Let's talk about wheels.

"55Buick, Oversteer Scientist" (55Buick) 02/11/2014 at 06:15 • Filed to: Wheellopnik

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Wheel sizes, to be specific. Usually, (or so I hear) bigger wheels come along with a harsher ride and other bad things. But at least to me, they look so much better!

As an example, the Tesla Model S comes with either 19 or 21 inch wheels. The 19s look too small to me, but the 21s are probably worse riding. Which do you choose? Personally, I'd choose the 21s because they look so much better and the ride probably isn't all that bad. So what does Oppo think? Looks or comfort?

Also, this is a scheduled post, so I probably won't be responding until 7:30amPST/10:30amEST

Hermann > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 02/11/2014 at 06:19

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Depends on the car. The tesla looks much better with the 21s.

But on many other cars, what bothers me isn't wheel size, but how much rubber is around them. I hate when cars have low profile tires. I think it looks horrible.

JDIGGS > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 02/11/2014 at 06:31

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1)uncomfortable

2) can make the car reactive over bumps

3) tire cost per inch goes up BIG BUCKs

4) Often more unsprung weight.

= not worth it

Saf1 > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 02/11/2014 at 07:01

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I like smaller rims as I like the 90s era of cars, on most cars inculidng the Tesla. Like chrome rims, very few cars can actually pull off big rims and low profile tyres. For me tyre width is what I like most in wheels, I just love the sweet, luscious arse of a Supra with its stock 265s, even for a big car like it it works, let alone the lovely 305+ you see on the other great cars

PRBot II > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 02/11/2014 at 07:21

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Those turbine wheels. Yes please.

yamahog > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 02/11/2014 at 07:23

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15in all the way!

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 02/11/2014 at 07:27

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I used 20" on my CLS. As long as i keep the airmatic on soft it's feels okay. Perfectly comfortable to wafting arround while you keep the looks.

heliochrome85 > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 02/11/2014 at 07:32

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Just depends on the car. If we are talking a sports car, 18-19 is the sweet spot for weight, however the 20s would be an acceptable option without too much alteration of the ride. For luxury cars, i like <20 because the ride sacrifices.

Alex87f > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 02/11/2014 at 07:47

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I love the Tesla with those wheels, but a 4 500$ extra for them? Wow, that's a bit steep.

You can also have the model S with those 19" wheels:

But quite frankly, if I were in the market for a model S, I'd want the 21".

Are they too big? Yes, but the car is designed in a way that requires large rims.

Meatcoma > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 02/11/2014 at 08:22

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I have 18" all seasons and 21" summer tires for my Camaro and I can tell you without a doubt the 21" tires while more sticky are also a much rougher ride than the 18".

The highway I drive to work was under construction recently and I would have to slow down to 10mph to traverse the bumps on my 21" wheels and it still felt like an 8 inch drop off, when winter hit I was able to traverse them at 45mph and was barely noticeable.

The 21" wheels look SOOO much better but if your roads are not smooth or at least maintained very well, go with the smaller wheels.

Edit: Also the cost between my 18" and the 21" is like $200 per tire difference, which makes no sense since there is less material and hence they wear out faster. Damn big corporations.

Nibbles > yamahog 02/11/2014 at 08:56

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I'm a member of the 15'' club too!

TALL SIDEWALL MASTER RACE 4LYFE YO

Audi-os, amigos > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 02/11/2014 at 09:20

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My buddy drives a 2004 Acura RL 3.5, a big beautiful boat of a luxury car, seen below. He had after-market 20" rims put on it, loved them, had them for a year and a half, then went back to the factory 18" because the ride was just too rough.

So yes, it's a real phenomenon.

Textured Soy Protein > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 02/11/2014 at 10:51

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The car companies have pushed toward gigantic diameter, not particularly wide wheels on too many cars, and it sucks.

You see econoboxes and family sedans coming standard with 18" to 20" wheels but they're only like 7-8" wide. You don't get any more grip because the tire's not any wider, and the suspension has to work that much harder to control the movement of the heavy-ass wheel. Then when it comes time to buy new tires, you have to pay that much more for the way too big tires.

I understand having bigger wheels in performance cars in order to clear the brakes, but on regular cars there are a lot of downsides for having that "better" (to some) look.

gt6xxer > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 02/11/2014 at 10:52

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For an image of the perfect wheel/car combination, search Miata 15x9 6UL. Especially with a 225/45/15 tire.

Those are awesome proportions for looks and performance combined.

/Biased opinion

Milky > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 02/11/2014 at 12:42

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Yea I'm biased but I like the wheel wells proportionally filled with rim.