i planning on buying new rims and not to be a cheap skate but 18"s are much cheaper than the 19"s. Would 18"s all around look strange and will handling be significantly different or just a little different. What's your say on it !

 

I "downgraded" to 18's all around on my 6...........but not for cheaper tires. I wanted to run 555R2 tires for my daily tires but they don't make them in 19's.

Why not put 17's all around, those tires are even cheaper yet.

 

heck may aswell put 16's!!! much cheaper LOL

On a serious note though, there is a memeber on the fourm LantanaTX he's running SL550 18" wheels all round 18 x 8.5 front & 18 x 9.5 rears and I must say it looks really nice!

If you do go with 18's make sure you budget to lower it otherwise it will look silly.

 

i was planning with going with Brabus Vi reps and yea lowering springs are on there way!

 

Anyone know how going 18s all the way around affects handling? I personally hate the 18/19 setup, not only pricer but less tire selection.

 

If anything it should improve the handling charicteristics on the street. The wheel and tire setup should weigh less, and every pound of rotational weight is worth something like 20 pounds of weight inside the car. The taller sidewall should provide more sidewall flex, which may slow you down on a track.. but in the real world with bumps, the car should ride more comfortable which may give you more confidence through the turns.

 

Here's 18's all around and NOT lowered..............and the handling is awesome(as usual).

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You can get 18" tires in approximately the same width and diameter as the stock 18's and 19's that came on the Crossfire just by changing the tire's "aspect ratio". Any tire store should have a chart to calculate what you need. So lowering it really isn't necessary, (to fill up the wheel wells) unless that's the "look" you want.
As previously posted, changing to a tire with a slightly taller side wall shouldn't change the overall handling that much either, and could improve the ride a little. (Not that a "NA's" ride needs improving).
Mike (Moparrbust's) car looks fantastic, as does Lantana's on 18's. I've thought seriously about changing over myself because I prefer a nice 5-spoke design. Trouble is, I like the stock wheels too.

 

I have 18" all around on my wintertyres. Rodeos much softer now. Prefer the stock rims though. Post pic later on today. Too dark in sweden now. snowchains is coming on.

 

Ive gone to 18's so I can rotate them, 18 x 8.5. Is especially good with rotating the slicks as they really need to rotate to get better life..I swap them by turning them around to get better life and wear the outer edge more evenly. My tire shop likes me and has been doing my swaps for free though I dont know why and dont ask.

On the street there is no problem either, been running 245's at each corner, get a balanced handling. All corners break loose at a similar level of PUSH making it handle more neutral.

Woody

 

you can buy 20" combos for the same price of an 18" combo now....I'd just do that

 

I went with 18s on front and back. I can't remember the widths off the top of my head, but I do remember that front/rear were different sizes, and both sets were wider than stock.

I felt that the reduction in wheel size in the back adversely affected the car's cornering. I can feel the back end "wiggle" more in the curves, which I'm attributing to the taller sidewall on the 18 tires compared to the stock 19s.

Keep in mind though that your mileage may vary. I also went with "highly recommended" yet cheap rear tires. So I think some of the reduction in handling is more due to the tires than the wheel size. Whatever you do, don't get the Sumitomo HTR Z III rear tires. All the reviews love them, but every actual person I've talked to that has them doesn't like them.

 

Actually, in the long run... it would be cheaper and better to put on 20"s at $100/tire.

 

The way the car is setup, wouldn't the offsets be affected? I would think that the rears would have to have to be close to 22...I think 35's in the rear would have to use spacers then...

 

mine came with 19's all around. However the dealership put 215 35 tires on the front, and the wheel protector part of the tire sits atleast a quarter inch inside the lip of the wheels. I get a lot of compliments on the car, but I definately need something a little wider, looking out for any kind of gravel on the road gets lame. There is still a deceant gap up front, and cornering would feel much better with a suspension upgrade, way too much body roll during high speed cornering. chris

 

yea but the rims i want are to expensive in 20"s i want brabus vi replicas ?

 

Screw the wheel and tire combo, that hood is sexy!!

 

has anyone gone with the same height tires front and rear???? ie has anyone gone with 24.5" tall fronts AND rears at the same time?

stock front height is 24.5, stock rear height is 26