What are the best size/Type of rims for handling?

 

17 X 8 Light weight aluminum

 

Just for handling? Hmmm... I would say chrome 18"x8.5" wheels. (I'm thinkin' MoMo Arrows)
-Cyrus

 

...what type of handling?
Dry?
Wet?
All-season?
Day-to-day-driving?
Autocrossing?
Off-road ?
Are noise, treadwear or price an issue?
Do you want stock sizes?

Give us some more info - you'll get a better answer.

Or you could go to tirerack.com and answer their questions. You'll get more info there than you could get here.

Mark

 

Im thinking for autocross and some drag racing

 

17*8 will be too heavy for auto-x. Forget about 18s. They look great but aint less filling I have 17x7s which weigh 20lbs each. You should go for something really light, like a 16x7 rim or even 15x7 and put 225 tread on it. That way you get handling and not lose power.

DW

 

I have a 17"x7.5" wheel and I'm not losing any power.
-Cyrus

 

I gather that your 17x7.5s are as light as the 15 stock wheels they replaced, right?? Well, apply the technology of your new rims to 16x7s or 15x7s and you could imagine just how much more perforance those things will give you.

DW

 

True, they are 6lbs or so lighter than stock. BTW in a 15" size my rim weighs 8 lbs.
-Cyrus

 

Overall as long as you get a lightweight rim you're good to go. My 18s weigh ~20lbs which is similiar to stock SE wheel weight. The 18s do have a greater rotational inertia, but the 16" tires also weigh more than the 18" tires. Either way the extra mass is on the furthest point out on the radius so it somewhat evens out. If you want to autocross don't go over 225mm for the tire or 7.5" in width or you'll get bumped up a class from STS.
-hype

 

My 17x7s weigh 20 lbs. How much do your tires weigh?? My 225/45/17 Kumho ECTSA 712s weigh 22 lbs. So total wheel weight for me is 42lbs per wheel/tire, or 168 lbs total.

DW