Going with bigger wheels

[T2urtle]

I've never owned a set of wheels bigger then 18s.

Just trying to get reference points here. I'm trying to gather what makes a harsh ride. I know most cases when u go bigger rims, you need to come down on the sidewall.

Tire size and sidewall are biggest factor in terms of ride quality, correct?

If I was to use 235/45/17 and 235/45/20 they ride should be similar or would rim diameter make the 20s more harsh.

Stock tire was 17x7 with 215/55. The ride is nice and cushy. I'm now using 18x8.5 with 235/45 and 265/40 in the back. Its not bad at all, but not cushy either. If I was to go with 20s I'm thinking 245/35/20 would be my tire size on about a 9in wide rim.

How bad would that ride be?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

What car is this?


IMO even 18s are pretty harsh. You generally don't get better handling with 19s so I'm guessing this is mainly for looks?

 

[manimal]

If I remember correctly turtle belongs to the g35 club.


20s shouldnt be that much worse than aggressive 19s if you were running low pro anyways. I tried a set on mine that a buddy was trying to trade and it made the car rather uncomfortable for my wife so back to stock 17s.

 

[leper84]

Less sidewall= harsher/firmer ride. Just a guess I'd say you aren't going to find a set of 20's that fit under whatever you're driving that have equal or more sidewall than what you're driving now.

You might have to upgrade to a quality set of shocks to compensate. From what I've seen, putting way larger diameter wheels than stock will kill the stock shocks anyways. As far as how bad it would be... take the difference going from stock to 18's and double it.

Is it an appearance thing you're after? Performance wise I would say there is zero reason to go any larger in diameter than you have now and in reality all you're going to add is a ton of unsprung weight and rotating mass.

 

[sdifox]

why would you want to go to 20 anyway?

 

[zoiks]

My G37 has 19's on it. I would be surprised if I could put 20's on them without any modification.

 

[redgtxdi]

It is a bit relative as you definitely wouldn't call a Hyundai Genesis R-spec's ride "harsh" but there are limits.

If you really want to go bigger, I'd recommend checking out what a factory hopped up version rides on. (or G37 or even 370z). Whatever NMC uses, would be what you'd want to use as they'll take a lot of things into consideration to pick the right setup.

And to further the "not just tire" comments, my old man drives a 96 Land Cruiser that has a fat pillow of a 75 series tire (oem) on that thing and it still rides like a lowered mini truck on 30 series tires!! (no bull)

 

[JCH13]

Hand-waving maths suggest that the 20s will ride will more than twice the harshness increase in going from 17s to 18s. You're also going from a slightly stuffed tire on the 17s to a more stretched tire on the 20s, which will also negatively impact ride.

Ride will be worse, braking will be worse, turning will be worse, acceleration will be worse, and tires will probably be more expensive. 35-series sidewalls will not offer as much protection from bumps/pot holes/etc so you're more likely to damage a wheel. I wouldn't do it, but that's just my opinion.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

You are dropping from ~4.7" of side wall to ~3.4" of side wall.

That's going to make the ride harsher...

 

[AdamK47]

You'll be gaining unsprung weight and lessening the tire contact patch.

 

[Arkaign]

Yep, everything about this move will be negative other than looks (subjective).

 

[Jhatfie]

I had 20" Forgestar F14's on my Maxima SV, they were 6lbs lighter than my stock 19's and the ride was slightly firmer, but some of that could be due to tire choice as well. Some tires have stiffer sidewalls than others. I was running 245/35/20 on a 9 inch wide wheel.

Now I am driving a 12' VW GLI and upgraded to 19" wheels from the stock 18's. These wheels are 7lbs lighter than OEM's and the General G-MAX AS-03 ride quieter, perform better and are more comfortable that the tires that came with the car.

Much Lighter wheels than stock in my case offer lower rotating mass allowing for better acceleration and no extra abuse on the suspension as the overall diameter (with tires) is almost equal to stock. Now if you go with bigger and heavier wheels, then yes you can wear components out faster and further compromise ride.

GLI:
http://s911.photobucket.com/albums/ac312/jhatfie/shared/?action=view&current=IMAG0070.jpg

Maxima:
http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac312/jhatfie/shared/DSC_1376.jpg

 

[SparkyJJO]

Yep, everything about this move will be negative other than looks (subjective).

Even that's debatable. I have seen very few cars with 20" wheels that look good with them.

 

[T2urtle]

If I remember correctly turtle belongs to the g35 club.


20s shouldnt be that much worse than aggressive 19s if you were running low pro anyways. I tried a set on mine that a buddy was trying to trade and it made the car rather uncomfortable for my wife so back to stock 17s.

Yes I'm a g35 sedan.

Mainly doing this for looks.

My 18s was pure performance related. I'm lowered with coils and picked up forged 18inch wheels that weighted about 18.5 lbs. Got a fat tire out back being 265/40. A bit overkill but I got a good deal.

Now I can careless about performance. Wanted to try the big wheel idea since I'm not part of the hella flush group. The 20 inch enkei I saw was about a 30lb wheel. Cost wise it would be the same.

I'm kicking around the item as of right now. I've been in and driven local g35 sedans but only with. 19s in 245/40/19, wheels were in the 20lb and the other one was about 25lbs. I didn't feel much different then my current setup.

 

[railer]

my g8 came with 18's, and the stock sport package upgrade wheel was a 19. I was going to get the 19's until I realized how much more $ 19 tires are. I ended up getting some Camaro 20" wheels because: wheels were cheap. tires were cheap. wheels look great on car. ride is firmer bit I like it. there was no noticible difference in braking, acceleration, etc.

 

[BassBomb]

For that car I would go 19's at most, even 18s look great on the G35

 

[T2urtle]

my g8 came with 18's, and the stock sport package upgrade wheel was a 19. I was going to get the 19's until I realized how much more $ 19 tires are. I ended up getting some Camaro 20" wheels because: wheels were cheap. tires were cheap. wheels look great on car. ride is firmer bit I like it. there was no noticible difference in braking, acceleration, etc.

That's the main reason I'm leaning on 20s. Tire prices for 18s and 20s are roughly the same. 19s are a good chunk more.

 

[mikecdm]

I don't really think that a 20" wheel fits the G35 very well. Tires are however cheaper, but it can be difficult to find a good looking and inexpensive 20" wheel. I'd say there is also slightly more potential to bend a 20" since you'll have less rubber protecting the wheels.

 

[yottabit]

IMO as long as you're at a 45 profile tire you're fine

If you get into the 35, 30 profile tire stretchers that's when it get's really bad

That being said if you care about performance you should stick to the smaller wheel diameter (less weight)

 

[jagec]

Wow, what kind of rotors are you planning on putting on that car that won't fit under 18-inch rims?

 

[T2urtle]

Wow, what kind of rotors are you planning on putting on that car that won't fit under 18-inch rims?

No going with bigger rotors. 17in wheels clear my brake rotors.

I was only considering 20in wheels for style. But I might not anymore. I'll stick with my forged 18s till end of this season and see what shows up mid winter.

 

[Ferzerp]

It takes a certain car for 20" wheels to not look silly, so be careful....

 

[halik]

I've never owned a set of wheels bigger then 18s.

Just trying to get reference points here. I'm trying to gather what makes a harsh ride. I know most cases when u go bigger rims, you need to come down on the sidewall.

Tire size and sidewall are biggest factor in terms of ride quality, correct?

If I was to use 235/45/17 and 235/45/20 they ride should be similar or would rim diameter make the 20s more harsh.

Stock tire was 17x7 with 215/55. The ride is nice and cushy. I'm now using 18x8.5 with 235/45 and 265/40 in the back. Its not bad at all, but not cushy either. If I was to go with 20s I'm thinking 245/35/20 would be my tire size on about a 9in wide rim.

How bad would that ride be?

Why? More expensive tires, shittier ride and easier to bend. The only reason you should ever go up in wheel size is to fit larger brakes.

On my m3 i went from stock 18s to forged 3piece 19s (horrid ride) and then down to forged 17s.

 

[exdeath]

Why? More expensive tires, shittier ride and easier to bend. The only reason you should ever go up in wheel size is to fit larger brakes.

On my m3 i went from stock 18s to forged 3piece 19s (horrid ride) and then down to forged 17s.

This.

 

[Imported]

I had 20" Forgestar F14's on my Maxima SV, they were 6lbs lighter than my stock 19's and the ride was slightly firmer, but some of that could be due to tire choice as well. Some tires have stiffer sidewalls than others. I was running 245/35/20 on a 9 inch wide wheel.

Now I am driving a 12' VW GLI and upgraded to 19" wheels from the stock 18's. These wheels are 7lbs lighter than OEM's and the General G-MAX AS-03 ride quieter, perform better and are more comfortable that the tires that came with the car.

Much Lighter wheels than stock in my case offer lower rotating mass allowing for better acceleration and no extra abuse on the suspension as the overall diameter (with tires) is almost equal to stock. Now if you go with bigger and heavier wheels, then yes you can wear components out faster and further compromise ride.

GLI:
http://s911.photobucket.com/albums/ac312/jhatfie/shared/?action=view&current=IMAG0070.jpg

Maxima:
http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac312/jhatfie/shared/DSC_1376.jpg

Nice wheels I went with 19" F14s on my G35.