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What downsides to using bigger rims (17/18”)

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UKPlymouth

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hi guys, lots of enthusiastic posts on folks fitting bigger rims and low profile rubber.
On reflection, any comments on how the car feels ref Road feel, tyre noise, traction, braking etc..
Just curious as I’ve considered going to bigger rims on my 73 Roadrunner.
Respectfully not interested in the ‘big rims don’t belong’ etc unless of course, it’s based on owner experience.
 
As long as you get the right back space and width there is none. They do help in the handling. I ran 17's and 18's on my 72 GTX.
 
UKPlymouth said:
hi guys, lots of enthusiastic posts on folks fitting bigger rims and low profile rubber.
On reflection, any comments on how the car feels ref Road feel, tyre noise, traction, braking etc..
Just curious as I’ve considered going to bigger rims on my 73 Roadrunner.
Respectfully not interested in the ‘big rims don’t belong’ etc unless of course, it’s based on owner experience.
Click to expand...
the problem with rubber band tyres on big rims is potholes and blowing a tyre and bending rims
Montreal is real hell for potholes .
 
Tires are expensive as hell for 17"+ tires
 
I live in California where the weather is pretty good. We don't get the problems with potholes in the pavement as much as other states. I run 18" wheels on my 70 Charger for a variety of reasons. First, I wanted the car to look low without being too low. I wanted the wheels and tires to sit tucked up into the body like a NASCAR Charger. A bigger wheel diameter allows you to have a shorter tire sidewall for better handling but without putting the underside of the car so low you cannot clear a Polska Kielbasa sausage. Some like the larger diameter for the clearance for big disc brakes. My brakes would clear with 15" wheels. I run a 275-40 up front and a 295-45 in the rear on Intro Twisted Vista wheels made in California. The sidewalls are not too short for my tastes.
dee que.jpg
CCM.JPG
 
Kern Dog said:
I live in California where the weather is pretty good. We don't get the problems with potholes in the pavement as much as other states. I run 18" wheels on my 70 Charger for a variety of reasons. First, I wanted the car to look low without being too low. I wanted the wheels and tires to sit tucked up into the body like a NASCAR Charger. A bigger wheel diameter allows you to have a shorter tire sidewall for better handling but without putting the underside of the car so low you cannot clear a Polska Kielbasa sausage. Some like the larger diameter for the clearance for big disc brakes. My brakes would clear with 15" wheels. I run a 275-40 up front and a 295-45 in the rear on Intro Twisted Vista wheels made in California. The sidewalls are not too short for my tastes.
View attachment 562803 View attachment 562802
Click to expand...
Looks good.
 
Thank you. I chose these wheels because to me, they look like a modern version of a 5 spoke classic wheel. American Racing, Torque Thrust, Cragar....That sort of thing.
The ride is not harsh with these tires...Nitto NT-01. Yeah, they are not cheap.
Road noise....It is hard to determine. I bought the car with 14" wheels and a 318 engine. I made several changes at once. Concrete roads make for a noisier ride as compared to asphalt. I hear more wind and exhaust noise than anything!
 
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I'm about ready to pull the trigger on some new rims was thinking 17" but the 18" look good on your 69 what widths are you running if I may ask? any clearance problems? Thanks, Don.
 
My car is a 70 but the proportions are the same 68-70. I have an 18x9 up front, an 18x10 in the back. All 4 have 4 3/4" back spacing. The front tires rub the frame rail in a smooth spot at full left and right but the turning circle is still great. The rear tires do rub the outer wheelhouse where it bulges but only when I hit a dip. If there were no bulge, they would not rub at all.
 
thanks, sorry about the 69 didn't look at the frontend
 
BeeKool said:
Tires are expensive as hell for 17"+ tires
Click to expand...
I actually switched to 17s because they are cheaper than most performance 15 and 14s. 17s are the most common tire size on passenger cars since the late 90s. 15,s and 14,s have become specialty sizes and you usually pay a premium now days for them.
 
start getting over 19"-20" the ride really gets rougher
no sidewall to speak of, especially if the car has suspension updates
17"-18" isn't as bad really, if you can find your proper sizes...

really depends on the car style of build too

big hoops it the new norm

not so snarky answer & good luck
 
Sidewall flex is a double-edged sword. Too much and you're giving up handling precision. Too little and potholes become a nightmare, as has been mentioned.

IMO, focus less on rim size and more on sidewall ratio. I have 295/45R18 in back with 255/45R18 in front. Not a huge amount of sidewall but handles bumps just fine. Much less than a 40 ratio and you're giving up a decent amount of ride comfort and more risk of damage to your rims from potholes/curbs.

Again, just IMO.
 
17's don't have as much for size variety, there are more for 18's to help vary sidewall dimensions and profile. One other thing to think about is that larger diameter rims can act as a flywheel of sorts and can make braking fun. You really need to improve your brakes if you go the larger wheel route. Looks better too unless you want it to look like a ricer mobile or some hoopty wagon from the hood.
 
Kern Dog said:
I live in California where the weather is pretty good. We don't get the problems with potholes in the pavement as much as other states. I run 18" wheels on my 70 Charger for a variety of reasons. First, I wanted the car to look low without being too low. I wanted the wheels and tires to sit tucked up into the body like a NASCAR Charger. A bigger wheel diameter allows you to have a shorter tire sidewall for better handling but without putting the underside of the car so low you cannot clear a Polska Kielbasa sausage. Some like the larger diameter for the clearance for big disc brakes. My brakes would clear with 15" wheels. I run a 275-40 up front and a 295-45 in the rear on Intro Twisted Vista wheels made in California. The sidewalls are not too short for my tastes.
View attachment 562803 View attachment 562802
Click to expand...
That is a beautiful car
 
Really good bunch of replies, thanks.
CKessel, what did you mean ref to late wheels/flywheel statement?
I have 12”rotors up front, but wondered what the above meant?
 
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I wonder if he was trying to say that the rotational inertia of larger diameter wheels can make it more difficult to stop? That may be valid or not. It depends on the weight versus the weight of the stock wheel and tire. The larger wheel diameter does allow room for big disc brakes.
 
What Kern Dog said. The rotational inertia, flywheel effect, is greater on larger diameter wheels since the weight is further out from the center. The wheel can be lighter but the mass/weight is further out and is harder to slow down than a 14/15. Think of leverage and fulcrums. As for wheel choices, there are lots to choose from and same goes for tires. I was going to go 17's on my car, need minimum of 17's with my Dr Diff brakes, but there are not as many tire choices especially since I don't want to run rubber bands for sidewalls. Skinny sidewalls don't absorb road issues like wider ones do and you can get wheel and component damage from road hazards. In the repair industry its pretty common for cars with 30/35 profile tires to have bent rims, tater'd wheel bearing/hub units, knuckle damage and tire bead ruptures when hitting pot holes, debris etc. Fatter profiles absorb more and ride better. Wheel choices are all personal preference but I still go by what Johnny Hunkins pointed out when he was the editor of PHR. He did an article on wheel and tire combos using a 66/67 Charger and photo shopping different stances and combos. What he said was some wheels look good but not right on a given car and that its like putting a tutu on a hippo if you choose poorly.
 
UKPlymouth said:
hi guys, lots of enthusiastic posts on folks fitting bigger rims and low profile rubber.
On reflection, any comments on how the car feels ref Road feel, tyre noise, traction, braking etc..
Just curious as I’ve considered going to bigger rims on my 73 Roadrunner.
Respectfully not interested in the ‘big rims don’t belong’ etc unless of course, it’s based on owner experience.
Click to expand...

Jarring ride leads to more stress on ball joints and rubber components on cars designed for 14 - 15 rims.
 
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