would you roll on 17's or 18's?

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CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
5
0
I don't get all this function over form talk.... I put 17's on my car... the ride is about the same as stock, the handling is improved, I've yet to have a problem with flat tires, etc.. why is it function over form? I couldn't be happier with my rims/tires.. and before anyone tries to tell me or asks... my new wheels are almost exactly the same weight as my stock wheels, so that's not a step back in terms of performance.
 
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MercenaryForHire

Lifer
Jan 31, 2002
40,819
2
0
Originally posted by: Ornery
Got that?

Are you illiterate, too? I said that myself in my first post!
Originally posted by: Ornery

Function follows form... as usual. :roll:
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So then why are you still arguing over and over that everyone should put 15"s with big thick sidewalls on their ride, because it's "good enough for ______?"

Yes, if you have a pizza-slice rim and rubber bands for tires, you'll bend if you hit a pothole. You'll also probably think it looks really damned good - which it does IMO - and that's a balance that isn't agreed on by everyone.

- M4H
 
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MercenaryForHire

Lifer
Jan 31, 2002
40,819
2
0
Originally posted by: CraigRT
I don't get all this function over form talk.... I put 17's on my car... the ride is about the same as stock, the handling is improved, I've yet to have a problem with flat tires, etc.. why is it function over form? I couldn't be happier with my rims/tires.. and before anyone tries to tell me or asks... my new wheels are almost exactly the same weight as my stock wheels, so that's not a step back in terms of performance.
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<Ornery> You young whippersnapper! I remember back in the day when we all had twelve-inch steel hubcaps, and they were good enough then, so dag nub it, they're good enough now! Damn kids with their import vehicles and loud music! </Ornery>

- M4H
 
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MercenaryForHire

Lifer
Jan 31, 2002
40,819
2
0
BTW, I voted other, because I'd go for 16"s with lower-profile tires, and spend the change from the 17" budget on struts. :)

- M4H
 
Squisher

Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
21,204
66
91
It's amazing the members here that pour over car reviews talking about this cars numbers over that cars numbers then go out and destroy their cars handling by increasing the rolling resistance.
 
mb

mb

Lifer
Jun 27, 2004
10,233
2
71
Originally posted by: Squisher
It's amazing the members here that pour over car reviews talking about this cars numbers over that cars numbers then go out and destroy their cars handling by increasing the rolling resistance.
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Yeah, because that's why cars like an M3 come with 15" wheels.
 
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bootymac

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2001
9,597
0
76
Originally posted by: Squisher
It's amazing the members here that pour over car reviews talking about this cars numbers over that cars numbers then go out and destroy their cars handling by increasing the rolling resistance.
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I seriously don't think the "rolling resistance" is significant enough to DESTROY our handling :roll:
 
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dethman

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
10,263
3
76
Originally posted by: Squisher
It's amazing the members here that pour over car reviews talking about this cars numbers over that cars numbers then go out and destroy their cars handling by increasing the rolling resistance.
Click to expand...

my 18" rims DESTROY my M3's handling. so do the optional 19"s. i must have the worst handling car in the world. let me put on 13 inchers.
 
Nebor

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
Saying the a police car is a "high performance" go fast car is ridiculous. Any car costing over $20,000 these days will outaccelerate and outhandle a police car. Police cars are utilitarian, big, comfy to sit in all day, and room enough to throw some perps in the back seat. Why someone would want to drive one around is beyond me. Why not drive a paddy wagon? A tank?

18" wheels provide performance gains, that's why you'll find them on the world's most performance oriented vehicles (BMW M3 CSL.) In performance applications, they are lighter than their 17" counterparts, and they're stronger than most others as well. Take a look at BBS or HRE wheels. They're light, strong, big, and look great. They provide the performance wheels for companies like BMW, Saab, Volvo, Ferrari and others.

If you live in a place with bad weather, you need winter wheels and tires. If you live in a place with bad roads, use a decent size sidewall. Where I live, there aren't any potholes or imperfect roads. I've got one car on 17"s, one on 18"s and a truck on 18"s. I've never damaged any of them!

If you want to drive a land yacht with 15" donuts, be my guest. You can drive over curbs, I'm happy for you. But when all those 5 gallon water containers fall off the water truck, and you have to swerve, your tires are going to FOLD. I've seen it happen, and I've felt it happen. When the sidewall rolls, you are screwed.
 
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Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
Originally posted by: Nebor
Saying the a police car is a "high performance" go fast car is ridiculous.

Nobody said that. Another illiterate, I guess...

...In performance applications...

Yes, performance applications. Happens all the time on your daily commute, eh? :roll:

If you live in a place with bad weather, you need winter wheels and tires. If you live in a place with bad roads, use a decent size sidewall. Where I live, there aren't any potholes or imperfect roads. I've got one car on 17"s, one on 18"s and a truck on 18"s. I've never damaged any of them!

I've noticed the people who baby their vehicles the most over curbs and speed bumps, are driving heavy duty trucks! Coincidence?

If you want to drive a land yacht with 15" donuts, be my guest. You can drive over curbs, I'm happy for you.

The highway patrol vehicles, which are allowed and required to travel at high speed, do so without thin sidewalls. It's all about form, and NOTHING to do with function, so don't even drag that up again. Nobody on this board needs more "performance" than a lowly cop cruiser, unless they're on a track.

But when all those 5 gallon water containers fall off the water truck, and you have to swerve, your tires are going to FOLD.

I'll, I'll be watching for that. :roll: In the 30 years I've been driving, it hasn't happened yet. Not the water off a truck, or tires rolling under. That even includes a few years of bias ply tires! BTW, I lost my licence twice due to speding tickets, so it's not like these things were babied at all.

I've seen it happen, and I've felt it happen. When the sidewall rolls, you are screwed.

Yeah, I'll be watching for that, too!
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bootymac

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2001
9,597
0
76
Originally posted by: Nebor
Saying the a police car is a "high performance" go fast car is ridiculous. Any car costing over $20,000 these days will outaccelerate and outhandle a police car. Police cars are utilitarian, big, comfy to sit in all day, and room enough to throw some perps in the back seat. Why someone would want to drive one around is beyond me. Why not drive a paddy wagon? A tank?

18" wheels provide performance gains, that's why you'll find them on the world's most performance oriented vehicles (BMW M3 CSL.) In performance applications, they are lighter than their 17" counterparts, and they're stronger than most others as well. Take a look at BBS or HRE wheels. They're light, strong, big, and look great. They provide the performance wheels for companies like BMW, Saab, Volvo, Ferrari and others.

If you live in a place with bad weather, you need winter wheels and tires. If you live in a place with bad roads, use a decent size sidewall. Where I live, there aren't any potholes or imperfect roads. I've got one car on 17"s, one on 18"s and a truck on 18"s. I've never damaged any of them!

If you want to drive a land yacht with 15" donuts, be my guest. You can drive over curbs, I'm happy for you. But when all those 5 gallon water containers fall off the water truck, and you have to swerve, your tires are going to FOLD. I've seen it happen, and I've felt it happen. When the sidewall rolls, you are screwed.
Click to expand...

/thread :thumbsup:

Edit: But Ornery does have a point. In everyday real life, larger diametre wheels are more for looks than performance. I've never ran larger wheels with stock suspension before, so I can't really say how the handling will differ.
 
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