Give me a good reason for choosing big alloys as an option.

[1a35]

I can think of a few reasons why not :

Big wheels look better - Possibly, but hey can look bloody silly with small brakes
You can fit bigger brakes - not necessary I'm not going Racing.
Tyres are lower profile on larger rims - And less comfortable ride ( is the improved handling going to make a difference in everyday driving? )
In some cases, bigger wheels reduce efficiency and affect tax/bik

What real world benefits are there? ( apart from the dealer's profit margin )

[GTiFrank]

Depends on the car your specking? An increase in rim size doesn't necessarily mean a decreasing in sidewall depth thereby ride quality either.

[mackay45]

Higher top speed?

Can't remember if true or not - think acceleration is supposed to be worse though.

What car?

[redtwin]

Because you want them.

[Major Fallout]

mackay45 said:

Higher top speed?

Can't remember if true or not - think acceleration is supposed to be worse though.

What car?

Not quite how it works.

[calibrax]

Some cars just don't look right on standard rims.

[V8Wagon]

If the rims get bigger often it won't look right until you then drop the suspension. Which also costs money.

I've got the dilemma at the mo. My Accord's 17" rims look tiny with a big gap to the wheel arch. I'd like to stick some 18's on but know it'll need lowering 40mm to not make it look silly.

[sleep envy]

Major Fallout said:

mackay45 said:

Higher top speed?

Can't remember if true or not - think acceleration is supposed to be worse though.

What car?

Not quite how it works.

[R300will]

Major Fallout said:

mackay45 said:

Higher top speed?

Can't remember if true or not - think acceleration is supposed to be worse though.

What car?

Not quite how it works.

Higher top speed and worse accelleration if the wheel size ratios are different to standard wheels i.e. bigger. Only real reason for choosing bigger alloys is that it makes the car look nicer

[Vilhelm]

You'll look great in your overwheeled car, and will collect large quantities of clacker

[northandy]

2 years ago i specced 18's instead of the standard 17's, 2 and a bit years later and 63k miles i wish i hadnt!!.

The ride is very hard, car seems very heavy when they are on, and massively more expensive tyres, rears are £100 ish each more than the 17's

I run my car on 16's with winters tyres, i prefer driving it on them.

[mrmr96]

- Looks potentially nicer, but that's a personal thing
- Bigger brakes will fit
- Less sidewall flex in the tyres
- Potentially lower weight, if the combo of alloy/tyre weighs less with more alloy and less tyre.
- Makes the resale easier (as many buyers like the big wheel look)

[mackay45]

R300will said:

Major Fallout said:

mackay45 said:

Higher top speed?

Can't remember if true or not - think acceleration is supposed to be worse though.

What car?

Not quite how it works.

Higher top speed and worse accelleration if the wheel size ratios are different to standard wheels i.e. bigger. Only real reason for choosing bigger alloys is that it makes the car look nicer

Ta

[RWD cossie wil]

Try getting those under 15" wheels!

[richcorsavxr]

mackay45 said:

R300will said:

Major Fallout said:

mackay45 said:

Higher top speed?

Can't remember if true or not - think acceleration is supposed to be worse though.

What car?

Not quite how it works.

Higher top speed and worse accelleration if the wheel size ratios are different to standard wheels i.e. bigger. Only real reason for choosing bigger alloys is that it makes the car look nicer

Ta

but on some cars, the smaller wheel has a thicker tyre profile, and bigger wheel has a thinner tyre profile, to keep the over all circumference the same, thus the acceleration and top speed stay the same.

bigger wheels and thinner tyre = more expensive wheel option and about double the price on tyres

Edited by richcorsavxr on Sunday 25th March 00:12

[matthias73]

You can put bigger brakes on. Less sidewall, some might say that gives more direct steering feel.

Personally I enjoy sitting in comfort, so I prefer fat tyres. If I had a sports car it would be a diferent matter, but why ruin the ride on something that is slower than a horse.

[bicycleshorts]

RWD cossie wil said:

Love a properly 'filled' wheel. Corsas with 17inch wheels and drum brakes just don't do it for me

[g3org3y]

I remember changing the 15 standard alloys for a set of 17 inch Alpinas on the E36.

Positives
- Primarily the looks - filled the arches a lot better.
- Crisper turn in owing to less sidewall flex
- Felt more grippy - not sure if that was related to a larger contact patch or a more solid feeling owing to reduced sidewall flex

Negative
- Tramlining
- Harder ride

Overall, I felt the benefits outweighed the negatives.

Before:


After:

[Zoobeef]

bicycleshorts said:

Love a properly 'filled' wheel. Corsas with 17inch wheels and drum brakes just don't do it for me

Looks too low. i like an even gap between the wheel and arch all the way round.

[anonymous-user]

Its cheaper! In the 80's I had an XR3i, as a company car, basic spec with steel wheels, and the wife wantd one as well, so went to buy it and the guy started on about alloys as an option, I said I wasn't interested as they where cheap alloy with no benifit to the unsprung weight, I couldn't see if they looked good from inside, more chance of being stolen etc. Turned out he couldn't get a basic car with steel whells, and gave me another 100 pound off to take the alloys.