I like smaller wheels, maybe?

Hey;
The other day I put my little 14" rims that came with the car back on for the winter. I'm getting some new basic cheap ass winter tires for those. Now, I know that bigger rims cause you to lose some power, but with the smaller ones on, it feels like there's a HUGE amount of power that is being unleashed. My Enkeis are 17s with low profiles, and with those on there's nowhere as much power as the 14s. Also when shifting, it goes into gear MUCH much easier with the little ones on. It pops into gear each and everytime perfectly and the pull is just more bad ass now.

Sure the little ones are ugly as hell, but I'm thinking I may keep those on even after the winter. I may sell the Enkeis, and get like a 16" rim (black with lip), and some great tires for that then. What do you think? Should I do that?

I wouldnt get a lip on my rims if they were any smaller than 18". A lip on 16" rims will make the rims look even smaller. I say get some lightweight 16" 'regular' rims. BTW, when I say regualr I mean no lip, lol.

If your goal is pure performance, you want to get as small rims as possible with as low profile tires as possible. Forget about comfort and fuel economy, though...

My vote: 15" .... bah, name escapes me. I'll be back with the model/brand.

15 is too small IMO. Performance is a must, but I want it to look decent too. Driving around on stockers looks bad. IDK what to do. lol

Of couse you'll feel a big difference when you go 3" smaller. Are your stockers and 17's both the same overall diamater (with tires)? That may be a problem too, if the 17's are larger you could be losing quite a bit of HP trying to turn those big wheels. But think about it, if you do go with 16's, that's only 1 inch smaller than 17's, if that's the case, you might as well stick with the 17's because the difference in look is pretty drastic I think, and you'll be gaining quite a bit more looks with very little HP loss compared to the 16's.

I dont think I can go less then 16 on my awd ?

The rims are a full inch wider than the stockers. They're fatties. Maybe a little more too. Maybe I should sell both sets, then get a 16 that arent that wide. Maybe? IDK.

I think Eclipses with well chosen "small" wheels look pretty good.

I'd have to say I lost a lot of wheelspin when I went from 15's (stock) to 17's... but the car is now controllable and seems to launch faster. I still have the same height as factory (low profiles) so I didn't have to play around with switching the damn speedometer gears...

^oh, and my wheels are wider than stock (IIRC)

Sry, I forgot you're running the 420 (no offense, but I had a huge problem with wheelspin/hop)

Sry, I forgot you're running the 420 (no offense, but I had a huge problem with wheelspin/hop)

Ohhhhhhh. Thems be fighting words, lol. Seriously though at this point, I am pretty sure david too is suffering from wheelspin.

Ohhhhhhh. Thems be fighting words, lol. Seriously though at this point, I am pretty sure david too is suffering from wheelspin.

See my thing is, I know how to drive :icon16:

Wouldnt it be better to go with light 15 inch rims with some meaty ass tires! Something good for traction at the track!

Oooooh shit! :lol:

I was thinking about Rota Slipstreams, light as hell. And its not overall weight nor diameter than is the problem with bigger rims, its the moment of inertia. I would sit and explain it, but some of it escapes me, I have a horrible professor. If you want more info google it up.

why not just stock GST rims? i like mine... good size, look good... not REALLY heavy... and i got pleanty of grip :bs: but they look good! and they are light! i just want them to be wider... or wider tires i dont know?

Not trying to steal the thread or anything, but what are the biggest tires i could put on the stock GST rims?

245-40-16 matrax makes a pritty goodo tire for the money

I love the stock rims like black99gst got. If I can find a great set of those I would trade or buy. Those have always been sweet looking IMO.

I didn't mean them as fighting words. I just assume the 420 wouldn't have as big a problem as I did on stockers (previous owner would burn them the whole 1/8 mile track)... (We smoked the old tires off the rims before we put the new ones on...)

I'd have to say I like the Tires I have... Riken Raptors (AA traction) and they grip great, in both wet/dry (haven't tested them in snow...

I would like to go with some 15" lightweight mesh wheels and Hoosier slicks on all 4 when the Eagle is ready to race.

I would like to go with some 15" lightweight mesh wheels and Hoosier slicks on all 4 when the Eagle is ready to race.

If that comment was directed towards me, I have a FWD Turbo... I'd keep something stock size (and light as hell) on the rear... b/c anything else would be pointless

I have seen a 2g on Weld draglites and dragradials on the front. Looked hot.

I imagine you do see some performance gain when running your factory wheels. And its not just about the added tire size (if any) but the weight difference.

Example. My car came with the factory 16's and some craptastic 205/55 tires (i think). Anyways I swapped them for my 18" Falkens w/ AA traction 225/40 r18. I went with this tire size so that the tire would be the same height as the factory tire despite the added 2 inches of wheel. And even though the new combo is the same height as the factories, my car still runs 2mph slower in the 1/4 mile with the 18's than it does with the factory 16's, from the added weight. But I could care less, its looked 1098095934 times better, so I'll take the 2mph loss.

i want 18s but i would only want rims the same style thats already on my DSM... so... i just keep these...

I imagine you do see some performance gain when running your factory wheels. And its not just about the added tire size (if any) but the weight difference.

Example. My car came with the factory 16's and some craptastic 205/55 tires (i think). Anyways I swapped them for my 18" Falkens w/ AA traction 225/40 r18. I went with this tire size so that the tire would be the same height as the factory tire despite the added 2 inches of wheel. And even though the new combo is the same height as the factories, my car still runs 2mph slower in the 1/4 mile with the 18's than it does with the factory 16's, from the added weight. But I could care less, its looked 1098095934 times better, so I'll take the 2mph loss.

that weight is called unsprung weight... it slows you down... only a bit, but still... I prefer dropping weight when adding rims... I like my rims light, makes for a quicker tire change, and quicker off the line, probably better MPG (just an assumption)...

David if your interested, i have a set of rims i'll let go for $100+shipping, all four rims, no cracks, no scratches, 15", only problem with them is that I only have 2 of the center caps, and no tires... i can post up pics if you want. let me know!