Wheels: How Big Is Too Big..?

[carguy502]

I'd go with 18's max....20's are just silly.

IMO 17s are the best look for most 60s and 70s muscle. As far as building an all around car, I perfer the extra sidewall typical of 17s versus 18s given a fixed tire height. Unless your suspension is built with larger wheels in mind (see Parson's II Much suspension artical in PHR or several Vipers, Ferraris, and the ZR1), going larger will simply add to the unsprung weight, rattle teeth to one extent or another, and limit performance tire selection. 20s are just silly.

[Vegas69]

While I agree with the unsprung weight, my car rides really nice with 18/19 combo. Of course the DSE sub and G Bar make the difference and the shock valving adjustment. Now on stock supspension absolutely. Apples vs Oranges here.

[MilesSpeed]

I've plugged you guys several times Ask Larry !

[CarlC]

Been there, done that in Camaro Performers about 6 years ago. 17's work the best on my car. The less sidewall there is, the less signal you will get before traction is lost. It was no fun driving a car that would give little warning before the back end of the car wanted to pass the front.

[MilesSpeed]

The less sidewall there is, the less signal you will get before traction is lost. It was no fun driving a car that would give little warning before the back end of the car wanted to pass the front.

I was JUST writing about that part of it. Get out of my brain!

[StRacerDuke]

19's are perfect for any performace use. There is a reason why Porsche hasn't stepped up to 20" wheels yet. You don't need to carry the extra weight and can fit massive brakes under 19's.


20's just look cool though...

[StRacerDuke]

PS, if you are writing about wheels don't forget to include the new light weight options...

www.dymag.com
http://www.hrewheels.com/monoblok/

[Procharmo]

19's are perfect for any performance use. There is a reason why Porsche hasn't stepped up to 20" wheels yet. You don't need to carry the extra weight and can fit massive brakes under 19's.


20's just look cool though...

Porsche 911 997 pictured above came with 18"s and 19"s optional.
Porsche 911 996 came with 17"s and 18" optional. I run 19"s on my 996 and I believe the shape of a cars wheel arches and body proportions have more effect on the aesthetics some of us seek when discussing wheel size.

[Throttle]

I think for most GM Muscle Cars the brakes I have on my car are good to stop any of them.. I have the 13.5 inch 2008 C6 Z51 Front brakes and SSBC 12 inch rear disc brakes and I run 17's all the way around..

I have never been a fan of anything over 18's until I bought the wheels for my truck that a friend was damn near giving away.. They just look good.. :D

[thedude327]

Liz,
After reading this thread from start to finish, I'm left wondering if you are getting ready to upgrade your camaros wheels, brakes and tires from what you are using now? How about posting back with some results if you do.........

Paul

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

[GregInAtl]

Liz, To be fair comparison, it has to be comparable wheels on the same car in the same conditions. I have been close to this, but not exactly.
I had a car w/ 17", 18",19" and 20" wheels at different times all 8" width. The 17" were OEM, 18" BBS RS-GTs (Forged multi piece) 19" RoJas, and 20" TSW Kylami. With all 4 sets of wheels, the car had Tokico 5 ways, H&R race springs and H&R sway bars.
To no ones surprise, the 18" were the lightest, and yielded the best 1/4 time and best handling. Strangely the 20" were next in handling 3rd in the 1/4. The OEM were the second in the 1/4 and last in handling. The 19s were obv the slowest when accelerating but handled well.
(btw, All wheels ran BFG tires, KDW when available.)
Being on a turbo car w/ a smaller motor it was more obvious when a wheel is heavy , the lag seemed to be exaggerated.
In the end, I came to realize my faves were the 20", they looked cool (not chrome btw) handled well and were way out of the box. The 18"s that conquered all, got lost at the car show and in the parking lot, they looked too "almost hot". At $850 a wheel, that was not ok w/ me.
In the end its all what YOU want. I care more about a functioning form, but more form than function. I'll give up a tenth every fri night for more radical look in traffic everyday.....and watch peoples draw drop like mine did when I bolted them up...but that's just me. If you live and die by a stop watch, consider two sets, because lets be real, tires and drivers win more races than wheels lose you, so you may be majoring in a minor.
Finally, when was the last time you weighed a tire? Many tires the exact same size have VERY different weights. Also, those giant discs people cant live w/o may be over kill, and add the weight your smaller forged wheel saved. In many forums I get flamed loving the Foose big wheel look, and it kills me how the same people only want to debate wheels. (Got dynamat, A/C, leather, electric windows, etc etc?! All that is weight that a stop watch guy can shed....but that rarely gets mentioned.)
Its so much bigger than just the wheel diameter.
I subscribe to PHR, its clearly my home, as is the pro-touring style, but there has been yet not a single article written on this subject that actually addresses the full picture. What I mean by this is where the diam of the wheel is only a minor aspect in the overall performance of any vehicle, yet the first to be named and blamed. As soon as someone steps up, does more homework than they really want to, the general public will be left in the ignorant dark thinking big wheels equal lost performance period.
btw, am I the only one who gets frustrated w/ the dude on drag lites and skinnies who rag larger wheels for perf loss, yet can't get them to try and follow me thru curves?!! Remember Performance has many definitions.

Sorry for the length of the post,
GC

[Damn True]

By reading your post I am led to believe that the car in question is your VW Passat Wagon. I'm wondering if you did any actual timed evaluation of the various setups (auto-x? road course?) or is this information gained via the seat of the pants on an I-85 off-ramp?

[GregInAtl]

By reading your post I am led to believe that the car in question is your VW Passat Wagon. I'm wondering if you did any actual timed evaluation of the various setups (auto-x? road course?) or is this information gained via the seat of the pants on an I-85 off-ramp?

Nope, not racing the wifes wagon, and not on the street either! :P I didn't post car because many people have a preconceived notion that if you drive "x" car you are less a car guy than them, or have less experience or knowledge. That's the only reason, but I'll risk it and admit it was a 2003 Jetta 1.8t w/ all the basic bolt ons and a chip set to run 20 psi on stock snail w/ 93 octane. No race car, but an excellent daily commuter that surprised many including a few at the F body shoot out in "x" class. I know, not RWD, or high tq and HP, but w/ less it actually showed far easier the effect of the set ups.
I had time slips for all 4 sets in the 1/4 from Reynolds in middle GA, and dyno sheets for 2 sets only. Road Atlanta was the track I had the chance to run on, but never full timed laps truthfully....if you were at 06 Year One experience, I could be seen making laps w/ the Year One cars a few times.(they slowly pull in the straight, I'd reel em in REAL fast in the curves and esses.
http://public.fotki.com/AllstarGN/my...s-cars/21.html