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#1
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17" or 18" wheels
I'm looking at purchasing some new wheels for summer use. Should I get 17's or 18's? I found a very good set of almost new 235/45-17 tires. Pros and cons to each size?
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1997 Boudreaux LSi 1994 SVX LSi(SOLD) Kool Blue air filter, 4500k HID's, airbox mod, Hella horns, WRX 6 disc stereo, Infinity Reference and Clarion Pro Audio speakers, Infinity basslink sub, ECUtune Stage 1v5, ECUtune TCU, Power mode mod, Mad muffler mod v1.3 |
#2
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Re: 17" or 18" wheels
I'm running 235/45/17 on my '97 Bordeaux.
An advantage of 17s is you have a bit more tire to cushion the ride and impacts on rough roads. Around here that's a necessity. |
#3
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Re: 17" or 18" wheels
If you are after with visual improvement, then choose 18's.
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#4
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Re: 17" or 18" wheels
Wheel sizing is pretty subjective. I've had 17" STi wheel on the SVX for almost 10 years (wow, has it really been that long?!), but now that I own another car with 18's and have friends with 19's I'm starting to long for an upgrade.
In terms or pros/cons: 17" tires are a bit cheaper and have basically the same selection as the larger wheels, so performance gains from going up a size are minimal. 17" has a nominally taller sidewall giving you a more comfortable ride and better wheel protection from pot holes. 17" wheel/tire combo is theoretically lighter but only when comparing two of the same wheel and tire sets. There are big enough differences in weight between brands and styles of both wheels and tires that it's a crap shoot to try and guess. 18" offer better clearance if you ever want to do a big brake package. So I guess empirically 17's have the advantage. But really it's all about looks and whatever looks best to you.
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Chris 92 Ebony Mica LS-L "A Rolling Restoration": 223,250 KM - Sleeping 2007 STi 6MT, Stance GR+ coilovers, PWR Rad, JDM hood badge, svxfiles 6000K HIDs, JDM Clear Corners, $15/15 min mod, $20/20 min mod, Energy Swaybar Bushings, Hella Supertones horns, Gold STi BBS rims, Group A lightweight crank pulley, A/C system removed, Custom header-back exhaust, Hybrid carbon/metal rear sway bar, restored headlights with CCFL halos 2008 Subaru Legacy Spec B - Diamond Grey Metallic - Sold 2020 Ram 1500 Longhorn - Red Pearl |
#5
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Re: 17" or 18" wheels
I wanted to upgrade from the stock 16s, and since I'm a Craig's List junkie, I looked thru there for a set of larger wheels. What eliminated almost every wheel from consideration is the huge offset of the stock wheels. At +55mm, there are very few wheels out there from other cars that would work. A lot of Corvette wheels have a big offset like that, but their bolt pattern is different than the SVX. Mustang wheels might have the same bolt pattern, but their offset is no where near +55. Anything less than +55 is going to push the wheel out, and then you'll have to deal with possible fender rubbing at the top of the wheel well, along with inside the wheel well. There are lots of folks on here who are running wheels with less than +55 offset, so it can be done. I'd suggest playing around with different wheel/tire combos on a website like this, to get a better idea of fitment: https://www.wheel-size.com/calc/
After checking CL daily for a week or two, I found a set of wheels from a 2015 Honda Accord, 17x7.5, +55mm offset, and mounted 235/45 tires. I probably could've gotten away with 245/45s, but once I install the lowering springs, this setup should be fine. I'm also running 5mm spacers on the back.
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1997 Subaru SVX LSi Honda Accord wheels 17x7.5, 235/45s, 5mm rear wheel spacers; "3.3" and "AWD" badges on front fenders; AMR radiator/fans; lowering springs, s/s brake lines, drilled rotors; Stebro exhaust with quad tips, mid-muffler removed; tinted windows. |
#6
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Re: 17" or 18" wheels
18s look too big to me on the SVX.
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1992 LSL ebony pearl 170k - Thank you Ron Mummert Reading Box of Wine Car ----------------------------------- 1992 SVX LSL 5-Speed Sold at 180K 2019 1995 SVX Lsi Polo Sold at 118K 2007 |
#7
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Re: 17" or 18" wheels
it really depends on if you have a lowered car, 18's at stock height can look too big, but on lowered car it looks just right I believe.
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