17" vs 18"

[mazdaagain]

I'm sure this question has been asked before but outside of the visual (looks) what's the major difference between rocking 17" vs 18" rims and tires ? I know 18" is more expensive in every way but is the handling significantly better ? Is the gas mileage worse ?

I need to get new rubber for my wheels and am debating whether to go with 17" or 18" rims and wheels (I have both sizes in rims so no issue on buying new rims).

Any feedback is appreciated

[midnightfxgt]

18" are usually heavier (apples to apples). Added weight means they will have worse mileage. I find they look better

[Kiyomi]

since its a gen 1. imo, go with the 17s, they seem to fit perfect. unless you want to get heraflush look. :D

[tomato.novaa]

since its a gen 1. imo, go with the 17s, they seem to fit perfect. unless you want to get heraflush look. :D

+1 ftw

[mazdaskit]

18" ftw i love them:D HELLA FLUSH

[mazdaagain]

since its a gen 1. imo, go with the 17s, they seem to fit perfect. unless you want to get heraflush look. :D

Actually, I am in a Gen 2 hatch now. I had 18" Shinka's on my last ride.

[aZuMi]

I've had both 17's and 18's in my car.

The 17's definitely weigh alot less (Advan RS = 14.9 lbs), acceleration is faster and it feels much quicker due to its weight. The con is that the tires look beefier and gap tends to be a little bit more. Another issue I have with 17's is I scrape (mind you, I am only dropped on prokits).

Now, after moving to 18's, it's definitely heavier (SSR F = 16.9 lbs). It looks like it's not much, but if you add tires - the extra weight is still noticeable. Acceleration decreased a bit, and it's not as punchier than the 17's. Also, I don't scrape anymore since the 18's have more rim than tire, so it won't dip as much in speed bumps.

In terms of gas mileage, theoretically - 17's will give better mileage.

In terms of handling, the steering wheel is heavier with the 18's, but much more stable.

[Default User]

Although the overall wheel height will be the same - the tire's sidewall profile would be smaller on 18's.
depending on the tire - it could be a slightly harsher or noisier ride compared to 17's.



18" are usually heavier (apples to apples). Added weight means they will have worse mileage. I find they look better

True - weight plays a difference in mileage consumption, acceleration and braking distances, etc.
but you're looking at maybe 3-5lbs/rim. Some lug nuts weigh more, as does about 4L of gas in the tank. so it wouldnt really be an issue



since its a gen 1. imo, go with the 17s, they seem to fit perfect. unless you want to get heraflush look. :D


+1 ftw


18" ftw i love them:D HELLA FLUSH

18's wont necessarily give you hella flush status. the Offset and width will definitely play a factor

[GWN]

The wheel's diameter doesn't really matter when you're talking about flush. Width and Offset are what really matter there

The norm in 2nd gen's now seems to be 18s, still plenty of 17s out there though, but personally I love my 19s. If you're looking for better mileage / practicality, the simple answer is 17s. Otherwise, its all up to you, and you'll probably need to do a fair amount of research and in the end you'll have a very tough decision to make lol

[peterm15]

Not to hijack but when upgrading from stock 15's to 18's how much will that throw off the speedo.

[prime]

Not to hijack but when upgrading from stock 15's to 18's how much will that throw off the speedo.

If you get the proper tire size and maintain the same overall diameter your speedometer reading shouldn't be affected.

[peterm15]

Iim pretty sure my 18's are a fare bit bigger then my 15's with tire on. I'll post specs when I can to find out.

Thanks.

[prime]

Iim pretty sure my 18's are a fare bit bigger then my 15's with tire on. I'll post specs when I can to find out.

Thanks.
Better yet, if you find the specs go to Tire size calculator (http://www.1010tires.com/tiresizecalculator.asp?err=98&rsn=cde-no-cde-gen-by-svr). It will give you an idea of how far/close to original specs you are.

For the OP I've had both 17s and 18s. The main difference for me is the ride comfort. With a smaller wheel you need more tire to maintain the same circumference and they help absorb the impact from bumps on the road. The weight doesn't really count since you can find 18s that are lighter than 17s unless you're comparing exact same brand/make. In addition, expect to spend more on 18" tires as well.

[kala]

If you're looking for better mileage / practicality, the simple answer is 17s. Otherwise, its all up to you, and you'll probably need to do a fair amount of research and in the end you'll have a very tough decision to make lo

+1

[peterm15]

Better yet, if you find the specs go to Tire size calculator (http://www.1010tires.com/tiresizecalculator.asp?err=98&rsn=cde-no-cde-gen-by-svr). It will give you an idea of how far/close to original specs you are.

For the OP I've had both 17s and 18s. The main difference for me is the ride comfort. With a smaller wheel you need more tire to maintain the same circumference and they help absorb the impact from bumps on the road. The weight doesn't really count since you can find 18s that are lighter than 17s unless you're comparing exact same brand/make. In addition, expect to spend more on 18" tires as well.

Thanks for the site.