Hi!

I just put a deposit on a xA and was going to get the stock 10 spoke 15" alloys. But then I got to thinking and decided that 15 is just too small.

I went to tirerack and picked out a couple of tire/rim combos that I think will do the job nicely.

Using the most excellent utility below, I was able to determine the differences in overall wheel size and came up with 1.2% for the 17" or .8% for the 18" combo.

I really would like to go as big as possible, but am concerned about some of the posts here concerning rubbing and such.

Really, if the TRD wheels affected the ride as bad as some suggest the bigger tires do I doubt Scion would offer them.

Does anyone know the specs of the TRD wheels/tires? Perhaps they would offer a good guideline for choosing aftermarket legs.

Right now, though, I am leaning more toward the 18"s just because the overall wheel size is closer to the stock wheels, and hopefully that will give a better ride. The 18's are 18x7 tires are 215-35-18.

I am not overly concerned about the ride quality, the reviews here are mixed. Is there anyone out there who has a real life opinion about riding with 18's?

Thanks for any help!

Great tire size utility!
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

 

1.2% is not noticable at all. I have 17" wheels with 215/45 tires and they ride noticably harsher than the stock 15" wheels. I would not go with 18" wheels but that's just me...

I have heard the TRD wheels are heavy, that's a draw back for performance and handling because it's more weight to get moving, stopped and control over bumps.

ken

 

running 17s also. Look perfect once lowered and ride great!
c my profile.

 

Great xAs guys.. I called the dealer today and the guys at the dealership I was dealing with aren't in. I hate waiting!

I want bigger rims, I know that, but if I don't lower it will it still look good? Any opinions?

I really don't want to lower because of the harsh winters here.
I actually considered installing springs in the spring and removing them in the winter.


Correct me if I am wrong, but will 18x7 rims look better than 17s without lowering?

I guess this is all kind of hard to say...but thanks for any input!

 

I've got 18x7's right now on 225/40/18. when you drop it using Eibach springs, with that tire setup, the car still sits at almost the stock height. The only thing is that when you do a full wheel lock in one direction or the other, you'll hear the tires rub against the splash guard. I just trimmed the area out and it's fine now

 

Yeah,
I think I am going to go with 17x7s and 205/40s. See how it looks and then decide if I want to go down an inch or two.

Now if I could just get the car! Should be in next week.

 

Don't go with the 205/40/17. You will regret it. These look small on the Scion and they ride pretty rough. Either go with the 215/40/17 or the 215/45/17. It will look better and be a bit more comfortable.

 

Hmm,
I was considering the 205's on a 17x7.

Wont a 215 on a 7" rim bulge out more?

My other thought was 215/35 on 18x7s.

Perhaps I should consider 17x7.5s with 215/40/17s ?

 

I agree. 215 will give you a higher aspect and also wider. Looks bester and rides bester.

 

The 215/40 or the 215/45 will work fine on a 7" rim. I have a 7" rim with a 215/45. A 7.5" would the the perfect wheel width, but it will work fine either way.

If you go with a 18", I would go with a bigger diameter tire for comfort sake, but that's me. A 35 series is not much tire. A 215/40 or 225/40 will work and be more comfortable. With a 225, you have to work the offset a little, but I know it works.

 

It might be a good idea to get the car first and then worry about wheels. There are several good reasons for this:

1. Aftermarket wheels are less expensive than the factory accessory wheels.
2. You have your stock wheels and tires to play with. They can become winter wheels (depending upon where you live ) or can be sold.
3. You can drive on them while you are learning where the wheels are. Get the scuffs on the steel wheels, not on your new $$$ custom wheels!
4. Driving on the stock wheels gives you a baseline so that when you put new wheels on you can tell how they feel different.

 

Thanks jomo,

I think I will go for the 215/40/17s on a 7.5" rim.

One thing I am not too clear is the Wheel offset, but I will pick a rim first and go from there.
Thanks agaiN!

 

That'll work. You will like it a lot better than the 205. I wouldn't spend any time pulling your hair out looking for that perfect 7.5" rim. Most 17" out there are going to be 7", and they will be fine with the 215.