I'm considering going to different wheels and tires. I will not lower the car. The only chassis mods thus far are X-Brace and Strut Brace. The ride comfort of the car hasn't changed with these mods.

You guys and gals with bigger wheels, and thus thinner tires - How's the ride? Does the car ride any rougher? Any more road noise? What are the negatives and what are the positives - besides the way they look? Would you still do it again if you had it to do over? Was it worth the money?

Which ones would you recommend? Any size limitations (besides fitting of course)? Would you stay with the OEM tire manufacturer or do you recommend another?

Before I spend $2000-$3000 for tires and wheels I'd like to know how they are working out for others. Any and all comments, evaluations, ideas, or input is appreciated. Oh yes, and pretty pictures are great also!

 

JUst try to make sure they are not much heavier - using heavier wheels slows down acceleration, increases braking distances, makes the steering less responsive, and also reduces the effective spring/shock rates.

 

its not that bumpy............it does corner a lot better

 

Not exactly sure how your gunna go bigger and not wider. But anyway I have Quantum S0-7 rims 18" wrapped in Toyo 235/45-18 front and 245/40-18 rear. My advice is do not go this wide!!! You WILL rub front and rear constantly. In the spring, when the car is back on the road I will be buying narrower tires for the rear and possibly the front.

 

You must have the wrong offset on the rear, because some people here have much largeer tires on the rear. Not sure about the front thought.

 

It is imperative that you be careful if you are going to upgrade to larger rims and lower profile tires. When taking a right into a parking lot for instance, if there is a curve going up, make sure your rear right tire doesn't hit the curve, otherwise you might scratch your rim. Also don't hit bumps too hard, or you might dent your rims or put lumps on your tires. The ride becomes much more sensitive when putting on lower profile tires. You'll be able to feel even tiny crevices in the street. Sure the performance on these tires is better in certain circumstances, but for everyday driving, ask yourself this question. Are you willing to sacrifice comfort for appeal? I know that I have, but not yet with an S2000. I will though, eventually.

 

I have the HRE 18"x8.5" in the front w/ 245/35/18 P-Zero and 18"x10.5" in the rear w/ 285/30/18 and the ride is somewhat harder, but not enough to be bothersome. The extra meat on the road is nice too!

 

I also have HRE's. 18x8.5 with 225/40s front and 18x9.5 and 265/35s rear. I have noticed a little difference in ride quality but I think the increased grip and aesthetic improvement is worth it. Like others have said, I try to avoid hitting road reflectors when making land changes and spend more time dodging pot holes. You won't have as much rubber protecting your wheels so you have to be more carefull around potholes and curbs.

If your going to do it, I'd really suggest the HRE's. They are true three piece forged wheels (read: much less likely to bend than lesser cast wheels). The Bulletproof 9.5 and 10.5 inch setup is nice, but you may want to talk to Ben about the sizes I have in case you are thinking of lowering.

 

Hello.

I want to change my wheels and tires too. I looked your post to have many ideas. There aren't many answers.
I hope that there will be other reply.

Bye