Ride quality with 20" or 21" wheels?
12-29-2011, 03:06 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Ride quality with 20" or 21" wheels?
I am considering a 2012 Cayenne S, and really don't like any of the wheel options. But the one I like most is the 21" which I would assume offers a tough ride. The sales rep says that the sidewall heights are the same on the 19, 20, & 21" wheel and tire options so it shouldn't matter - is he correct?
The car will mostly be used by my wife and will tow occaisionally.
The car will mostly be used by my wife and will tow occaisionally.
12-29-2011, 03:32 PM
#2
Rocky Mountain High
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I can't imagine that the sidewall heights are the same, but I don't know that for a fact. It would be worth investigating.
FWIW, my summer wheels are 20" and the ride quality is excellent. With the suspension set on "normal", the Cayenne has a nice ride. My wife drives it every day, and she has no complaints.
FWIW, my summer wheels are 20" and the ride quality is excellent. With the suspension set on "normal", the Cayenne has a nice ride. My wife drives it every day, and she has no complaints.
12-29-2011, 05:15 PM
#3
Race Director
The sales rep is wrong. He may be thinking about circumference and revs per mile which are within a percent or 2 for all the tires but sidewall height is a different matter. Below are the tire sizes Porsche offers with the Cayenne for each wheel size. A little math using the wheel size, section profile, and an excel spreadsheet I have to calculate overall diameter, revs per mile, etc, shows the following sidewall height for generic tires of each type. (There will be minor variations among tire manufacturers)
255x55x18 5.5"
265x50x19 5.21"
275x45x20 4.87"
295x35x21 4.065"
As you can see there's a pretty significant difference from the 18" to the 21". That said, I have 20" wheels and all season tires on my Cayenne S and do not find the ride harsh at all. I was a bit concerned about ride quality with the 21 inchers, but the main reason I went with the 20's was because I wanted an all around tire, and the 21's only came from Porsche with summer tires.
255x55x18 5.5"
265x50x19 5.21"
275x45x20 4.87"
295x35x21 4.065"
As you can see there's a pretty significant difference from the 18" to the 21". That said, I have 20" wheels and all season tires on my Cayenne S and do not find the ride harsh at all. I was a bit concerned about ride quality with the 21 inchers, but the main reason I went with the 20's was because I wanted an all around tire, and the 21's only came from Porsche with summer tires.
12-29-2011, 06:28 PM
#6
Addict
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Your dealer is wrong as Mike in CA states.
I have 21" summer wheels and just mounted 18" winter wheels. What a huge difference in driving comfort. I still prefer the looks of the 21" wheels though.
I have 21" summer wheels and just mounted 18" winter wheels. What a huge difference in driving comfort. I still prefer the looks of the 21" wheels though.
12-29-2011, 09:00 PM
#7
The V8 Porschephile
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21" rims are nice-looking but always at a cost. Ask yourself the following questions before going that route:
1) Where do you live and what condition are the roads in? Repeated pothole pounding will cost you $$$ with 21" rims.
2) Do you have adjustable suspension? A big difference from "Comfort" setting to "Sport" or "Normal".
3) Do you have snow in the winter? If so, will you retain the same rims for winter use? Not a good idea with 21" rims. You'll need to get another set for winter use.
4) What do you plan on towing and where? (weight, grade %, type of roads). Camping grounds, gravel & dirt roads will wreak havoc on high performance tires. Once again....$$$.
5) Will you be off-roading?
6) Lastly, is your wife a curb rasher? Does she have an imaginary magnetic field that attracts her to sidewalks?
1) Where do you live and what condition are the roads in? Repeated pothole pounding will cost you $$$ with 21" rims.
2) Do you have adjustable suspension? A big difference from "Comfort" setting to "Sport" or "Normal".
3) Do you have snow in the winter? If so, will you retain the same rims for winter use? Not a good idea with 21" rims. You'll need to get another set for winter use.
4) What do you plan on towing and where? (weight, grade %, type of roads). Camping grounds, gravel & dirt roads will wreak havoc on high performance tires. Once again....$$$.
5) Will you be off-roading?
6) Lastly, is your wife a curb rasher? Does she have an imaginary magnetic field that attracts her to sidewalks?
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12-29-2011, 09:20 PM
#8
Rennlist Member
You can always trust Mike's statement and c'mon it is common sense. There is no question you got incorrect info from your dealer. you can't have the cake and eat it too. 21 inch looks great and is a forged alloy wheel (unlike other wheels in the Cayenne line up) but the ride will certainly be harsh compared to an 18 inch. I have 20 inch for summer and 18 inch for winter and no question that the ride is more comfortable with the 18's. There is no way I can take anything north of 20 inch wheel from a ride comfort standpoint.
12-29-2011, 09:40 PM
#10
21" rims are nice-looking but always at a cost. Ask yourself the following questions before going that route:
1) Where do you live and what condition are the roads in? Repeated pothole pounding will cost you $$$ with 21" rims.
2) Do you have adjustable suspension? A big difference from "Comfort" setting to "Sport" or "Normal".
3) Do you have snow in the winter? If so, will you retain the same rims for winter use? Not a good idea with 21" rims. You'll need to get another set for winter use.
4) What do you plan on towing and where? (weight, grade %, type of roads). Camping grounds, gravel & dirt roads will wreak havoc on high performance tires. Once again....$$$.
5) Will you be off-roading?
6) Lastly, is your wife a curb rasher? Does she have an imaginary magnetic field that attracts her to sidewalks?
1) Where do you live and what condition are the roads in? Repeated pothole pounding will cost you $$$ with 21" rims.
2) Do you have adjustable suspension? A big difference from "Comfort" setting to "Sport" or "Normal".
3) Do you have snow in the winter? If so, will you retain the same rims for winter use? Not a good idea with 21" rims. You'll need to get another set for winter use.
4) What do you plan on towing and where? (weight, grade %, type of roads). Camping grounds, gravel & dirt roads will wreak havoc on high performance tires. Once again....$$$.
5) Will you be off-roading?
6) Lastly, is your wife a curb rasher? Does she have an imaginary magnetic field that attracts her to sidewalks?
I answer "YES" to #6.... 18's are staying.
12-30-2011, 09:25 AM
#11
Instructor
Thread Starter
I thank you guys for your comments, I did not realize that the 21" wheels came with summer tires. I think I'll stick with the 20" s. The dealer has a car coming in with the RS Spyder 20" wheel, I may take that car.
I have not done a lot of research on Cayenne's. I was at the dealer a few days ago with my wife as I had traded my 2009 911S for a 991 which will not be built until March because I want the stick shift. She was poking around as she wants to trade her MDX on something more satisfying to drive, so here we go.
I have not done a lot of research on Cayenne's. I was at the dealer a few days ago with my wife as I had traded my 2009 911S for a 991 which will not be built until March because I want the stick shift. She was poking around as she wants to trade her MDX on something more satisfying to drive, so here we go.
12-30-2011, 09:45 AM
#12
Addict
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21" rims are nice-looking but always at a cost. Ask yourself the following questions before going that route:
1) Where do you live and what condition are the roads in? Repeated pothole pounding will cost you $$$ with 21" rims.
2) Do you have adjustable suspension? A big difference from "Comfort" setting to "Sport" or "Normal".
3) Do you have snow in the winter? If so, will you retain the same rims for winter use? Not a good idea with 21" rims. You'll need to get another set for winter use.
4) What do you plan on towing and where? (weight, grade %, type of roads). Camping grounds, gravel & dirt roads will wreak havoc on high performance tires. Once again....$$$.
5) Will you be off-roading?
6) Lastly, is your wife a curb rasher? Does she have an imaginary magnetic field that attracts her to sidewalks?
1) Where do you live and what condition are the roads in? Repeated pothole pounding will cost you $$$ with 21" rims.
2) Do you have adjustable suspension? A big difference from "Comfort" setting to "Sport" or "Normal".
3) Do you have snow in the winter? If so, will you retain the same rims for winter use? Not a good idea with 21" rims. You'll need to get another set for winter use.
4) What do you plan on towing and where? (weight, grade %, type of roads). Camping grounds, gravel & dirt roads will wreak havoc on high performance tires. Once again....$$$.
5) Will you be off-roading?
6) Lastly, is your wife a curb rasher? Does she have an imaginary magnetic field that attracts her to sidewalks?
12-30-2011, 11:11 AM
#13
A lot of this depends on the tire.
Most of the tires people are running on their 20-22" wheels are "sport" tires with stiff sidewalls and tread blocks.(also tend to have more rubber on the ground) Then they switch over to an "all season" or "winter" tire on their smaller wheels (18"). Which have softer side walls and treads to conform to the snow, etc. These Also usually have big voids in the tread to move water and debris.
Then you get to the air pressure and temps most run the different size tires at.
Put the same tire on both large and small wheel diameters and I bet most people in here would have a hard time telling which is which.
I run 22" in the summer and 18" in the winter. Love both!
(quality wheels should not bend either, that does not mean "expensive" but quality)
Most of the tires people are running on their 20-22" wheels are "sport" tires with stiff sidewalls and tread blocks.(also tend to have more rubber on the ground) Then they switch over to an "all season" or "winter" tire on their smaller wheels (18"). Which have softer side walls and treads to conform to the snow, etc. These Also usually have big voids in the tread to move water and debris.
Then you get to the air pressure and temps most run the different size tires at.
Put the same tire on both large and small wheel diameters and I bet most people in here would have a hard time telling which is which.
I run 22" in the summer and 18" in the winter. Love both!
(quality wheels should not bend either, that does not mean "expensive" but quality)
12-30-2011, 01:25 PM
#14
Addict
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Don't get me started on this one. We have pot holes in the NY Tri-State area that could swallow up a truck. I had to replace both Audi and Mercedes OEM wheels as they were beyond repair. I won't chance it with 21" Porsche wheels.
12-30-2011, 02:28 PM
#15
Race Director
Good choice. The Spyders are a great looking wheel, IMO, although a bit of a pain to clean. Fortunately the darker silver finish doesn't show the brake dust quite as much.
Last edited by Mike in CA; 12-30-2011 at 03:41 PM.