16" or 17" tires?

[MJinZ]

Chances are the total tire/wheel diameter will be the same for 16" and 17" wheel/tire packages so going with the 17" just means you are getting more wheel and less tire. It's a trade off. The 17" combo may improve handling at the expense of the ride. The 16" combo will most certainly ride better.

Squishy high sidewall vs smaller stiffer sidwall, even considering if the tires are same width, teh 17" should handle better.

 

[JCH13]

Squishy high sidewall vs smaller stiffer sidwall, even considering if the tires are same width, teh 17" should handle better.

Define "handle better." Steering response will probably be better with a 17", but ultimate grip will be the same and dynamic response will be improved with a 16" wheel. If one had adjustable suspension one could lower the suspension spring rates and damper settings because the lower unsprung mass will require less force/damping to control. This would make the car more stable, have more consistent grip, and probably be more predictable, especially at it's limits. But still, yes, the 17" would have better steering response.

 

[alexruiz]

The Touring runs on 215/55-17 which are not cheap. Out of the 46 tires at TireRack the cheapest will run you about $110 each. I have 205/50-17's on my Subaru and that size is even worse.

55 profile tires or lower in any size are also more expensive, and if you add the 17" penalty it becomes worse.... My previous car had 195/55-15, and the tires were often more expensive than several 16 sizes Downsizing to 14" for the winter tires (185/65-14) was a huge saving.

I am looking at this exact same 17" size for a set of summer tires and wheels... it won't be cheap On the other hand, it could be worse, the 235/45-18 are an even bigger jump in price from the 17s than the 17s form the 16s

 

[Icepick]

Apparently, suspensions between the two models are the same.

Key differences include wheels, stereo system, fog lights, interior trim, leather wrapped steering wheel/shift knob and a power driver's seat.

So explain why you wouldn't investigate the differences aside from wheels on your own?

I'm misunderstood. I'm all checked out on the frivolous differences (fog lights, 6 CD player, power seat, etc...) I thought that you were alluding to differences in other things like suspensions, engine or other parts.

From what I read I think that the Sport and Touring models are exactly identical until you get to the appearances (fog lights, 17" tires with aluminum wheels, power seats.) I don't care about any of these things because I don't use them.

Since we seem to have established in this thread that 16" tires are just as good as 17", if not better, for a midsize sedan of this calibur I'm aiming for the Sport model with the 16" steel wheels.

 

[NutBucket]

I wouldn't call those differences frivolous, but to each his own

 

[MJinZ]

I'm misunderstood. I'm all checked out on the frivolous differences (fog lights, 6 CD player, power seat, etc...) I thought that you were alluding to differences in other things like suspensions, engine or other parts.

From what I read I think that the Sport and Touring models are exactly identical until you get to the appearances (fog lights, 17" tires with aluminum wheels, power seats.) I don't care about any of these things because I don't use them.

Since we seem to have established in this thread that 16" tires are just as good as 17", if not better, for a midsize sedan of this calibur I'm aiming for the Sport model with the 16" steel wheels.

um... no.

 

[jlee]

um... no.

um.. yes. He is a habitually conservative driver. 16's are fine.