Sorry for last post. Hit submit before I realized it. I think 17's are nice, again, because they fit stock tires. However, a larger wheel in combination with lower profile tires will contribute to overall improved handling and sharper turn-in (at the cost of ride quality). With that said, a set of 18's that are lightweight (volks or advans) would probably be a very nice setup....but I don' thave that kind of money to spend on wheels.

 

here are the torque figures

sub wrx: 60kg-m@4000rpm
citro xsara: 58kg-m@2750rpm
peugeot 307: 580Nm@3500rpm
ford focus: 550Nm@4000rpm
mits lancer/cedia: 55kg-m@3500rpm

 

Now say you're sorry for misleading the forum....

 

Here are the (hopefully accurate) converted torque specs in lb/ft:

sub wrx: 434 lb/ft @4000rpm
citro xsara: 420 lb/ft @2750rpm
peugeot 307: 428 lb/ft @3500rpm
ford focus: 406 lb/ft @4000rpm
mits lancer/cedia: 398 lb/ft @3500rpm

<LONG BORING AMATEUR OPINION>

Sure they have more power, and sure a bigger wheel combo *might* put a little more unsprung weight out there depending on which one you get. However, unless you live your life a 1/4 mile at a time, the performance gain on many types of tarmac surfaces would outweigh the slight loss in power to the ground. However, you have to take into account the surface, driving style, etc.

For instance, If you like to trail brake, maybe you do want to stay with 17's so you can take advantage of the more forgiving taller tire that will roll over a bit, getting a higher slip angle coming into a turn. If you are all about being smooth and do all your braking before a turn, and drive with an "egg on your gas pedal", well you might enjoy the more precise nature of the lower profile tires. I've found that the taller tire is really fun on initial turn-in under braking because it rotates so freely, but it's a little harder to correct if you come in REALLY hot because the input takes so long to translate to the ground. I've started to take smoother corners (less rally style and more circuit style) and this is where I notice how imprecise the tires are while doing minor course corrections. That's why I plan on getting some 18" wheels.

I think the WRC crews have something like 200+ types of tires to choose from, differing in compound, tread, and size. They also may customize any particualar tire by adding spikes, sipes, cuts, etc. depending on the specific track surfaces, driving styles, weather, etc. All this makes it just about impossible to say 18's are better than 17's, 17's are better than 18's, 18's are bling, 17's are performance, etc. It just DEPENDS it's not black and white.

Another point: The rims our car comes with aren't exactly the lightest in the world, so it's entirely possible to buy an 18" wheel with less unsprung weight than the stock 17's.

</LONG BORING AMATEUR OPINION>

 

i say **** them both and get 19's

 

Get 14" hubcap spinners. Seems to the the fad around here on t1t3 aZZ cavaliers

 

i agree with him 100%. 17's are generally lighter, 17' tires are cheaper, and you can buy tires based on how sticky it is, not based on how thin it is.... plus more of the rim wheel is closer to the axle

 

I say 19s .

 

i would go with 18x9's as the taller wheel will assist in top speed while the 9" width will give you more contact patch.

 

word.

 

basically increasing the final ratio... which is kinda defeating the purpose on an evo is to be super fast on a track, not making speed records.... plus people with 18's usually get low profile tires to compensate so top speed is not significantly effected... but if low profiles arent used, then the accuracy of the speedo will be affected and top speed may increase 5-6mph at most....... actually i would get 17x9 not 18x9... like 5Zigen FN01R 17x9... superior then a 18x9 in everyway...

 

I'm all about 19"

 

Actually top speed will probably not go up at all. The EVO reaches 160 and is drag limited. You will need considerably more power to get faster. The relationship between power and higher top speed is exponential.

 

18" - The car will be slower after you put them on. The hardest part will be finding rims to fit the offset.

 

Since I'm planning on road racing, not drag racing, I'm voting 18's ... as wide as possible ...I'll be putting 18x9.5 rims (most likely Volk CE28N) shod with BFG KD tires (265s) next spring

l8r)