Thread: 17's vs 15's. Pics inside.

Says who, a magazine?

I've done testing and if you go look at competition i.e. SCCA etc... You will see that all the most competitive drivers run the SMALLEST rim diameter allowed in class. I don't know any nationally competitive person that upsizes rims. Of course I can be wrong...

The 205/50/15s are not quite as tall as the 205/40/17s, so the overall centre of gravity of the car should come down a bit.

Thanks for the input guys. Interesting opinions all round. I should probably mention that aside form 1/4 mile (for which I use 205/55/15 semi slicks) I don't really do any kind of track time. The car is just for fun and running around the streets and normal drag racing events.

Love your Sti Ronnie. Either set of rims. I prefer 15s myself.

Nathan, we're not talking about generic 15" versus 17". If we were, I would cede your point.

But we are talking about a narrow, heavy, 15" wheel with 205/50/15 tires versus a wide, light, 17" wheel with 205/40/17 tires.

The same but opposite could.be said about BTCC, these guys do not run small rims. It is also a move by car manufactures to run with smaller tire profiles which aid in the cars handling, I guess larger brakes could also be the reason to.

The 17's you have now look excellent. Not a fan of those 5 star looking wheels. Keep the17's for the street!

I am very much talking in general. I am countering a broad brush statement.

If you are talking lightweight vs not, wide vs not, or offset different... then yes the 17s could be hands down choice.

To minimal of a diffrence on the center of gravity

205/50/15 tire dia 23.1

205/40/17 tire dia 23.45

The diifrence in tire dia is .35 which woul mean the car would sit .17 of an inch higher

Not only that, I don't think "lowering the center of gravity" by going with a smaller diameter tire helps the suspension or handling in any way since the roll couple stays the same. I think the only advantage with lowering the car that way would be aerodynamic?

(Leaving out the reduced gearing.)

Kojima did on one if his cars however, he conceded looks was a factor. Op if your are not looking to race etc than go with the wheels you prefer. I think those 17's look better than those 15's performance aside. Which with the weight of most stock nissan rims is probably similar to the 17's.

How do the 17's ride? Check online tires wheel / tire calc to see how each tire and wheel combo effects gearing etc as well. Good luck choosing. Wheels are very subjective.