17 inch wheel options

[coolhandluke]

What are the intended use-cases? Item that may dictate the rim/tire combo:
-Usecase(s) - Ex: Street only, combo track, etc
-Spoon/Big Brake Kit - Clearance requirements impact offset or spoke designs
-Other preferences - Ex: Low offset or concave design
-Ride height - Could limit tire width or sidewall

[Xian]

Having said this, maybe there are more options out there than the last time I looked? The options in 15” are really damn good right now... I can’t imagine there’s a solid need to go to 17’s?

You may be right. Just looked up 15" tire options. Seems like a lot more choices than when I looked them up previously.

Yeah, like I said, I haven’t shopped 17” options in years but with 205, 225, and 245 street tires being available in 15” diameter... I just don’t see a need to go to 17’s. As Ryan mentions, maybe you need 17’s for a BBK or something like that? Even in that case, I’d say to get a different BBK that’ll let you use the cheaper and more easily available 15’s.

PS
We could get super pedantic and go down the rabbit hole of determining how far the weight concentration of the 17’s are vs the 15’s. Try to work out the difference in rotational inertia.

Edit:
For some reason I was remembering the total diameter difference as being closer to 1”? It’s not a ton but it all adds up... and it’ll impact your effective gearing too.

[aw614]

Hmm, if the gearing calculators are correct that 600mm 215/45/16 would have given me 3 mph more then my 205/50/15s for autocross in 2nd gear and right at 60 mph vs 57/58 mph on my jdm 4.78 transmission. Too much bouncing off the limiter with that transmission. But now that the brooksville runway is no longer going to host events, I think that top of 2nd gear should be more moot now if the potential autocross sites end up being smaller and tighter parking lot style courses, where the 4.78 will be fine. Time will tell...

[Xian]

IME, in a lower HP car where it’s tough to build speed, I’d rather have the better gearing/acceleration and lose a couple peak MPH. I’m sure you can make a pretty strong counter-argument if there’s a specific site where you’re always banging the limiter though.

[Dave7CDMTYPER]

What are the intended use-cases? Item that may dictate the rim/tire combo:
-Usecase(s) - Ex: Street only, combo track, etc
-Spoon/Big Brake Kit - Clearance requirements impact offset or spoke designs
-Other preferences - Ex: Low offset or concave design
-Ride height - Could limit tire width or sidewall

I am reconsidering this whole 17 inch wheel idea haha. This is why we have this forum though. Call me crazy, but the main reason was so that I would have "access" to Michelin pilot sport tires on my daily gs-r with 5 lug. That's about the only reason!

So for me, use is purely street. GS-R is not a track car (but may be assigned duties once mileage gets up and I build a badass n/a engine with ITB's). I am going to put on spoon brakes soon, but the usdm oem ITR wheels clear iirc.

I am going to lower it a bit more, but not too much b/c of daily street duties. Currently sits not that low on Koni/itr spring combo. May do a coilover soon to enhance the handling a bit. The things I do now to my gs-r are fine tuning. It has a lot of ITR spec modifications on it, such as jdm rear sway bar.

I think with regard to this thread, I'd really want a wider tire to enhance handling. I want to get away from that Econo-box handling and have a feeling of more of a footprint on the pavement.

So my new thought is to see how I can fit a 215 or 225 wide tire probably in 15 inch spec (or 16). Because I am slightly unreasonable I have a desire to go wider and do the 225.

[Dave7CDMTYPER]

I just don’t see a need to go to 17’s. As Ryan mentions, maybe you need 17’s for a BBK or something like that?

I don't have a "need" here, just a "want."

[aw614]

I just don’t see a need to go to 17’s. As Ryan mentions, maybe you need 17’s for a BBK or something like that?

I don't have a "need" here, just a "want."

90s/early 2000s tuner/dtm look?

But I think you can get nearly almost of that performance with the conti extreme contact sport

[Xian]

Yep, I’d take a look at the Conti ContactSport or whatever it’s being called. It’s on a par with the PS4 in the dry and as good/maybe better in the wet (IIRC). Only reason that I haven’t bought them is that they didn’t make a rear tire wide enough for the application.

[Dave7CDMTYPER]

I just don’t see a need to go to 17’s. As Ryan mentions, maybe you need 17’s for a BBK or something like that?

I don't have a "need" here, just a "want."

90s/early 2000s tuner/dtm look?

But I think you can get nearly almost of that performance with the conti extreme contact sport

For that "Rollin on dubs look."

Good to know about the continental tire. I think I had those in a/s variety on a bmw wagon I used to own, they seemed pretty good.

[Dave7CDMTYPER]

Yep, I’d take a look at the Conti ContactSport or whatever it’s being called. It’s on a par with the PS4 in the dry and as good/maybe better in the wet (IIRC). Only reason that I haven’t bought them is that they didn’t make a rear tire wide enough for the application.

Cool man! I didn't realize this tire was f/s in 15", must be new for us? Actually decent price ($96 as of this writing) and good treadware rating. Seems like the best tire to by for dd 15".


https://m.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp? ... mpare1=yes