Dredd123

I am considering a set of 18" wheels for the S, purely for looks. However I have read bigger wheels and/or lower profile tyres always compromise ride/handling and I really don't want to spoil that (currently running standard '09 alloys and standard RE050MZ tyres). Any experiences to confirm or deny this?

Dave.

WinFreak

It depends mainly on the weight of them, nice lightweight 18s will be better than heavy 17s

Problem is most 18s will be heavier, so choose wisely (weight and offsets) and you'll be alright

Ultra_Nexus

As above. You'll be fine with18s if you aren't tracking it, but the larger the wheel, the greater the gyro effect

s2k4tony

What about going down to 15's.... is this adviseable?

Dembo

18" tyres will also be heavier, and obviously the much lower profile will hurt the ride considerably.

I don't think 15s would fit over the front brakes.

Nick Graves

For looks?

Increasing wheel size invariably makes one look like a poseur, so it's a negative look. Especially if you enjoy the handling.

It might be quicker round a smooth track, but it wrecks the car on a bumpy road.

There are some nice 17" Enkeis, Mugens or Rays in the correct sizes if you'd like to reduce unsprung mass. But the '09 wheels are the lightest OEM17"s anyway.

Ultra_Nexus

No.

15" wheels will not fit around your brakes.

Dembo

You went from 16s to 17s didn't you?

Vtakanonymous

I noticed a huge difference in the car going from 16s to 17s. With a wider track on the 17s, it felt much better st the track, however, the ride was a bit harsh in comparison to the 16s. I also got better gas mileage with the 16s,but that was with oem wheels. I'm sure aftermarket would be a world of a difference.

Nick Graves

Indeed I did! But I blame Bridgestone for that...and I'm sticking to it.

It's a bit more grown-up; the 16" BBSs & S-02s were more hooligan fun.