what about the wheels?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 360
From: Chicagoland
what about the wheels?
I will tell you what I hate, and it is not just Nissan.
These manufacturers seem to want keep increasing the wheel size on these cars. Remember when 15" was big? Now we are at 17". And I read somewhere that the new SE will have 18"! I am telling you, those wheels are going to weigh 50lbs each. My 17" wheels weigh 45# with the tire. My snow tires on 15" steel wheels weigh 27#. And I can tell you, the car jumps off the line considerably faster with the snow tires. Even with their spongy traction, I can launch better. Cornering is another matter, which is why I like the 17 inch (with high perf tires.)
But when will enough become too much? 20"? 21"? 22" with a 1 1/2" sidewall weighing in at 55#? Unsprung weight is one thing, but do these engineers take moment of inertia into consideration? The farther the rim gets away from the axle, the more horsepower just spins right away into nowhere...
These manufacturers seem to want keep increasing the wheel size on these cars. Remember when 15" was big? Now we are at 17". And I read somewhere that the new SE will have 18"! I am telling you, those wheels are going to weigh 50lbs each. My 17" wheels weigh 45# with the tire. My snow tires on 15" steel wheels weigh 27#. And I can tell you, the car jumps off the line considerably faster with the snow tires. Even with their spongy traction, I can launch better. Cornering is another matter, which is why I like the 17 inch (with high perf tires.)
But when will enough become too much? 20"? 21"? 22" with a 1 1/2" sidewall weighing in at 55#? Unsprung weight is one thing, but do these engineers take moment of inertia into consideration? The farther the rim gets away from the axle, the more horsepower just spins right away into nowhere...
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,530
Re: what about the wheels?
Originally posted by JimmyH
I will tell you what I hate, and it is not just Nissan.
These manufacturers seem to want keep increasing the wheel size on these cars. Remember when 15" was big? Now we are at 17". And I read somewhere that the new SE will have 18"! I am telling you, those wheels are going to weigh 50lbs each. My 17" wheels weigh 45# with the tire. My snow tires on 15" steel wheels weigh 27#. And I can tell you, the car jumps off the line considerably faster with the snow tires. Even with their spongy traction, I can launch better. Cornering is another matter, which is why I like the 17 inch (with high perf tires.)
But when will enough become too much? 20"? 21"? 22" with a 1 1/2" sidewall weighing in at 55#? Unsprung weight is one thing, but do these engineers take moment of inertia into consideration? The farther the rim gets away from the axle, the more horsepower just spins right away into nowhere...
I will tell you what I hate, and it is not just Nissan.
These manufacturers seem to want keep increasing the wheel size on these cars. Remember when 15" was big? Now we are at 17". And I read somewhere that the new SE will have 18"! I am telling you, those wheels are going to weigh 50lbs each. My 17" wheels weigh 45# with the tire. My snow tires on 15" steel wheels weigh 27#. And I can tell you, the car jumps off the line considerably faster with the snow tires. Even with their spongy traction, I can launch better. Cornering is another matter, which is why I like the 17 inch (with high perf tires.)
But when will enough become too much? 20"? 21"? 22" with a 1 1/2" sidewall weighing in at 55#? Unsprung weight is one thing, but do these engineers take moment of inertia into consideration? The farther the rim gets away from the axle, the more horsepower just spins right away into nowhere...
SuDZ
Re: what about the wheels?
Originally posted by JimmyH
I will tell you what I hate, and it is not just Nissan.
These manufacturers seem to want keep increasing the wheel size on these cars. Remember when 15" was big? Now we are at 17". And I read somewhere that the new SE will have 18"! I am telling you, those wheels are going to weigh 50lbs each. My 17" wheels weigh 45# with the tire. My snow tires on 15" steel wheels weigh 27#. And I can tell you, the car jumps off the line considerably faster with the snow tires. Even with their spongy traction, I can launch better. Cornering is another matter, which is why I like the 17 inch (with high perf tires.)
But when will enough become too much? 20"? 21"? 22" with a 1 1/2" sidewall weighing in at 55#? Unsprung weight is one thing, but do these engineers take moment of inertia into consideration? The farther the rim gets away from the axle, the more horsepower just spins right away into nowhere...
I will tell you what I hate, and it is not just Nissan.
These manufacturers seem to want keep increasing the wheel size on these cars. Remember when 15" was big? Now we are at 17". And I read somewhere that the new SE will have 18"! I am telling you, those wheels are going to weigh 50lbs each. My 17" wheels weigh 45# with the tire. My snow tires on 15" steel wheels weigh 27#. And I can tell you, the car jumps off the line considerably faster with the snow tires. Even with their spongy traction, I can launch better. Cornering is another matter, which is why I like the 17 inch (with high perf tires.)
But when will enough become too much? 20"? 21"? 22" with a 1 1/2" sidewall weighing in at 55#? Unsprung weight is one thing, but do these engineers take moment of inertia into consideration? The farther the rim gets away from the axle, the more horsepower just spins right away into nowhere...
i guess the heavier cars get.. the larger the wheels they need to keep up with performance 
can you imagine a 3600 lb sedan with 15 inch wheels? on the flip side.. teh GS 300 has 16 inch wheels 
but i know you wouldn't want to drive a 7 series with 15's 
can you imagine a 3600 lb sedan with 15 inch wheels? on the flip side.. teh GS 300 has 16 inch wheels but i know you wouldn't want to drive a 7 series with 15's
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 157
Originally posted by BigJuice
maybe they want us to invest in more aftermarked light weight wheels
maybe they want us to invest in more aftermarked light weight wheels
so i guess in a year or two all the after market rim chat will be around: what are the hottest 15" and 16" rims so we can dump our performance robbing 20" rims..! What a trend reversal that would be 
On a serious note as someone who buys used cars, and keeps them for a long time I wonder about the high replacement costs of these large tires
. Every used car I've bought, the tires needed replacement within 6 months of the purchase.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 209
Originally posted by SprintMax
i guess the heavier cars get.. the larger the wheels they need to keep up with performance can you imagine a 3600 lb sedan with 15 inch wheels? on the flip side.. teh GS 300 has 16 inch wheels but i know you wouldn't want to drive a 7 series with 15's
i guess the heavier cars get.. the larger the wheels they need to keep up with performance
can you imagine a 3600 lb sedan with 15 inch wheels? on the flip side.. teh GS 300 has 16 inch wheels but i know you wouldn't want to drive a 7 series with 15's
My plans are to upgrade the GTO to at least a 17" and probably an 18" wheel as well as set it up to handle.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 360
From: Chicagoland
I am actually toying with the idea of getting rid of my 17" alloys and going to 16" steel wheels with performance tires. And getting the plastic wheel covers that are on the base Altima. I think they look sharp.
That way I would have a better launch and good handling with a compliant ride.
Alloy wheels are just getting too big and heavy these days. The engineers keep softening up the suspension to compensate.
That way I would have a better launch and good handling with a compliant ride.
Alloy wheels are just getting too big and heavy these days. The engineers keep softening up the suspension to compensate.
Dyno plot says I have the most area under the Administrator curve
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,064
I like the nice OEM 16" 5-spoke alloys on my 99
42lb, wheel+tire.
Forget this 50lb 17", and 50+lb 18" crap
If I bought an 04SE, I'd probably try to see if I could swap the 18's for the 17's from an SL.
42lb, wheel+tire.
Forget this 50lb 17", and 50+lb 18" crap
If I bought an 04SE, I'd probably try to see if I could swap the 18's for the 17's from an SL.
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