[E-Slab]

18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful....

i have been asking you guys lately about your rims, and asked about sizes, etc., but i didnt get any responses, so i started this thread. i really want to get some HREs, but really dont know what size. if i get 18's i can do it fairly soon and throw in some rotors also, or i can wait it out a little and get 19's. any advantage to 19's besides the obvious, appearance? is there that big of difference b/w the 18 and 19 to really tell? before i spend the money i want to be certain i am happy with what i have. thanks in advance!

 

[Smokin]

Re: 18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful....

I like the look of 19's. There are other factors to consider though. Tires are more expensive, especially with the great deals you can get on 18" tires lately. There are no track tires available for 19's. So depending on how youplan on using hte car and what you do with your stock wheels, that may affect your decision. Personally I love my 19's and think the look is perfect. Ride quality is about the same. It just costs about $1000 more for the rims and another $1600 for the tires.

 

[vipernathan]

Re: 18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful....

With a bigger rim, you do give up some ride quality because you wil using a smaller tire. But if Smokin didn't notice a difference, then it just really depends on what you like better. What about a 18" up front/19" out back combo? Might look cool.

 

[Anthony - 98 GTS]

Re: 18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful....

With a bigger rim, you do give up some ride quality because you wil using a smaller tire. But if Smokin didn't notice a difference, then it just really depends on what you like better. What about a 18" up front/19" out back combo? Might look cool. <hr /></blockquote>

The rear 345/30/19" actually have the same sidewall height as the 18's and thus the reason they are 1" taller.

I went with 19's front and rear. I like the look and tire choices and prices will come down. You could even use the new SRT-10 run flat and ditch the spare tire and jack. :burn:

 

[Paolo Castellano]

Re: 18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful....

With a bigger rim, you do give up some ride quality because you wil using a smaller tire. But if Smokin didn't notice a difference, then it just really depends on what you like better. What about a 18" up front/19" out back combo? Might look cool. <hr /></blockquote>

From what I understand, the shorter sidewall that is part of the package deal with the larger rim diameter does not hook up as well as the stock 17's. Gary A can chime in here. I believe his car went faster at the VOI drags on the stock size 17" pilots as compared to his awesome 19's. I would probably opt for the 345/35/18's Scotty TOOOFAST likes the way those hook. But what do I know anyway, I have only driven the stock 17" pilots on the street anyway! 18" road race slicks at the track do not count for this discussion! Paolo

 

[Toby]

Re: 18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful....

With a bigger rim, you do give up some ride quality because you wil using a smaller tire. But if Smokin didn't notice a difference, then it just really depends on what you like better. What about a 18" up front/19" out back combo? Might look cool. <hr /></blockquote>

This would work as long as the sidewall height is the same or higher in the rear. It looks real silly having a lower profile tire on the rear and a taller one in the front.

 

[King GTS]

Re: 18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful..

Good question. IMO if you go with the 18", which is all I've ever wanted to get, just make sure the you have some type of loweing spring. The Eibach's are great.

 

[City]

Re: 18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful..

This is an excellent disucussion, thanks Red :thumb:
I too am always considering spending more $ /images/graemlins/freak3.gif
It would seem that there is a relatively new benefit that was mentioned above...run flats now available for the SRT can be run on my '01 RT with 19" HRE's (no spare would be excellent). The look of a filled wheel well is also a significant improvement.
However, the ride (to me) is noticably stiffer with 19" compared to 18".

I'm not too familiar with the new Mich 19" run flats. I recall somewhere that people were NOT as happy with them as the 18" Pilots. Has anyone run with them at VOI or elsewhere and'or heard first hand comments?

 

[APEX Motorsports]

Re: 18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful..

It's going to be a personal preference thing, really. Other than looks and filling out the wheel well, there's really no performance reason to go with 19s or even 18s. In general, a 17" wheel/tire will handle better than an 18" or 19", assuming the tire widths are the same and sidewalls are the same aspect ratio.
With the larger wheels comes higher wheel cost, higher tire cost, and more weight. But man, do they look good! /images/graemlins/gr_driving3.gif

 

[E-Slab]

Re: 18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful..

how much lower do the eibach's make the car?? i have a fairly sharp pitch on the end of my driveway that i clear now, but worried that any decent amount of lowering, i might have a problem...

 

[City]

Re: 18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful..

how much lower do the eibach's make the car?? i have a fairly sharp pitch on the end of my driveway that i clear now, but worried that any decent amount of lowering, i might have a problem... <hr /></blockquote>
RedSnake...boy do YOU have your priorities twisted!
MOVE!!! /images/graemlins/laughing.gif

 

[King GTS]

Re: 18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful..

how much lower do the eibach's make the car?? i have a fairly sharp pitch on the end of my driveway that i clear now, but worried that any decent amount of lowering, i might have a problem... <hr /></blockquote>

I had the Eibach's, not in the pic I posted for you but later, I just had to back out at an angle. No big deal. A definite must though if your going to stick with 18". Too much room within the wheel well.

 

[E-Slab]

Re: 18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful..

how much lower do the eibach's make the car?? i have a fairly sharp pitch on the end of my driveway that i clear now, but worried that any decent amount of lowering, i might have a problem... <hr /></blockquote>
RedSnake...boy do YOU have your priorities twisted!
MOVE!!! /images/graemlins/laughing.gif <hr /></blockquote>

no, that just means i HAVE to get 19's, bummer...

 

[Smokin]

Re: 18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful..

If people are wondering what 19s and eibachs look like. The pic of my car being loaded onto the transporter is it. I dont think ride quality suffers much because the sidewall of the rears hasnt changed significantly. The overall diameter of the rear tire/wheel actually increases (Your final drive ratio is slightly changed). THe front has a little less sidewall, but I couldnt notice that much of a change. I guess it depends onthe roads where you are. But the look is inpressive. I think it was worth EVERY DIME.

 

[E-Slab]

Re: 18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful..

so if the drive ratio is changed, what about the speedo? i know it isnt anything huge, but with a little larger diameter, the speedo will be a little off wont it?

 

[Anthony - 98 GTS]

Re: 18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful..

so if the drive ratio is changed, what about the speedo? i know it isnt anything huge, but with a little larger diameter, the speedo will be a little off wont it? <hr /></blockquote>

Speedo will be a little off - not enought to worry about. With my 3.45 rear gear and the 19's I think my final ratio is around 3.37.

 

[E-Slab]

Re: 18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful..

smokin i have a question, with the 19's and eibach's do your tires ever rub when you hit a bump or anything?

 

[Smokin]

Re: 18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful..

I wonder that myself. I havent hit a bump big enough for them to Rub, but I wonder what would happen if I did. I wont be able to answer that question for a while.

 

[King GTS]

Re: 18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful..

smokin i have a question, with the 19's and eibach's do your tires ever rub when you hit a bump or anything? <hr /></blockquote>

Depends on how fast you're goin when you go over the bump.

 

[GaryA]

Re: 18\'s or 19\'s, any POSITIVE responses helpful..

I have 19" Pirelli P-Zeroes all around on HRE 540s with Sean Roe's racing suspension (lowered 1"). That's probably the toughest combination for ride comfort but my car sticks pretty good on the corners and the ride isn't as bad as you might think.

Paulo's right though, for traction, the 17" setup is the best of all worlds for my car. I bought an extra set of wheels and tires specifically for the track, and for pimping around town I go with the 19s. Nothing beats the look of a lowered car with 19" wheels (IMHO!).

Good Luck!