O.K., i'm ordering the Volk TE-37s tomorrow in silver. I'm going with 17x7.5 with 225-45s because with the Comptechs and the Konis i think the ride is stiff enough and i've been told that the 18s with 225-40s would make the ride harsh. I believe that's probably true. But, i thought i'd get any feedback from you guys with 18s, or those who went with 17s for the same reason. I also don't want to slow the car down with the larger wheels. All feedback is welcome and then i write the check. Thanks in advance.

 

hey man, i only noticed a small difference between the 17's and the 18's but i only changed out my springs and not the shocks. But i went with looks over performance.

 

i'm not usually one to answer questions, and i could be wrong..

but i think:



if u used a 45 series tire, your speedo would be significantly off...since your doing less rotations..

also may experience some vsa problems..



I'm not sure if any of this is accurate, just what i think i have learned from this board...

 

there is a difference between stock tire & wheel combo and 18" w/ 225/40/18 combo. the ride will feel just a tad bit harder, but the turn in will be more responsive as well as steering feel. so a little of ride quality is given up for performance and looks. Keep in mind that I have stock suspension. I can't imagine what 19" feel like. It also depends on the roads where you're driving, and the psi in the tires. I feel like its not enough of a loss in comfort to sacrifice for individuality. Hope you get them.

 

I'm running on 235/40/18s and I think they are fine...not too rough, but I haven't tried them with the koni yellows.

 

I went with 18's on looks alone. With a decent combo of shocks, springs, and tires, your ride shouldn't be that harsh. Looking back, I should've gotten 19's. If you want a plush ride, don't do anything.

 

Thanks everyone for the feedback, you guys aren't making it easier, i'm still torn but leaning to the 17s. I certainly don't want a plush ride or i wouldn't have done the springs and Konis, i just don't want to go over the top. Thanks again.

 

red rider

So I have KevinM old car...
I had the 17x7.5 OZ competitions with 225/45/17 Bridgestone s-02 and then Kumho Escta 712 225/45/17. Depending on the setting of the konis it can ride pretty rough.

Now I have 18x8 OZ superleggras with Bridgestone S03 225/45/18. I have the eibach prokit and konis. I had to set the koni's to almost full and the ride is not too bad. I have a lot of rubber on those wheels though... I would now prefer to have 225/40/18 b/c that additional 5% of rubber makes my car rub like crazy...

It really depends on what you want to do with your car...
if you are going to race it... get a spare set of 16 inch rims TE37 b/c Moo is really fast... I feel slower with the 18 inch rims than I did with the heavier 17 inch rims... I think might be more the physics involved.. with rotational speed... I'm no mechanical engineer but it just feels faster with smaller rims...

 

isnt that because you have made the overall diameter greater? than stock, with 18" your supposed to be 40 series .

 

I measured it and the 225/45/18 was within .9 % of stock...

Hmm... then I messed up... Firestone guarentee... j/k

 

there is such a small difference in the ride quality of a 225/45/17 and a 225/40/18. I personally feel that 18's are a must on a CL, with 19s being the perfect size. The small difference in ride quality is an insignificant difference compared to the improved looks of 18s vs. 17s. Just my opinion of course

 

Get 18's.
you'll hate yourself later if you dont.

 

Your ride is actually gonna improve somewhat. The TE-37s are soooo much lighter than stock that the suspension and wheels experience less load when driving. This lighter load is evident when you hit a pothole....where on the stock you would hear a thunk sound...the TE-37s tend to just roll over them....and you'll feel so much more nimble with them on.

 

now I know... just go over them... rather than run into a curb...

 

So if you go with lightweight 18's like volks or ssr's then straightline acceleration won't be affected?

 

Lightweight will improve acceleration....but you have to take into account that bigger wheels means slower revs, if you keep diameter the same...but the lightweight more than offsets it.

Or you can get 16s like me.....and just shoot out wherever you go..

 

you're running 16's!!!!!! Any reason?

 

Accelerate like a bat out of hell....

 

 

Any pics?

 

Not right now...
Next time i have them on...I'll take a pic...

 

Moo, are you talking 17s or 18s here ? Thanks.

 

you won't regret it. trust me, just check out my link for more pics http://jamonline.shutterfly.com/my/o...6305a2&notag=1

 

much better than 17's. you'll enjoy your ride even more

 

if you get 17's you may regret it later. i'm putting 19's on my car.

 

Sts, mucho thanks for the pics, your car looks awesome !! I really can't wait to get them now. I've gotten alot of feedback on the 17 versus 18 and i'm gonna think it out today and go over it with Motorsport Dynamics and order them this afternoon. I'm still torn. Thanks again for the pics and feedback.

 

18 will change the gearing ratio of the car and slow you down!

 

Those rims look nice!!!!!! I was leaning towards SSR integrals but volks may be the way. Is there any way to take off the letter on the rim? Lettering on rims isn't my thing.....

 

people...many positive posts ...sts i want your wheels...you bastard...lol....please dont say stuff when you dont know what it means....if you went 18's and no tires yes you would change the gear ratio so to speak by effecting the role diameter...however if you add tires that maintain a 25.4 to25.6 you'll be uneffected...now unsprung weight moving the weight furthur toward s the outside can effect accel...however rays 18's i think you gonna be way ahead of the game

 

typeR,

Is there any way to get that lettering off the rim?

 

Thanks for the clarification typeR. I'm leaning towards the 18s. If they are available in 18x7.5, that's what i'm getting with 225-40-18s. Will that balance out ?

 

yup! that's the same set up i have.

 

g,
you know you want the 18's. if you don't, your going to drive down the street and see 18's and wish you did. don't do something you regret.

 

sts, any problems with speedo, or vsa ? Did the Volks in 18 feel any quicker than stock ? Thanks again, i think they are gonna look great on the Red Rider Your photos really helped.

 

They'll be TITZ, dude!!! Now you just have to wait three months while you oogle with envy at the Hammer's rolling stock. :P

 

You Bastard

 

I think the SE 37's look much much nicer on the CL-S

 

You are so right bsly They will be ordered in the morning

 

Astro, they do look awesome on the Silver.

 

nope no problems. i think the speedo is probably 2-3 mph off. got clocked by a stationary speed detector that the police set up in a residential area goin 40 the machine displayed 43. yes acceleration feels alot quicker than stock, but i'm sure w/ cai headers & light wheels my head actually whips back into the headrest which never happened bone stock.