quality_sound
New member
Are you sure it isn't just a difference in the tire? I LOVE the ride of Michelin PSS and Continental ContiSport Contact 3s. Even is super low aspect ratios.
Spamby's '08 STi
- Thread starter Spamby
- Start date
quality_sound
New member
Also, how could you go wider? If the tires are sized correctly, the overall diameter is the same.
I've had 3 different sets of tires on the 18s. Some were maybe a little bit better than others, but going to the 17s made such a huge difference that I physically cringe when I think about putting the 18's back on. I suppose it's all relative and personal.
Grinder34
Track Monkey
Higher profile tires essentially lower your spring rate. Or rather, its like having two springs, one soft that depresses over small bumps, and the stiff one absorbs the corners. Tire pressures affect everything too. If 17s are how you wanna go, do it :tup: For aesthetics alone I wouldnt switch back to the 17s, but to each their own. As far as road holding, its really down to the tire compisition. GRM did a pretty unscientific test a year or two ago and found negligible (IMO) differences between a 15/16/17 wheel tire combo. There were differences, but the test was too unscientific for me to draw any conclusions (ie, the data was all within the noise).
I forget, are you on coils? You could always put slightly softer springs, or dial back some of the damping. Or find the widest wheel/tire profile you can fit (to not rubg the strut or the fender). Its [almost] all about the air volume, so wider = softer feel you're looking for.
EDIT: Fun fact re:air volume in tires.... The volume of air really does make a difference. Older 911s had hollow spokes, specifically to increase the volume of air in the tires. Other models and years may have that too, i just know about old 911s.
I forget, are you on coils? You could always put slightly softer springs, or dial back some of the damping. Or find the widest wheel/tire profile you can fit (to not rubg the strut or the fender). Its [almost] all about the air volume, so wider = softer feel you're looking for.
EDIT: Fun fact re:air volume in tires.... The volume of air really does make a difference. Older 911s had hollow spokes, specifically to increase the volume of air in the tires. Other models and years may have that too, i just know about old 911s.
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Wow. Great info Grinder! I'm on gas shocks and RCE Yellow springs right now. Besides the ride quality, I was worried I'd eventually damage a wheel with 40 sidewalls. The roads really can be that bad.
As for asthetics, the RCE Yellows are just low enough to look good with little to no wheel gap with 17s and 45 sidewalls.
I'm satisfied with the looks. I'm more of a function over form guy anyway.
As for asthetics, the RCE Yellows are just low enough to look good with little to no wheel gap with 17s and 45 sidewalls.
I'm satisfied with the looks. I'm more of a function over form guy anyway.
The 18x8s were on the car when I bought it. :-/
quality_sound
New member
I would agree with that. There are a lot of factors like tire pressure, sidewall construction, even suspension type and settings, etc but if you maintain the same OD then we're talking an extra half inch of sidewall.
I guess some people are just more sensitive to it.
quality_sound
New member
You can't just say "on a 40". Since a 195/40 will have a drastically smaller sidewall than a 255/40 you have to take into account the section width.
I suppose I should have mentioned that, on the 18s I ran either 205 or 215/40s. Going to the 17, I was able to go with a wider section width (235) AND a larger sidewall (45) without rubbing. This gives me up to 0.12" more sidewall. I know it seems quite negligible, and it might be, but to me it feels a lot better. The overall difference in a diameter, between a 205/40 and a 235/45
is 5.24". Seems to me that's in the whole scheme of things, that's a lot of extra pothole absorbing rubber in each tire.
Sometimes it doesn't take much to make a difference.
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quality_sound
New member
I'm still trying to figure out how you were able to go wider AND talked without rubbing. That doesn't make sense.
Even small differences can be noticeable. A 5psi difference is very noticeable to me.
Even small differences can be noticeable. A 5psi difference is very noticeable to me.
Good weight. Great price :tup:
Grinder34
Track Monkey
trust me, dont get obsessed over weight. Here goes the rant again.... Somewhere a few years ago i did the math: To accelerate a wheel that's 19 lbs instead of 18 lbs to 60 mph in the same time (i had to make some assumptions about weight distribution, etc...) takes like an extra 0.2 hp or something stupid small like that. So all four wheels and its under 1 hp. You'll NEVER notice the difference. And with road holding, without a pro driver and precise equipment you wont really notice either based on the weight. The suspension is used to reacting to ~800 lbs of car above it, it really manhandles the extra 1 lb on the bottom.
All that said, i ended up with lightweight wheels, but mostly because i got them for a STEAL.
All that said, i ended up with lightweight wheels, but mostly because i got them for a STEAL.
Spamby
Meat Product Toy
Agreed but we've discussed my bloated wheels. 26 freakin pounds.
Not going gonzo on this but if I'm going to sell then I'm going to get something decent and decently priced and I just really want something different without breaking the bank and I really need to justify the spending and I can't stop because I'm suck with a disease and it's eating me alive kinda like this enormous run-on sentence that just jeeps going like a meth head with OCD issues.... Failed fuck me.
Not going gonzo on this but if I'm going to sell then I'm going to get something decent and decently priced and I just really want something different without breaking the bank and I really need to justify the spending and I can't stop because I'm suck with a disease and it's eating me alive kinda like this enormous run-on sentence that just jeeps going like a meth head with OCD issues.... Failed fuck me.
ZackUSAF82
New member
Thumbs up on those, really like 'em.
