wheels and tires...im lost

[white97ex]

well it is time to get new tires....so i am just going to get new wheels while im at it. im looking at a few different rims. either the 5zigen fighters, kosei k1, or centerline rpm's. in either 16 or 17. now here are my questions. i want to maintain as close to stock wheel circumference as possible. anyone know what tire sizes to use on the 16 and 17 inch rims? as for 16's or 17's. the roads around here aren't exactly smooth. tons of potholes....should i go with 16's to have the extra little bit of sidewall. or would 17's be fine. i'm going for looks and performance. so i want to either match or undercut my wheel weight. preferably undercut. i beleive these 3 rims will accomplish that...with the exception of the fighters...not sure if they are light weight or not. any help would be greatly appreciated

[3SGTE]

White97ex, this is the talk I like to hear. Performance over show appeal. I found this site on the mr2 website for calculating wheel circumference: http://www.mr2.com/FORMS/tire.html You just need to type the correct information and it will give you a list of tire sizes and thier % error to the stock size. But I think u need to go with 205/45/16, or 205/40/17. As for mathing or undercutting your stock weight, those rims should accomplish that except the fighter may weigh more than you would like. I'm gonna guess about 18-20 lbs fer a 17 inch fighter, but you can always call discount tire direct and ask them the wheel weight for this rim. I do it all the time . But I suggest you go with 15's IF your streets are as pothole ridden as you say. You can run a 205/50/15 (more sidewall), and the lighter rim and tire will probably undercut your stock wheel weights. But its all up to you.
Oh, and you can also find lighter tires too-- just ask discount tire or tirerack.


Good Luck
Maurice

[CivicSiRacer]

If you have alot of potholes in your area I would go with 16x7" and 205/45x16" tires. 17s wil definitely slow your car down and suck up more gas.

I personally would go with 15x7" and 205/50x15" tires but that's up to you.

[white97ex]

how will 17's slow the car and hurt gas milage.......the circumference will be within 1-2% of stock, and they weigh less...less weight results in less rotating mass. less rotating mass results in quicker acceleration and better gas milage cause the engine isn't having to work as hard to spin the wheels.....

[CivicSiRacer]

Originally posted by white97ex
how will 17's slow the car and hurt gas milage.......the circumference will be within 1-2% of stock, and they weigh less...less weight results in less rotating mass. less rotating mass results in quicker acceleration and better gas milage cause the engine isn't having to work as hard to spin the wheels.....

They may weigh less but the weight is pushed further out from the center of the wheel. Take two bricks and attach them to a tricycle wheel. Spinning that is easier than if you put the same two bricks (considering the wheels weigh the same) on a bicycle wheel (26"). It take more energy to spin the bicycle wheel with bricks on it. Also a wider contact patch has more friction (good for cornering and stopping), but bad cause now you have more rolling resistance.

[white97ex]

this is true..but the majority of the weight is contained in the belt/tread of the tire which is at the most outer edge of the wheel tire combo....and by keeping the same circumference (or as close as possible) the majority of the weight is still at the same point. sure, teh outside of the rim is being pushed out further. but it isn't going to make the vast difference you imply. i feel the difference will be counter acted by the drop in weight. but, after all the discussion, i think im going with 16's to prevent ruining a rim or 4 or 5. on the potholes