To people with 17" wheels - how does your car feel in comparison to 16"ers?

I'm not looking for "I own 17" wheels and my car feels fine", I'm lookin for specific opinions on driving experience between 16" and 17" wheels.

I say this because the wheels I've had my eye on are 17", but after driving a friends vRS with 17" spiders, I'm unsure if it'll handle as well. His felt less planted, and more 'floaty' round corners.

My car currently has standard wheels on, and couple with my coilovers and stiff bushes up front, handles like a go kart. The above mentioned friend is currently having problems with his setup, so it maybe down to that, but in all I need convincing 17"s are an equal drive.

Thanks.

why not try your friends wheels on your car and yours on his?

It'll cure your question, then it might cure your mates issues too.

Also ensure the tyre profile is correct too on your friends.

I had a set of 17's on loan from a friend, they were 5 spoke masitiallis [sp?]. They were very heavy and had 225/45 tyres on, from a mk4 Golf.

They ruined the handling because of the incorrect profile and **** poor tyres.

Hope you get sorted Tim

I've got 17" Team Dynamics pro Race 1.2s, which are very light so handling is a lot better. Combined with rarb/ strut brace and suspension it is seriously drivable. The only side effect is that you feel the bumps a little more due to the lower profile tire.

What wheels have you got your eyes on Tim?

Take the case of a high-performance car. F1 runs with 13-inchers for a reason. Smaller means less rolling resistance and so better performance. Your pride and joy might not look a magazine star though. Which rules, your heart or your head?

Edited 17 September, 201213 yr by BlueRobin

but you're not driving an F1 car, you way as well look at what size wheels a WRC car runs, or W/BTCC for that matter...unless you're running horrible, cheap, nasty, heavy wheels I doubt you would notice your car handling any worse, if anything the slightly lower profile tyre should make turn in a bit sharper

Thanks for the responses.

Good shout, I'll try organising switching wheels to see how they feel. Also worth finding out the weight of both. What's the weight of the standard wheels?

I'm looking at some OEM Audi wheels. Also a little hesitant because they are 5X112, so with adaption they get expensive.

but you're not driving an F1 car, you way as well look at what size wheels a WRC car runs, or W/BTCC for that matter...unless you're running horrible, cheap, nasty, heavy wheels I doubt you would notice your car handling any worse, if anything the slightly lower profile tyre should make turn in a bit sharper

The lower profile will sharpen turn-in, but the ride will suffer

Take the case of a high-performance car. F1 runs with 13-inchers for a reason. Smaller means less rolling resistance and so better performance. Your pride and joy might not look a magazine star though. Which rules, your heart or your head?

Including the tyre on an F1 car... its to be no bigger than 660mm in dry weather which is 26 inches.

Hardly small tbh.

Shhhh! Having worked for a team, I was slightly teasing. It's all about the rubber :-P