Another Noobie in Vic - 18inch rims vs 17inch??

wjlit1 · Post by **wjlit1** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 3:44 pm

Hey guys, this site looks great, heaps of good info.

My 98 GPX (White, Manual, 64000ks, Grade 4.5) FTO is finishing being complianced at the moment and I'm trying to decide on the size of the rims. I was gonna get 18s but after seeing some pics on here it looks like I will be riding on steel and feeling every bump. I will be driving the car everyday so some comfort would be good although of course I want it to look good

What do you guys reckon, 17s to play it safe or stick with 18s?

Im also getting some Pierelle Dragons to give me some grip, Continentals were just too exp. Your advice would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers,

Will

harry90 · Post by **harry90** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 5:35 pm

choice is urs in the end... but i say go for 18's... they r just better !!! arent the standards 16" ?? if theyr u will only be going up 1 which wont make much difference at all... u want something to change dramtically for the image right ?

Post by **Bennoz** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 8:45 pm

Welcome to the Club

18's with a 45 profile tyre aint too bad on the bumps... as long as you dont go wacking uber stiff suspension in, you'll be fine. Just keep in mind rubber cost goes up exponentially as the rims size goes up....

Post by **BorepYano** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:51 pm

u can fit 45 profiles on 18s?

Post by **aza013** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:59 pm

I got 17s with 45s and they rub iner gards when turning but that could just be my rim setup

so 18s with 45s could work

maggsy · Post by **maggsy** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:03 am

i made the jump from 15's to 18's about 6 months ago and could hardly feel the difference. i'd say go for the 18's for sure.

btw WTTC

Post by **BorepYano** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:27 am

hah! i knew i saw this somewhere lol

Rim Size Tyre Size
15x6" 195x60R15
15x6.5" 205x60R15
16x6.5" 205x50R16
16x7.5" 215x45R16
17x7" 205x40R17
17x7.5" 215x40R17
17x8" 225x40R17
18x8" 215x35R18

http://www.ftoaustralia.com/modules.php ... age&pid=27

so... i guess you can try 45 profiles on your 18's, though to avoid rubbing you might have to run 195 cheese cutters lol

Post by **Bennoz** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:13 am

Yeah I had to do a little fiddling *cough* spacers * cough* to get mine to fit. They rub a little but only on full lock.

wjlit1 · Post by **wjlit1** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:08 am

Thanks for the advice guys, I'm gonna go 18s if I can. That chart with the sizes was handy as I was only thinking of diameter and not width and aspect ratio. The place importing the car told me 235/40/18 but im not sure that will work.

Post by **Bennoz** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:09 am

Nah, 235's will be a fraction too wide on an 18s. 225's you can get away with.

maggsy · Post by **maggsy** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:12 am

i think that a 235 will rub unless you get some sort of moddification done to the inner guards.

Post by **Bennoz** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:24 am

My 225's rub....

maggsy · Post by **maggsy** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:48 am

yeh i have 215's and they slightly rub on the drivers side when i'm at full lock.

But i think its coz the springs and shocks need replacing.

i'll probrably get 225's when these need replacing (not for ages yet though).

cHONGA · Post by **cHONGA** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:32 pm

i got 225/35s and they dont rub at all and car has also been lowered 18s for sure but

FtoSam · Post by **FtoSam** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:48 pm

i have super low springs...

215/35/18 are perfect

Post by **Bennoz** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:49 am

Yeah see all you guys have done the smart thing & gone with a 35 series. I went for the 45 for comfort

But had to 'make it' fit

wjlit1 · Post by **wjlit1** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 12:17 am

Thanks for all your help, I picked up the FTO Wednesday morning but because of work I only got a chance to put it through its paces tonight. Corners like its on rails. I loved getting it into second and standing on it

The thing just takes off at like 4500-5000, and the stock exhaust sounds awesome. I'll post some pics if I can sort out hosting them somewhere. I was really happy with the rims, the 18s came up a treat.

maggsy · Post by **maggsy** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 1:18 am

just go to google and type in 'image upload' and click on the top one (imageshack)

then upload and get the direct link and insert '[img]' things either side of the link when posting.

hope that helps

wjlit1 · Post by **wjlit1** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:13 pm

Ok well I hope this is going to work. In the end I went for 225/40/18 Pirelli Neros to go on the rims. Plenty of grip. What fuel do you guys put into your FTOs?

khunjeng · Post by **khunjeng** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:18 pm

wjlit1 wrote:Ok well I hope this is going to work. In the end I went for 225/40/18 Pirelli Neros to go on the rims. Plenty of grip. What fuel do you guys put into your FTOs?

BP Ultimate...seems to be the most popular and form my experience the best 90RON fuel.