Originally Posted by Jeep2Xfire
Actually all of those. When I bought the F1 GS D3's all 4 of them purchased, mounted, balanced, installed with tax and insurance came up to like 1700 if I remember correctly. I do NOT want to skimp on tires because they're the only thing in contact with the ground. But I don NOT want to keep forking over that kind of money being a wear item. Performance/lighter weight?? Sure I'll take that. Lowers the car a little, fine nice too. The car will be lowered to fill in the wheel wells as well.
Just remember, as sidewall heights increase, speed ratings normally decrease.
And, it goes without saying that you'll definitely notice a decrease in responsiveness/steering feel.
The only reason folks go with 17's in the rear is for sidewall flex... which, in drag-racing, is advantageous.
When I go with my next set of wheels, I'm going to stay true to the 18/19 stagger, as the engineers designed it. I realize you can fit bigger wheels and tires, and live to tell about it... but the suspension components, spring rates, and shock dampening all was designed around the weights of the 18/19 stagger. Once those weights change drastically, so should the other values in the entire car to compensate. No doubt that
lighter would be more desirable than
heavier; after all, it's simply that much less rotational mass that you have to bring up to speed, turn, and stop.
But... sidewall rigidity shouldn't suffer in the name of weight and frugality. Based on that math, 16" wheels/tires are even lighter, and significantly cheaper. You might even be able to get a set for $400.
As for me, I'll stick with what the engineers set forth as precedent.