[s-cars] Wheel/tire performance - how different between wheel sizes?

[lee at wheelman.com]

Mike writes:

> I'd like a little re-assurance I'm doing the right thing here.  
> I'm
> about to get my '93 5 spoke 16x8's refinished.  Before I do, any
> opinions about the relative performance of a high-end low profile 
> tire
> in a 16" size vs. a 17" or 18" tire?  I doubt it's that big of a
> difference, certainly not enough to warrant switching to bigger 
> wheels
> considering the roads I have to drive on around here (NH).

I ran a set of 245/45 16" Toyo TS-1s on the 16x8 wheels. Then I 
switched to the same tire in a 255/40 17" size on a set of 17x8 
wheels.

Yes, there's a difference. The 16" wheels gave a bit of a fat, 
floaty ride in comparison to the 17"s. Not bad, per se...but the 
17"s were clearly superior. The Toyos ride great, so there was 
little to no degradation in ride quality, but the handling got 
better.

Better enough that the soft rear became obvious and I had to 
install the HSRB. That solved the rear problem.

This was on a car with Eibachs and Bilsteins, btw.

Oh, and also, your 16x8" wheels are too wide for snow tire use, 
particularly in NH. you want a 16x7 wheel with 205/55 16" snow 
tires. Anything wider and your snow traction will go downhill.

Lee