'Trust'

iTrader: (24)

In the summer it'll be time to upgrade the wheels and I really want to know what is the best size with daily driving, performance etc. corners all that in mind. What size is ideal? I've got a list from 16-18. I know that 19's are more show than go, and I also know that street legal tires dont crease much if any on a launch. Keep in mind that the wheels you vote for will be on street tires. Thanks.

_JB_

iTrader: (33)

It's pretty much a tossup. The larger the wheel, the more it will weigh, but the largest I would go for my car would be 18s.

2MuchRiceMakesMeSick

Street tire I use 18" 335 DRs.
For the track I had 15" bogarts

85Regal350

id say 16's or 17's. Ive got 16s and they are plenty good. I will be upgrading to either a 17 or 18 i just dont have money and dont know what exactly will look good on a regal.

Rescue Ranger

iTrader: (10)

100% There are some threads that people have posted their 1/4 times between their heavy chrome z06 18" reps and their stock snowflake z28 rims w/ DRs, i think MADICEV8 went from 13.0 to 12.4... but thats mostly traction.

I love my OEM 10-spokes for daily driving. I'll throw on my snowflakes w/ DR's for the track.

'Trust'

iTrader: (24)

Yea, I remember having my 18'' ZO's on the car and they were pretty heavy, no traction problems back then compared to the bald 16's, but I'm sure new bigger wheels/tires and the fact that it was almost a stock LS1 back then probably helped! Looks like 17's are leading the poll. I'd like to get the car as good looking AND fuctional as each will allow, maybe some 17" FM-5's?!

93formto98T/A

iTrader: (28)

Go 18'. Especially for cornering/handling you want a taller wheel/lower profile tire to prevent sidewall rolling. I don't think you should worry about wrinkling sidewalls on the street with even 16" wheels. JMO

Hambone 7

you'll find more choices of drag tires the closer to 15" you get

Ell Ess Won

I wouldn't go any smaller thant 18", I even like the look of a 19" especially on a lowered car but it just depends if you want all out performance or a mix of both?

Viper

iTrader: (6)

17" FM5's really helped mu autox times, light wheel to boot.

99blancoSS

iTrader: (115)

depends on which performance your looking for. If your lookinjg for 1/4 mile times you want a small wheel with a lot of tire(sidewall) for a bigger footprint(which equals traction). Road racing is different. The most choices in rubber seem to be in 17" sizes but the 18's are catching up. I like 18's for the road.

98LS-WON

Good luck finding a D/R that is wider than 245 for a 16" wheel.

Zger

iTrader: (18)

Um, MT makes the Et Street radial in 255/50/16. Ive seen 1.51 60's with those tires.

98LS-WON

Damn, I've never seen that size before. maybe I'm just getting old and blind.

JimMueller

iTrader: (9)

I'd base this a bit on the roads/tracks you'll be driving/racing upon as well. If there are a lot of potholes or other imperfections, I'd stay away from the 18's, and the relatively softer sidewalls of the 16/17's will help with comfort.

You'll get the best straightline mechanical advantage with a small diameter wheel and large diameter tire, and always with the lightest pair you can afford, but a lighter wheel may be prone to bend under certain conditions - depends upon material.

As already stated, it's difficult to find a DOT or drag radial which comes as wide as the 17's and 18's. Well, you can get them in bias ply road racing slicks, but that really doesn't apply unless you want to pay $400-500 new ($200-300 slightly used, though) and replace them every few hundred miles