Everyone here seems to like to upgrade to 16 inch or bigger rims. What is the appeal of bigger tires? Do they corner better? Look better? I tried doing a search but all I got was bits and pieces here and there.

 

you mean rims?? 17' rims are the max for performance and handling. the highest number tire you can get are 215/40/17 without hitting the sidewall.

16' rims are lighter so your car is gong to be a lot faster. they are also more durable because they're smaller and you can get someone to get the tires on with a local machine instead of having to go to sears. depends on what you like and where you live. 16's will help your handling too.

cornering is what 17's do best although they might lose traction at times. i've cornered on my tires with 17' rims at high speeds and i felt absolutely no traction loss whatsoever.

weather conditions, that's where 17's suck. anything can suck if the tire isn't meant for the right weather.

17's are also for looks though. on tiburons i prefer 17's because they look considerably better but that again may depend on where you live.

 

Opps I ment rims. So I still dont get it. What about aftermarket 15 inch rims? Wouldn't they be even lighter than 16 inch rims because they are smaller?

 

If you were to compare identical rims.. 15 and 16.. the 15s would be lighter and stronger.. however, you would have to run a larger sidewall on a 15 to keep the rolling diameter the same..

that is the real reason a larger diameter rim is higher performance.. smaller sidewalls means less give and "squirm" on the tire.. (Shove your car sideways while it is parked and see how it moves on the sidewalls of the car.. a 15inch tire will move more than a 16) This equals more control.

Keep in mind, the tyres are also part of the spring suspension.. they are the first to encounter the bumps, rocks, and potholes in the road before the suspension has a chance to move. Where the springs are rated in hundreds of pounds per inch of travel.. tyres are rated in the thousands.. so a lower sidewall (profile) means a slightly harsher ride.. the lower the profile, the more bumps and such that gets transmitted to the suspension and ultimatly to the car and then your behind.

 

yes it would be easier to find a light weight 15. its all a matter of opinion. each sizes has its advantages and disadvatages. you just nned to decide what you find more inportant. like he said 17's great as far as handling but poor traction and horrible in wet conditions. 16's still fer great handling but offer better traction than the 17's and are usualy a lot lighter. 15's im not so educated in you will have to find another source for them. all in all i have driven both 16's and 17's i prefer 16's for the light weight they offer as well as the better traction. dont get me wrong though 17's are a nice addition and if you look hard enough you can find light 17's like the rota subzero is a fairly light wheel in all its sizes.

 

I'm running 15s. I think they are the best size for our cars for several reasons, including weight, ride comfort and curb protection. I briefly ran 17s, and they felt slow! Slow and harsh. It's a noticeable difference. Frankly I don't know how people can stand the ride with aftermarket springs and 17s. But my roads are fairly rough. . .

 

that is something to take into account is that fonseca is right 17's ride very harsh you feel everything.

 

If youre going with 17's.. WATCH OUT FOR POTHOLES!

 

i got 16s because of the brakes im planning. thats is the only reason IMO to get a larger diameter rim. well, theres looks to but i dont really care about those for a wheel, plus i like the extra protection with my 45 tires.

 

Just my .02

I got 215/45/17

And i have zero problems with rubbing/scrapping on my car.

And it fits the wheel well very closely but looks amazing. Not lowered or anything.