Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Please note that it is not permitted to have referral links posted in your signature. Keep these links contained in the appropriate forum. Thank you.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2055940817/signature-rules

Differences between alloys sizes

Options
  • 26-01-2008 8:46pm
    #1
    Sandwich
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,253 ✭✭✭


    Looking at a car which can come with 16, 17 or 18" alloys.

    What are the practical differences (ie. not cost or aesthetics) between each?

    Im guessing:
    The bigger the wheel
    1) the better the handling
    2) the higher the road noise
    3) the worse the fuel economy
    4) the more the vulnerability to pothole/kerb damage

    Or is it more complicated?


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    TomMc
    Registered Users Posts: 1,616 ✭✭✭TomMc


    More or less when tyres are also changed to lower profile ones to have the right rolling circumferance etc.. Less comfort - i.e. poorer ride quality (in most cars) and the more expensive the tyres.


  • Options
    #3
    maidhc
    Registered Users Posts: 7,660 ✭✭✭maidhc


    Sandwich wrote: »
    Or is it more complicated?

    All that + a shorter life expectancy for your wheel bearings.


  • Options
    #4
    McSandwich
    Closed Accounts Posts: 593 ✭✭✭McSandwich


    I always thought that smaller wheels gave better handling, especially on corners - the reason ambulances have small wheels.

    Also, wouldn't smaller wheels result in more bearing wear as they spin faster? [edit] or maybe thats more tyre wear.. [/edit]


  • Options
    #5
    Niall1234
    Closed Accounts Posts: 425 ✭✭Niall1234


    Its the weight of the wheel that is all important. Small gains in making the wheel lighter ads to big gains in handling.

    Taking a KG off the weight of each wheel will give far more handling improvement over taking 4KG off the chassis.

    Larger wheels give a harder ride as the tyre itself must be small to keep the same wheel circumference.


  • Options
    #6
    Sandwich
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,253 ✭✭✭Sandwich


    Thanks for the contributions.

    Two further queries:
    - Are speedo calibrations ever adjusted for changes in wheel/tyre diameter? Only 1% or 2% difference so Im guessing not.
    - Do you get longer tyre life from a 215 than a 205, all else being equal?


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #7
    Swinging Looney
    Closed Accounts Posts: 217 ✭✭Swinging Looney


    Don't mean to hijack your thread Sandwich! But just wondering if anyone can tell me what kind of difference in mpg you might expect between a 225 and a 205 tyre?


Advertisement