car rims benefits?

[MR.H]

hey,

just wondering besides looks does rims offer any other benefits? thanks

[V8KLLR]

Lightweight rims are they way to go if you want something performance inclined. I read somewhere that there was this dude with a turbo corolla or something old like that. He bought these new rims in prep for a drag [wanted to look good, and lose the stock 15 inches or whatever for 17 inches i think] well yea he went to the dyno and noticed his results were like 10kw or so lower than his last. He spent ages checking the engine for faults etc. Then realised that the heavier rims he had on we're affecting his dyno. So he put on the stock 15's and he made back the difference. I read this story in Fast fours awhile back, dont quote me cause I most liekly have the car and rims sizes wrong but the story is true.

[tiah313]

yea also for better control of the car with light weight rims.

[markismaximus]

rims (if they are bigger than your stock wheels) have tyres that usually have a lower profile side wall. so they handle better as the tyre doesn't "flex" as much as with the standard wheels when cornering hard

[Bulbasaur]

big rims act like shock absorbers if you go over like little bumps and stuff for comfort. e.g imagine a path with lots of little bumps on it like your keyboard and if you rolled a little marble on it, it would go up and down like your mum but if you roll something bigger like a tennis ball it would just fly over all the bumps because it does not drop as deep as the smaller object. i just thought of this now i dont even know if im right :P

[UkuleleGod]

Lightweight Wheels = Lighter Car.
Wider Tires = Better Grip.

[Oz_Striker]

light weight wheels improve handling dramatically, and combining them with lower profile tyres can also improve how well you car handles due to there being less flexing of the tyre wall and therefore the car sits flatter and more even through corners allowing you to go faster

[THEEYA]

u gets da bitches

[GenesisEG]

big rims act like shock absorbers if you go over like little bumps and stuff for comfort. e.g imagine a path with lots of little bumps on it like your keyboard and if you rolled a little marble on it, it would go up and down like your mum but if you roll something bigger like a tennis ball it would just fly over all the bumps because it does not drop as deep as the smaller object. i just thought of this now i dont even know if im right :P

Unfortunately not.

Bigger rims actually decrease ride comfort. Bigger rims mean lower profile tyres. Lower profile tyres mean less rubber to absorb shocks. Less rubber to absorb shocks means rougher ride. If you increase rim size without decreasing tyre profile, you will end up with a tyre circumference that doesn't match the tuning of the speedometer, I'll leave you to figure out what that will do.

I have an EG, and I use 15 inch rims for performance. Personally, I reckon this is ideal, but I wouldn't go any bigger than 16's even if I did decide to upsize.

Another huge problem with large rims and low profile tyres is uneven road surfaces, or more specifically, potholes. Drive over a pothole at high speed with 15's and you'll feel a nasty bump. Drive over a pothole at high speed with 17's and you'll probably crack the rim.

Lightweight rims decrease unsprung weight, which in turn increases acceleration, deceleration and handling. The less mass the engine needs to turn, the more easily it will turn it, and the faster the car will accelerate. The less mass the brakes need to stop, the faster it will stop it, and the faster the car will decelerate. Lastly, unsprung weight (ie the wheels) is not affected by suspension and chassis bracing upgrades. The only way to reduce the effect the weight of the wheels have on handling is by reducing it.

If you are after performance, stick with 15's or 16's. Go for the widest tyre you can fit under the guards using the best offset and width you can get. Forget standard radials, get a good semi-slick tyre. Semis have thicker and stiffer side-walls which will compensate for the lower size rim. Standard radials on small rims have a tendency to flex and twist under cornering pressure, the firmer side-walls of the semi will stop the tyre from flexing so much and give a more predictable ride. They are also made of a more performance oriented compound which will wear faster but give immensely better grip, just be careful in the wet, as the increased surface area over radials means aquaplaning is far more likely.

If you are after looks... my advice is the same, since I reckon the tough streeter or track-spec look is schmick. Forget chrome, forget steel, you want a one-piece forged alloy wheel.

[dougie_504]

Above is true. I had 17's on my Civic with 215/40 when I bought it and they'd already ruined the stock suspension. I put 15" EM1 rims on it with 195/50 and immediately the ride was considerably more comfortable, meaning that I was happier to go with coilovers because the comfort wouldn't have been as bad as if I'd stayed with the 17's.

[AE092]

GenesisEG sums it up nicely. Applies alot to track/circuit racing as well.

[davidvtec]

u gets da bitches

agreed .