17 inch Vs. 18 inch wheels: Which is better?
Our Question of the Week this week is, which is better, 17 inch wheels or 18 inch wheels?
When the time comes to pick new wheels for your Subaru, one of the questions that comes up often is whether or not you want to stay with the size wheel that your car came with, or go to a different size.
Most commonly for WRX or STI owners, this means looking at 17 inch or 18 inch wheels. So which is better?
Jon and Dylan talk about when it might be better to stick with the same size wheel, and when you may be better off or need to step up to a larger wheel and tire.
Thanks for watching and Stay Tuned!
In this episode:
00:00 - Intro
00:35 - Key differences between a 17in and 18in wheel
01:09 - Do you need a larger wheel? Or do you want a larger wheel?
01:38 - Going with a bigger Brake Kit may require larger wheels
01:49 - For Rally applications, you will likely need a smaller 15" wheel
02:13 - Why factoring in original tire circumference is important
04:08 - How does tire size effect tire cost?
05:25 - What about Snow tires?
06:01 - If you want to run wider tires, you may have to go with larger diameter wheels
07:37 - Final thoughts on wheel size
08:20 - We need your questions!
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Have 245/40/17 wrapped on RPF1s on my GD, love the way it grips now
Nice! going to be doing the same on RC-T5's. Definitely a solid setup for the GD. Thanks for watching and Stay Tuned!
On my bugeye I currently have 18s with a 225/40 tyre that came on the car when I bought it but I'm thinking of dropping down to 17's just to get tyres more readily and UK roads can be more potholes than solid road 😂 but this video has given me some info to think about
Nice! If you have any questions don't hesitate to reach out. Stay Tuned!
in my experience, Weight and Offset are the two most noticeable metrics that contribute to performance, ride, and handling... wrong offset and the vehicles scrub radius gets all out of spec and it's tracking the ruts in the road like a record player... inexpensive heavy wheels regardless of diameter have a great adverse effect on the suspension's ability to stay lively and work smooth and actively... Lowest weight you can afford at the correct offset
245/40/17 on my GD. speedo is off a bit. would go 255 if the tire didnt rub my rear strut. might run a small spacer and extended studs..
For example gr86brz: Their oem size is 215/45/18, should i go for 235/40/18 or step down to 245/40/17?
Fun fact, changing from a 215/60/r16 @24.5lbs (rims without tires) each stock tire size on my 04 Forester to the current 245/45/r18's @ 18.95lbs (rims without tires) each on rpf1's resulted in an almost identical overall tire size, so about a 1mph difference in speed, but I never speed so that's not an issue for me. Best handling (and braking) upgrade bang for buck so far for my DD. Not a bad unsprung weight reduction either.
Nice! It can absolutely be done. And since the Forester XT has taller tires, it is definitely easier to find the appropriate 18" wheel and tire combo. Definitely a good handling upgrade for sure🙂 Thanks for watching and Stay Tuned!
I'm sure this was mentioned, but don't forget rotational mass. It take more engine power to rotate a larger rim/tire
Depends what they’re made of
What are y’all’s opinion on the 04-05 STi BBS wheels? I run them on my VA and I absolutely love them, super comfy and strong. I have a used set right now, but hoping to get an original-new oem set soon.
Thanks for your question. They are awesome for sure. Finding a set of new ones may be pretty tricky at this point. Thanks for watching and Stay Tuned!
I'd love to see a video on alignments. With adjustable arms, what's a good starting point there?
That is a good suggestion. I'll add it to the list. Thanks for watching and Stay Tuned!
17's with more sidewall is my preference
I agree. If you can make a small tire work, there is a lot of grip in those smaller tires. 295's are pretty nice too 🙂 Thanks for watching and Stay Tuned!
245 40 zr17 pilot sport 4s are beautifully crafted
@@mrtitanium427 Totally agree. Have them on my BMW. Michelin is making the best tires right now next to Hoosier.
Ok fifi
@@ballzzinyourmouth8 TROLOLOLOLOLOL
Thanks for the greats videos. Did you drive GC8 with 16 and 17? 205 50 16 vs 215 40 17? If yes, could you tell us your opinions? Thanks
I had 2 sets of 225/45/17s on my GC8, Version 7 STi wheels and 5x100 2004 STi BBS wheels. No rubbing at all, on non modified fenders. This looks the best and felt the best with some 200 treadwear tires. I had to sell those wheels, but am now running 5 spoke Goldies with 205/55/16s. The 16s are on some non sporty spec Michelins with a 600 treadwear though.
For a GC and GD I prefer 17”s, on a GR and VA I think 18”s suit the chassis better. My question of the week is- My transmission started making noise, what should I do next? Currently I’m going through some troubles on my JDM Legacy 6 speed when shifting into fourth. My first step is a fluid change, but if that doesn’t fix it I’m wondering if I should either send it off to be rebuilt, purchase another used 6 speed, or bite the bullet and purchase new.
That is a good question, and I'll add it to the list for sure! Thanks for watching and Stay Tuned!
I got 2011 Honda accord se on 245/45/R18
I got a 2007 Impreza STI and would love your guy's recommendations Currently running 235/45/17 RE003 and changing to AR1s for track days. i get can the AR1s for the same price in the 17s and 18s. is it worth me buying 18-inch rims just to run a bigger tyre of is the difference not that significant.
Thanks for your question! If the cost is the same for the tires, then I would say look a bit further down the line. If you get 18" tires, then you need teh 18" wheels. And you say that you are tracking your car, maybe a fair amount. Do you want to track the car more? And do you think that you will need to upgrade your brakes if you do that? And there are benefits from going with bigger brakes regardless. I'd choose based on that. If you are completely comfortable with your brakes as they are, and they are working well for what you are doing with the car, stick with the 17's. If you see the need or benefit from stepping up to a larger brake system, then get the 18" wheels now (make sure they will clear large calipers) so you will be ready when you take that next step. Hope that helps and thanks for watching. Stay Tuned!
My stock is 17 inch wheels, now im running 15 inch enkei rally wheels with 205/65R15 tires. Rally wheels are just awesome IMHO😄
Rally wheels are really awesome for sure. Thanks for watching and Stay Tuned!
What are your thoughts on a oil filter bypass kit (ie. a 2nd oil filter)?
I wouldn't recommend adding that extra complexity. You should be fine with the stock location filter for most applications. Thanks for watching and Stay Tuned!
quick question my 2017 maxima came with 18s and I switched them out with 17in Sebring's that I had . I did do an alignment, and they said it had a bit of negative camber but when I drive 70mph it shakes. should I go back to 18s any recommendations .
Thanks for your question. Just changing the wheel size, that would not have any effect on your camber, so that would likely be an alignment issue. As for the shaking, that most likely indicates that the wheels and tires need to be balanced again. Hope that helps and Stay Tuned!
@@FlatironsTuning thanks for the reply, I did notice just now that I never got my wheels balanced after I took them off my previous vehicle.
Great video but important point is missed. 17s or 18s which size is faster
Well, that depends on a few other factors. But maybe we'll do a follow-up. Thanks for watching and Stay Tuned!
That's exactly what I'm trying to find out , I'm on 18s thinking to go 17s
Grassroots Motorsports tested this a few years ago with track times and there was no difference if I remember correctly. It wasn't a Subaru though, I think they tested this with a Miata of course.
Thanks for the comment! That is interesting, and I'll have to dig a little to see if we can find it. If it is just testing similar sizes on the same car with no other changes, it makes sense that the results would be similar. If you can go with a much larger tire, and then bigger brakes with the larger wheels, that is where the performance difference really starts to show up. That has been out experience. Thanks for watching and Stay Tuned!
@@FlatironsTuning yah they didn't change the brakes, they were just testing I think the difference between using like 15"-18" wheel and tire combos. But makes sense being able to use bigger brakes would make a difference.
15’s
Are wider tires and wheels better for racing? Also when and why do you need fender flares or wide body kits for the wider tires and wheels? What are some of the pros and cons of say 9, 10, or 11 inch wide tires?
Wider rims and tires if not a proper offset leverage suspension components and incrementally decrease longevity. The steering rack may not be prepared for the laterall loading either and you might encounter more shudder and shake through the wheel. Spacers are not always the best either. These are just my opinions though
In short, more grip means more loading. The first step is to know the outside diameter of the tire, and the steering angle knock to knock, and then the amount of suspension travel to determine if it's going to rub or not.
That is a good question. I'll add it to our list. Stay Tuned!
Dudes the subject is 17" 0r "18.
I wish I could run 275’s 😔
Short answer, 18's are best. 17's are too skinny for maximum grip
Thanks for watching and thanks for the comment. Stay Tuned!
You can find 17 and 18 inch tires in the same width.
Lol they can be the same width
18 wheel are heavier than 17s so how does that work for you
My heart wants 18" but my brain is telling me to stick with 17" . What to do?
There are lots of good 17" wheels and tires out there. Both good options, but maybe look at weight and cost. Thanks for watching and Stay Tuned!
🌸 Promo-SM!
Hello , My wheel roll circumference is much larger and the power is transmitted better, with 18x9j and 245/40 there is enough rubber and the vehicle is about 1cm higher than the original, which also has a better effect on bump steer... with kit and very low... the whole thing weighs 42.3 lbs , tires with rims ... I am very happy at 410 HP and 2866 lbs wet😊 Best Regards … Oliver ps. Twinscrollpower 🫶