17's or 18's????? [Archive]

have no life but have TI

04-18-2005, 09:19 PM

Im looking into getting either 17X8's or 18X8's bbs possibly... which would be better?? what am i gaining and losing?? (also going to get all season tires...its texas weather doesnt change down here) the car is dropped with H&R springs(1.5f, 1.0r) and bilstein bts sports shocks... the car gets about 80miles a week use....

i know i can get 17's but 18's are making me think twice about it... can someone just tell me its gonna be ok so i can get them bad boys already!!!and any ideas on spacers?

as u can see im in need of desperate wheel advice.

Tyler

04-18-2005, 09:38 PM

The bigger the rims the worse the ride is going to be.

96cali

04-19-2005, 04:24 PM

Bigger than 17" rims will lower your acceleration too. Just not enough power to move them.

FuMa

04-19-2005, 04:44 PM

Bigger than 17" rims will lower your acceleration too. Just not enough power to move them.

I haven't noticed any difference between my 17" and 18", it also depends on the weight of the rims. But you will lose more comfort.

pdxmotorhead

04-19-2005, 06:13 PM

Power will be effected by outside tire diameter and tread width.

Rim diameter effects "stiffness"

Dave

m44ic

04-19-2005, 07:42 PM

I just think 18's look odd on ti's

madfronter

04-19-2005, 08:56 PM

Run 17" man! With less tire on your wheels you increase the possibility of bending your wheels. Even 17" wheels are easy to bend.

schussey

04-19-2005, 11:37 PM

i like 18''.

http://images.snapfish.com/3436%3B7%3A323232%7Ffp64%3Dot%3E232%3B%3D%3A5%3C%3D74%3B%3DXROQDF%3E2323769994594ot1lsi

-chris

AlaskaBlue

04-20-2005, 03:24 AM

I have 17s and I noticed a big increase in the handling or the car over stock rims. I don't know how much 18s would affect handling or if they slow acceleration.

gooten1

04-20-2005, 03:39 AM

I'm looking into 17"'s also. Not the BBS, though. Reccomended tire brand on those 17's?

AlaskaBlue

04-20-2005, 03:58 AM

I have P-Zero nero by Pirelli. They were an amazing improvement over the stock tires. They grip so much better that it made me nervous when I let my dad drive it around some twisties and I rode with him because I was still used to the stock tires and the speeds I could go with those. In otherwords they grip great.

Boxbrownie

04-20-2005, 07:44 PM

I have 17" and they have made an incredible difference over the OEM 15", the ride stays good to, obviously harder than 15" but much less "wallow" a better planted feel.
225/45 PS1 & PS2
I like a comfy ride....being old and grumpy, and these are fine.

Best regards David

L84THSKY

04-20-2005, 08:34 PM

I really enjoyed driving with my knee while eating, when I had my 15's on.

Those days are over with my new 17's.

Any groove in the road could send me sailing into the next lane, if I don't keep hold of the steering wheel. :blink:

I have 17" and they have made an incredible difference over the OEM 15", the ride stays good to, obviously harder than 15" but much less "wallow" a better planted feel.
225/45 PS1 & PS2
I like a comfy ride....being old and grumpy, and these are fine.

Best regards David

mickd

04-23-2005, 07:28 AM

Just got the freshly powdercoated '95 Motorsport wheels (7.5) and Pilot Sport 235/40 17 balanced and installed on my '95 Sport. This setup is awesome. That size Pilot Sport has been discontinued and I got a steal on them online last fall, I think they were around $125 each with the added rebate from Michelin. The car handles so sweet, it's hard to break the tires loose in a turn in any other gear but 1st. The tires are really compliant too, I don't really see much if any difference in smoothness from the original 205/60 15 setup. The car now seems to have such improved handling that it should have more power. I was worried a bit about the 40's and ride quality but I don't feel I lost anything. No tramlining whatsoever. The stock Sport suspension seems perfectly matched to this tire/wheel combination. I am going to stay with the stock height with the Sport's springs keeping the suspension travel as-is so I don't have to worry about those headstones and chunks of ice in winter. Or camber changes.

GDB

04-23-2005, 08:05 AM

What part of texas are you in? If you're in the Dallas or Houston area then I'd be willing to let you look at/drive around and see what you think about my 18s. I've had them for about a week and am very happy with them. The car has lost some acceleration but it's nothing too bad and the look of them definately make up for it. Besides, the weight between 17s and 18s (of the same wheel type) is not going to be a noticeable difference.

FATHER

11-21-2005, 08:52 PM

HEY, AM NEW, FROMPUERTO RICO, I HAVE A 97 TI, WITH NO MOTOR MODIFICATION BUT WITH AN LEXANY 20"X8"( REAR NO PROBLEM IN FRONT SOME MODIFICATION TO THE BASE OF THE SPRING AND TO THE SPRING TOO) THE TI HAVE A HR SPRINGS. ANY CUESTION PLEASE WRITE TO ME HERE IN THE FORUM OR TO FHER_KARRASKO@HOTMAIL.COM IN THE FUTURE I POST SOME PICTURES .......... THANKS AND HAPPY THANKS GIVIN DAY (SORRY ABOUT MY ENGLISH) JJEJEJEJE

DustenT

11-21-2005, 08:55 PM

PettitWC

11-21-2005, 08:57 PM

Run 17" man! With less tire on your wheels you increase the possibility of bending your wheels. Even 17" wheels are easy to bend.

ditto

96PGT

12-10-2005, 04:08 AM

I know im very new (hell dont even own one *yet*) but i think 18's do look a bit off on these cars so just stick with 17's.

You will lose acceleration on the 17's because it has a bigger radius so more weight towards the outside which will be harder to turn for the car. You might get some top end out of it which i dont know what the top speed of these cars is anyway but ...dont expect huge results.

going to a 17in over wheel will make your ride worse. Lowering with bigger wheels = not comfy :wink: . Handling wise you gain some because more then likely the tires on there will be better then stock ones. Most likely they will be low profiles which have a very stiff sidewall which results in little rollover which = good handling. Also, i read somewhere about bigger wheels = better handling but i dont remember where or the specifics of the article.

Just 2 cents from a 17yr old (6 mo til the big 1-8) who doesnt even own a 318 :biggrin:

Slynke

12-10-2005, 05:29 AM

I like my 18s, although I have mixed views.

On one hand, I'm terrified of bending a rim (35 profile tires). But at the same time, when I see the car sitting (ie: walking up to get in it), the rims don't look very big, and I kind of wish I went BIGGER (ie: 19"). Maybe after I drop it, they wont look so small...

sparkchaser

12-29-2005, 11:10 PM

DustenT

12-29-2005, 11:35 PM

Really? I was thinking about going to 17" but I didn't like reading that.

I have 17s with a drop. Looks GREAT. Big rims look best when dropped.

Tyler

12-29-2005, 11:39 PM

A girl i work with is trying to sell me 18' Lexanis,i keep telling her i don't want them. She showed me a picture of them and i'm like are you trying to sell me suv/truck tires. Damn they were big n ugly. I like DustenT's rims and i know there are many ti'ers with them but not sure how the gunmetal look looks on my car. I'm eyeing the BBS Ra's the same wheels alaskablue has on his ti,those are growing on me.

stormos

12-30-2005, 12:28 AM

i want Dustens rims too but they are costly. The Konig Trouble however looks just as good too, oh the decisions......

selling the m3 wheels ;) (kerbed, buckled, and bored of em)

DustenT

12-30-2005, 12:30 AM

i want Dustens rims too but they are costly.

WRONG! I paid less than $1200 for rims and tires shipped to my door. The mille miglias are only like $200/rim.

cali-ti

12-30-2005, 12:31 AM

they may not be so cheap in ole blighty :)

DustenT

12-30-2005, 12:33 AM

they may not be so cheap in ole blighty :)

bloody right!

Tyler

12-30-2005, 12:48 AM

Well they are made in Italy so wouldn't you be able to get a better price.

Tyler

12-30-2005, 12:52 AM

WRONG! I paid less than $1200 for rims and tires shipped to my door. The mille miglias are only like $200/rim.

Wtf just went onto tirerack again and noticed they don't sell them in 17's anymore just 18's on your rims.

PettitWC

12-30-2005, 01:08 AM

I have 17s with a drop.

me too, I haven't had any problems driving with my knee though...and DC streets are awful

HuGo

12-30-2005, 01:52 AM

I just think 18's look odd on ti's

Well look at my car. You think the rims look odd on it?? they 18s.

HuGo

12-30-2005, 01:53 AM

I really enjoyed driving with my knee while eating, when I had my 15's on.

Those days are over with my new 17's.

Any groove in the road could send me sailing into the next lane, if I don't keep hold of the steering wheel. :blink:

I drive my car with my knee all the time. On freeways too. Hehe. But yea, when you hit a bump or something, u can mean feel the hit. Thin tires makes u think you gonna mess up ur suspension when u here the hits.

DustenT

12-30-2005, 02:35 AM

Well look at my car. You think the rims look odd on it?? they 18s.

Yes. :icon_poke

flex_318

12-30-2005, 03:14 AM

M-technik has 18's on his. I think they look good.

PettitWC

12-30-2005, 10:32 AM

M-technik has 18's on his. I think they look good.

i mean I got ACs good deal at 17 so i rolled, but yeah, knee driving is no prob. do whatev but either way man, if you have to drive on a lot of pot holes i wuldn't go w/18s

adamscki_c

12-30-2005, 06:33 PM

Well i just put on 18" Wolfrace Luna D's 225/40. I think they look sweeet!! I wasnt sure whether 17 or 18.. but now I see them on my car... i cant stop staring!! LOVIN them 18s!

Made a trip down to London, about 260 miles, sweet ride, 95mph on the motorway, stuck like glue to the road no probs with bumps or potholes... but then the roads in the UK are well maintained ;)

Oh and I managed to eat my lunch while driving with my knee and one hand. I will post a pic and see what you think.

And they werent exactly cheap in the UK, but I got a nice deal. :biggrin:

Nitro Nollie

01-19-2006, 06:46 PM

So I guess 19x8.5 all around are out of the question.

I have 17 now and was thinking of going bigger I think the rides in the picture gallery with 17 look good.

myblueTI

01-19-2006, 06:58 PM

I was thinking of getting 18's but then i thought i would save some money by getting 17's then i would lower my car so i have a good ride and the sweet droped look that i was looking for. That is what i suggest.