Differences between 16, 17, 18's? - Drifting forum

docwra · 08-07-2008, 09:45

Ive decided its time to finally bite the bullet and 5 stud the S13 - its silly having one car 5 stud and one 4 stud.

Its raised a question with me though - obviously Ill have to be getting in some new rims, but dont know whether to go for 16, 17 or 18's.

It drives me up the fricking wall when Im looking for 17's in some old tyre pile that there are always at least 6 perfect 16's .......... but does a 17 give a bit more grip? Ive only drifted on decent 18's once, but they are even worse to find ......... and I dont really want to be paying for tyres

Whaddyareckon? Would a 16x9 offer as much grip as a 17x9, or even an 18x9

royal · 08-07-2008, 09:56

I'll be interested to see what people think as well. I always run 16s as they are so easy to get for free. When I first started it was a right load of hassle trying to find 17s for the Rex, but doing Lydden the other day made me realise how important grip is at high speeds.
17s usually seem to be in lower profile though so not sure if there's any benefit overall?

Jord · 08-07-2008, 11:05

I ran 17"s rather than 18"s simply because I find getting 17"s REALLY easy now. Most manufacturers have 17" wheels on a large number of their models now, usually widths are 225/45 minimum so finding tyres is easy. Finding decent width 16"s might be trickier?

LiGhTnInG · 08-07-2008, 11:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by docwra

It drives me up the fricking wall when Im looking for 17's in some old tyre pile that there are always at least 6 perfect 16's

Save em for me

initial_j · 08-07-2008, 11:28

id say 16s ftw, as there much easier to get hold of, since ive started running 17s ive found it harder to find rubber. however wheel wise, theres a lot more decent width/offset 17s then there are 16's.

i need to go 5 stud soon, as decent size 4 stud wheels are pretty rare (though i have a set of 4 stud buddy clubs

initial_j · 08-07-2008, 11:29

oh and does this mean you got some nice 4 studs for sale docwra? ; )

topi · 08-07-2008, 11:45

Depends on a lot of stuff. Suspension, weight on the back end etc. You can run 18 x 10s with 285 tyres on there, but if you've got alot camber then only a bit of it will be touching the floor anyway ha.
I use 15s, and suprised how grippy they feel!

lsd32 · 08-07-2008, 11:55

i use 176s 17s and 18s whatever i can get my hands on,i have a cheap paair of each size wheel.i think that the grip on all the sizes is fine plus i can take any tyre i can find

docwra · 08-07-2008, 12:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by initial_j

oh and does this mean you got some nice 4 studs for sale docwra? ; )

4 stud, yeah. For sale, probably. Nice .......... perhaps

The reason Ive been thinking about this was at the last pod day I went out with 245/17 Toyos, and then 225/18 brand new Toyos and the difference in grip was bloody excellente.

Good point on the widths tho Jord - I really need 225+ nowadays and I dont know that you get many 16's like that ....... lsd, do you find different amounts of grip from the different sizes?

lsd32 · 08-07-2008, 12:24

well i find that the 16s have a lot less grip that the 17s but im running standard power with a rb20 so its fine for me,less grip suits on long bends and transitions,i have to clutch kick alot more with the 17s or 18s

tech · 08-07-2008, 12:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by royal

17s usually seem to be in lower profile though so not sure if there's any benefit overall?

Lower profile helps eliminate tyre wall flex I believe

pizzaboy · 08-07-2008, 14:29

I had 18x9s with 225/40/18s (actually I still have them oops) and now have 17x9.5 with 225/45/17s and found there wasn't too much of a difference tbh. I suppose it's really down to a combination of factors such as your suspension setup, power output and type of tyre you choose to fit. Bear in mind some have stiff sidewalls some don't, different heat ratings etc you get the idea.

The main reason I went for 17s is same as Jord, the tyres are really easy to get hold of. More so than than 18s. I can't comment on 16s as i've never had them.

**SteveC200** · 08-07-2008, 19:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by docwra

It drives me up the fricking wall when Im looking for 17's in some old tyre pile that there are always at least 6 perfect 16's

You want to try looking in my back garden then, how long will 20 odd 17s last you?

You might be able to find plenty of 16s but I bet none are over 205 width.

Stick with 17s at least as 225s and wider are easy to find.

08-07-2008, 09:45	#1 (permalink)
docwra dorifto kingu! Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2,487	Differences between 16, 17, 18's? Ive decided its time to finally bite the bullet and 5 stud the S13 - its silly having one car 5 stud and one 4 stud. Its raised a question with me though - obviously Ill have to be getting in some new rims, but dont know whether to go for 16, 17 or 18's. It drives me up the fricking wall when Im looking for 17's in some old tyre pile that there are always at least 6 perfect 16's .......... but does a 17 give a bit more grip? Ive only drifted on decent 18's once, but they are even worse to find ......... and I dont really want to be paying for tyres Whaddyareckon? Would a 16x9 offer as much grip as a 17x9, or even an 18x9

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08-07-2008, 09:56	#2 (permalink)
royal S1- F.T break! Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 4,177	I'll be interested to see what people think as well. I always run 16s as they are so easy to get for free. When I first started it was a right load of hassle trying to find 17s for the Rex, but doing Lydden the other day made me realise how important grip is at high speeds. 17s usually seem to be in lower profile though so not sure if there's any benefit overall?

08-07-2008, 11:05	#3 (permalink)
Jord GRD Drift Club Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Peterborough Posts: 7,766	I ran 17"s rather than 18"s simply because I find getting 17"s REALLY easy now. Most manufacturers have 17" wheels on a large number of their models now, usually widths are 225/45 minimum so finding tyres is easy. Finding decent width 16"s might be trickier?

08-07-2008, 11:28	#5 (permalink)
initial_j has issues.. Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canterbury yo! Posts: 4,399	id say 16s ftw, as there much easier to get hold of, since ive started running 17s ive found it harder to find rubber. however wheel wise, theres a lot more decent width/offset 17s then there are 16's. i need to go 5 stud soon, as decent size 4 stud wheels are pretty rare (though i have a set of 4 stud buddy clubs

08-07-2008, 11:29	#6 (permalink)
initial_j has issues.. Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canterbury yo! Posts: 4,399	oh and does this mean you got some nice 4 studs for sale docwra? ; )

08-07-2008, 11:45	#7 (permalink)
topi Shh Cha Muhf Join Date: May 2005 Location: Leicestershire/Derby Posts: 4,109	Depends on a lot of stuff. Suspension, weight on the back end etc. You can run 18 x 10s with 285 tyres on there, but if you've got alot camber then only a bit of it will be touching the floor anyway ha. I use 15s, and suprised how grippy they feel!

08-07-2008, 11:55	#8 (permalink)
lsd32 touge runner Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: wexford,ireland Posts: 178	i use 176s 17s and 18s whatever i can get my hands on,i have a cheap paair of each size wheel.i think that the grip on all the sizes is fine plus i can take any tyre i can find

08-07-2008, 12:24	#10 (permalink)
lsd32 touge runner Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: wexford,ireland Posts: 178	well i find that the 16s have a lot less grip that the 17s but im running standard power with a rb20 so its fine for me,less grip suits on long bends and transitions,i have to clutch kick alot more with the 17s or 18s

08-07-2008, 14:29	#12 (permalink)
pizzaboy splendiferous Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Glasgow Posts: 1,088	I had 18x9s with 225/40/18s (actually I still have them oops) and now have 17x9.5 with 225/45/17s and found there wasn't too much of a difference tbh. I suppose it's really down to a combination of factors such as your suspension setup, power output and type of tyre you choose to fit. Bear in mind some have stiff sidewalls some don't, different heat ratings etc you get the idea. The main reason I went for 17s is same as Jord, the tyres are really easy to get hold of. More so than than 18s. I can't comment on 16s as i've never had them.