Smaller wheels means lower ride height right?

[T2urtle]

Doing a little shopping for winter wheels. Not that I need them but if a deal comes around ill be all for them.

My car came with 17 stock. I see deals for 16 in wheels and blizzacks all the time. If I found a set of tires that match my overall tire diameter. Would the chassis sit lower because its on smaller wheels?

I'm thinking its the opposite effect of guys putting 22s on the car, it looks like its flying.

I'm thinking I should just drop the idea of 16s for snow wheels because it would lower my ground clearance by half an inch.

Is my theory correct?

 

[Throckmorton]

All that matters is the diameter of the tire. If the diameter is the same, of course ride height will be identical.

 

[T2urtle]

I will be matching tires to a equal overall diameter. That's for sure.

 

[HarryLui]

Ride height will be exactly the same then.

 

[NutBucket]

And make sure the brakes fit under smaller wheels.

 

[ballmode]

don't get too wide as you might rub...

 

[Ferzerp]

Make sure not to forget the lug nuts.

 

[heymrdj]

If you buy a 16" wheel and used the "same" tire (ie shift the outer diameter inward so that now it "fits" on a 16" diameter instead of a 17") then yes you would be shorter. What you'll do though is have a 16" wheel with a taller sidewall. This will result in the same height, just a change in ratio of metal to rubber (shorter metal, taller sidewall).

 

[shabby]

And don't forget the tire fluid, it'll keep the tire lubed up inside, keep it frictionless...

 

[angry hampster]

don't get too wide as you might rub...

Skinner tires also do better in snow.

 

[exar333]

This is exactly what I did with my WRX. Came with 17''s, but I got 16''s + steelies for less than just the 17'' winter tires. They have taller sidewalls and are not as wide either (better for snow). Works great and saved $$$, saves on wear/tear mounting and remounting, plus makes the tire swaps really easy.

 

[T2urtle]

This is exactly what I did with my WRX. Came with 17''s, but I got 16''s + steelies for less than just the 17'' winter tires. They have taller sidewalls and are not as wide either (better for snow). Works great and saved $$$, saves on wear/tear mounting and remounting, plus makes the tire swaps really easy.

main reason why i'm doing is that.

16's tires seem to cost less, not buy much.

205/65-16 is the same as 215/55-17

Now i just gotta target cars with 205/65-16 as a stock size. I think nissan altima's are that

 

[PlasmaBomb]

If you are buying wheels you need to check that the PCD, offset and hub are the same as your vehicle (you maybe know that...)

I dropped from 225/45 R17 to 205/55 R16 for winter tyres, finding a second hand set of 16" alloys was matched the car a bitch though... :thumbsup:

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

These two wheels are the same diameter but the one in front has a 16" rim and the one behind has a 14" rim.

HEre they are together on the car. 14" in front. 16" in the rear. Ride height is exactly the same because the TIRE diameter is the same.

IF i were to put smaller tires on my 14" rims, yes, ride height would be lower.

 

[Ferzerp]

You guys make me feel like my 20" wheels are ghetto... They're stock though!