17'' tires are also much cheaper

[DonutsDemise]

17 is better than 18 if you are looking to not bend wheels. however, i have cracked a 16" perfo, bent a volan, and destroyed 18" wheels. of course the pothole i hit with the 18s would have probably destroyed 15 inch wheels. IMO as soon as you start spending money on this stuff you better get ready to damage them because only when you start spending extra money will you care about it. it's murphy's law.

[adamdrives]

DonutsDemise, on 25 November 2009 - 03:56 AM, said:

17 is better than 18 if you are looking to not bend wheels. however, i have cracked a 16" perfo, bent a volan, and destroyed 18" wheels. of course the pothole i hit with the 18s would have probably destroyed 15 inch wheels. IMO as soon as you start spending money on this stuff you better get ready to damage them because only when you start spending extra money will you care about it. it's murphy's law.

+1