GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I am going to get some rims on my mono Abyss Vibe, and i was wondering what the difference in ride and handling ability when comparing 17 or 18 inch wheels. I am looking at getting the Q-tek s-05 or Alba edge. If anyone has any experience on big wheels and their performance, let me know. thanks
[Modified by AWDBLACKVIBE, 3:20 AM 8/19/2002]

I went for Enkei's 18" rims. On the highway they are a little louder, but in the city they are VERY quiet. The handeling is MUCH better then the stock 16" wheels, too.

NICE!!!! Now you need to paint the brake caliper,and maybe gets some bigger brakes....

The look alot like my 17" Voxx MGRs:

Lancer - what size tires do you have with your 18's? I order my wheels today. 18 inch Quantum Tek S-05's on 40 series tires. Let me know what size your tires are.

quote:I went for Enkei's 18" rims. On the highway they are a little louder, but in the city they are VERY quiet. Also, it's the tire choice that makes the noise. Wheel size has nothing to do with it.

I chose the Nitto NT 555225/40ZR-18 92w.And yes the brake calibers would look nice painted, but the big brake system is a little expensive. I'll get that next year.

Sweet tires. They fit with no problems?

They fit great! No rubbing on the wheel well. Sorta wish I got a little wider tire. No change in turning radius. I am a lot more carefull on bumpy roads and I have my passenger side mirror aimed down so I can see how close to the curb I am. It actually helps with the Vibes big blind spot, too. I found out the hard way that it's very easy to back into a small pole after owning it only 3 weeks. But hey, I'm gonna paint it Bittersweet Pearl next year anyway.
[Modified by Lancer, 11:47 PM 8/20/2002]

WOW! Those 18's look great. I was always wondering what 18's would look like at that angle and how easy and how many complications would be faced. Glad it went well.

I am wanting to get 18" as well!! I was talking to a guy at the local les schwab about it last week when I went to get my tires switched around because the guys at the dealership put them on the wrong way...hehe directional..wow! I love how it looks, and glad to hear it handles alot better! :DI am far more excited now about getting new wheels then I have been... grrr, moneyyy

I want 18" aswell..possibly an 18" front 19" rear?? lol..nah..just 18" all around..cleanest look for the vibe

Nice Threadsurrection!

hahaha.. threadsurrection so, how would an 18" front 19" rear handle? Wouldn't all 18" or all 19" be a smoother ride? Maybe Im not thinking in correct road physics..hmm..

Bigger wheel size = smaller tire side-wall size = rougher ride. That is all.

Quote, originally posted by WaveAction »I want 18" aswell..possibly an 18" front 19" rear?? lol..nah..just 18" all around..cleanest look for the vibeThere is a HUGE difference in price between 18" and 19" tires, of the same brand/model, not really worth the 1" in size..

Quote, originally posted by damronjr »Bigger wheel size = smaller tire side-wall size = rougher ride. That is all.+1you're riding on less air, so you're gonna feel the bumps. that's why i went 17 vs 18. i also will try the tokico struts when the time comes. that should smooth out the ride even more.

smooth ride vs. handling?Are 18"s better handling, but rougher ride?

yeah. i'm sure you're riding on the stock 16s now, and its a pretty comfy ride. that's because there's a bigger 'cushion of air' that the vibe is riding on. if you increase the wheel size, you have to also keep the overall diameter of the tire the same (so the speedometer isn't screwed). so there's less of an air cushion to suck up the bumps. barring a change to a smoother strut which vibe owners don't really have a big choicce on, you'll get a harsher ride as the wheel gets bigger.as far as handling, the tires definitely help, but so do does a lower center of gravity and stbs and sway bars.

so technically then, are there any useful benefits to getting bigger wheels, or does it just look really cool?I don't mind driving in cars with bigger wheels and less tire air, but i do love how smooth my vibe drives.

Quote, originally posted by Lancer »I went for Enkei's 18" rims. On the highway they are a little louder, but in the city they are VERY quiet. The handeling is MUCH better then the stock 16" wheels, too. If this is the case, then I really want to get 18"s

Quote, originally posted by shawnothaninja »so technically then, are there any useful benefits to getting bigger wheels, or does it just look really cool?I don't mind driving in cars with bigger wheels and less tire air, but i do love how smooth my vibe drives.In short YES, there is a technical aspect to bigger rims, BUT, the kicker is, only if they are lighter than what you had before.. many times the weight of a wheel/tire combo comes from the tire... take for instance the Subaru wheels I have for sale... 17" x 7" and about 17-18lbs, then the tire is another 20-25lbs on top of that... Now, the new forged aluminum wheels I got for the subaru, 14lbs for a 17x7.5 and then add the weight of the tire... Less weight of a wheel equates to less "unsprung" weight at each corner, decreasing rotational mass, by decreasing that you increast the effectiveness of the brakes, decrease power required to turn the wheels (increasing effiency), the suspension works better.... ect... So, benifits of largers wheel ARE appricable, but, only if you can go lighter, otherwise larger rims are more often heavier and plays the oppisite to what I just wrote above..

ahhh! Thankyou for sharing that... It definately makes sense. I guess when I go to buy larger wheels I will talk with someone about the weight and all that...

Tirerack now lists wheel weight for most of their rims. Sublimewind makes an important point about unspring weight. You will notice that most affordable wheels in 17 & 18" sizes can weigh 20-25 lbs each. Thats a serious increase in weight... and it'll literally feel like your towing a small boat once you put them on. You'll also feel it in braking distance/gas mileage.When I bought my rims, I started shopping by looks/price. But once I found out how much they weighed... I started shopping by weight, and then looks, and then price. I found an 18" wheel that weighed 16 lbs. But it cost me $275 per. With the Kumho ZR tires, I spent $1500 total.

Quote, originally posted by sstress »Tirerack now lists wheel weight for most of their rims. Sublimewind makes an important point about unspring weight. You will notice that most affordable wheels in 17 & 18" sizes can weigh 20-25 lbs each. Thats a serious increase in weight... and it'll literally feel like your towing a small boat once you put them on. You'll also feel it in braking distance/gas mileage.When I bought my rims, I started shopping by looks/price. But once I found out how much they weighed... I started shopping by weight, and then looks, and then price. I found an 18" wheel that weighed 16 lbs. But it cost me $275 per. With the Kumho ZR tires, I spent $1500 total.Yeah, to get a wheel that big and weigh that little, the manufacturing process is usually something like a forging, or billet, or a special roto cast (think BBS) and all usually cost serious $$$$$ My Volks would retail for ~400-600$ per WHEEL.. (it was nice finding a used set)

18" Enkei's and i love em..

Hey Lancer where did you get your hood from?

im also getting a set of Enkei RSV's..havent decided on the color yet, either gun metal or bronze..and picking up Falken FK-452 tires

Quote, originally posted by WaveAction »im also getting a set of Enkei RSV's..havent decided on the color yet, either gun metal or bronze..and picking up Falken FK-452 tires+10000000000000000000000000000 on the FK452's GREAT choice...!!!!Man, It would be great if you looked at the Enkei RPM2 for your car in gold... Or even the RPF-1 to go with something REALLY light for the money... The RPF-1 are just about the BEST bang-for-the-buck wheel on the market today... HUNDREDS of track, autocrossed and street cars are using them because of the cost/weight/strength with them is just unbeatable

ya..the RPM2's are what my old rims looked like..and im trying not to get the same style..i like them and all but dont want them again..as for the RPF-1's they're a lil pricey for my range at the moment..the RSV's are relevently cheap on this one site im on..$162 for the bronze, $150 for the gunmetals..the RPF-1's are about $100 more..and the golds they dont even carry the 18"...but i still got awhile to go before i get rims..the RSV's are what i like though