Bigger is Better?
10-12-2010, 04:57 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Bigger is Better?
Was thinking of buying some aftermarket wheels next spring so I can have a set of winter tires mounted on the OE and a summer performance set on the new one. Currently have 17" was thinking of going to either 18 or 19". Was wondering how much this will change the ride by going from 55 and 50 to 45 40 or 35 30? The roads we have are not very smooth. Will the larger wheels result in too harsh of a ride? Feels pretty soft right now though. My 944 with stiffer springs and shocks has 17s with 45 40s on them and it rides a little rough but not that bad.
10-13-2010, 12:59 PM
#4
Racer
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Lancaster, PA
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There are only three reasons to go with bigger wheels:
1) You want to keep the gearing the same but you want a lower profile tire for more responsive handling
2) You have bigger brakes and your stock wheels will not fit over them
3) You like the looks
For most people the real reason is #3. What they don't realize are all the negatives of a bigger wheel
1) More unsprung weight which means
a) Poorer handling
b) rougher ride
2) More rotating inertia which means
a) Poorer acceleration
b) Poorer fuel economy
3) Less protection of the wheel by the tire which means
a) More bent rims
Only you can decide if the negatives outweigh the positives.
1) You want to keep the gearing the same but you want a lower profile tire for more responsive handling
2) You have bigger brakes and your stock wheels will not fit over them
3) You like the looks
For most people the real reason is #3. What they don't realize are all the negatives of a bigger wheel
1) More unsprung weight which means
a) Poorer handling
b) rougher ride
2) More rotating inertia which means
a) Poorer acceleration
b) Poorer fuel economy
3) Less protection of the wheel by the tire which means
a) More bent rims
Only you can decide if the negatives outweigh the positives.
10-13-2010, 02:11 PM
#5
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: CURRENT: Audi TT / Audi A3
Posts: 1,219
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There are only three reasons to go with bigger wheels:
1) You want to keep the gearing the same but you want a lower profile tire for more responsive handling
2) You have bigger brakes and your stock wheels will not fit over them
3) You like the looks
For most people the real reason is #3. What they don't realize are all the negatives of a bigger wheel
1) More unsprung weight which means
a) Poorer handling
b) rougher ride
2) More rotating inertia which means
a) Poorer acceleration
b) Poorer fuel economy
3) Less protection of the wheel by the tire which means
a) More bent rims
Only you can decide if the negatives outweigh the positives.
1) You want to keep the gearing the same but you want a lower profile tire for more responsive handling
2) You have bigger brakes and your stock wheels will not fit over them
3) You like the looks
For most people the real reason is #3. What they don't realize are all the negatives of a bigger wheel
1) More unsprung weight which means
a) Poorer handling
b) rougher ride
2) More rotating inertia which means
a) Poorer acceleration
b) Poorer fuel economy
3) Less protection of the wheel by the tire which means
a) More bent rims
Only you can decide if the negatives outweigh the positives.
This is a thoughtfully written post...thank-you for taking the time to craft it. I agree with all of the points you made.
As for my own experience, I've had both 18" and 17" wheels on my Boxsters and enjoy the more compliant ride of the 17s - it's been a nice trade-off for me.
Last edited by VGM911; 10-13-2010 at 03:53 PM.
