I am currently running 17in rims with 245/50R17 and was thinking of uping to 18in rims with 245/45R18. Has any one had any problem with 18in rims? I am a little scarred of bending them.

problems...you have to make sure your braking system is REALLY up to snuff number one! remember, the bigger the wheel, the more the brake system has to work to stop that car..

next...your acceleration goes way sluggish

and last but not least...rubbing issues...and yeah i think 18s might rub on the spring seat...

but maybe not!

Are you asking from a performance standpoint or a looks standpoint? If it'* looks, we'll move this to detailing and appearance.

Accelleration and braking will both be worse, and the sidewall will flex less, having the effect of increasing the 'feel' entering a turn, but decreased traction through the turn. The sidewall needs to flex to maintain the contact patch with the road.

Overall, a negative performance impact and a harsher ride.

I would think that with lower profile tires, like 16-18 inch, would decrease rolling resistance. Imagine pushing a car with fat tires, compared to stiff 16-18 inch tires? Better mileage and better acceleration?

I'd also think braking would feel firmer, and would stop better, because you have wider tires, (more contact with the road?)?

Someone educate me.

If you are looking at this from a performance standpoint, don't do it. My friend didn't listen to me and put 18'* on his olds 88 and it rides like my dad'* Durango now.

Rolling resistance has nothing to do with wheel diameter, and everything to do with TIRE PRESSURE ONLY.

Rotating MASS is another story. It takes more power to get them moving and to make them stop.

I have 18'* and my car doesn't take any longer to stop or did i notice a loss in acceleration, at least not that i have noticed, Even though more rotating mass does make sense, but does the actual weight of the rims effect anything. Cuz believe it or not my 18'* are lighter than my 16'* (premium wheel package on the se) But i will say this. Keep the 17'* and get some bad@$$ tires..LMAO. I really want to go back to my 16'* with a good grippy tire. Also the actually ride was not affected either with the 18'*, but IT DOES STEER INTO POT HOLES WHEN I RUN OVER THEM. I did notice that..lol


James

I am more concerned about bending them. I bent 6 rims when I had 245/45R17 tires on a 17x8 rim. Right now I am running 245/50R17, but they are rare and expensive. But they are the right overall diameter so the transition shifts right and ABS works normal. The 245/45R18 with 18x8 rims are the right size to but like I said I am worried about bending them.

Due to personal experiance wren, i get better handling and traction entering, during and leaving a turn with my 18'* over my 16'* and 17'*. With the 16'* the *** of my bonne has broke loose more than a few times when driving along lake the Huron Lake access roads, where it has'nt happened once with the 18'* and only once with the 17'*.

My opinion having owned larger wheels with low profile tires, they handle better on clean dry road, give better cornering, harder ride, and wear quicker. You really don't want side wall tire flex because that gives you body roll and when you are carving corners, you want a wide flat contact patch on the ground. Also the wider the tire and the more agressive the tread the more rolling resistance there is, tire pressure has allot to do with it too, but it you run the tires at the std. pressure then you are going to have more resistance, and that along with the weight will lead to worse fuel economy and depending on how powerful the car is slower acceleration. I know when i added a taller, heavier, wider tire to my truck, my gas mileage went down 2mpg in the city and 3mpg hwy. Also my truck is a stick so I can feel that extra resistance whenever I let the clutch out.This is my experience anyway.