16 in wheels to 17 in wheels?
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 388
Likes: 1
From: Mishawaka, IN
16 in wheels to 17 in wheels? So my Z28 currently has the stocker snowflake wheels. I'm looking to upgrade to the 10 spoke 17 in SS wheels. My questions are these:
1. Will my handling improve?
2. Will my ride quality stay the same, increase, decrease?
3. Do I need to get my speedo adjusted?
4. Are there any cons or negative side effects of the 17 in wheels vs the 16 in wheels?
5. Will I get the same gas mileage?
Thanks in advance, I just want to make sure I know everything there is to know before making this decision.
1. Will my handling improve?
2. Will my ride quality stay the same, increase, decrease?
3. Do I need to get my speedo adjusted?
4. Are there any cons or negative side effects of the 17 in wheels vs the 16 in wheels?
5. Will I get the same gas mileage?
Thanks in advance, I just want to make sure I know everything there is to know before making this decision.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,629
Likes: 2,551
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Several of these questions were answered in your last thread about this:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/wheels-ti...ss-wheels.html
But to recap.....
1) Yes.
2) Ride quality will be more harsh with the smaller sidewall of the 275/40 vs. the 245/50. Just how noticeable this will be depends on personal perception, road conditions, tire choice, and shocks/suspension condition.
3) No. Tire diameter is 25.65" for 245/50/16 vs. 25.66" for 275/40/17.
4) Yes. If you drive the car in snow conditions, the wider 17" wheel/tire combo will increase contact patch and spread the vehicle weight over a greater area, thus reducing bite in the snow. A skinnier wheel/tire combo will offer superior traction for these cars in snow conditions. Also, as mentioned in #2, ride quality will be a bit more harsh as compared to the 245/50 tires, all else being equal. Additionally, the wider tires will be more likely to follow grooves in the road. These are the things I have personally noticed on my two Z28s that I have switched from 16" (245/50) to 17" (275/40) wheels (tires).
Having said all that, I still believe that the switch to 17" wheels for spring/summer/fall duty was the right choice and I would do it again. Those issues I listed are minor at best. However, I do have a separate set of 16" wheels with 225mm snow tires for the winter.
5) I personally have noticed no significant difference in this area. Technically, rolling resistance will be higher, and overall wheel/tire weight will be a bit greater, so I guess it stands to reason that MPG would theoretically be decreased to some degree. But again, I think we're talking marginal amounts here because it was never enough for me to even notice.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/wheels-ti...ss-wheels.html
But to recap.....
1) Yes.
2) Ride quality will be more harsh with the smaller sidewall of the 275/40 vs. the 245/50. Just how noticeable this will be depends on personal perception, road conditions, tire choice, and shocks/suspension condition.
3) No. Tire diameter is 25.65" for 245/50/16 vs. 25.66" for 275/40/17.
4) Yes. If you drive the car in snow conditions, the wider 17" wheel/tire combo will increase contact patch and spread the vehicle weight over a greater area, thus reducing bite in the snow. A skinnier wheel/tire combo will offer superior traction for these cars in snow conditions. Also, as mentioned in #2, ride quality will be a bit more harsh as compared to the 245/50 tires, all else being equal. Additionally, the wider tires will be more likely to follow grooves in the road. These are the things I have personally noticed on my two Z28s that I have switched from 16" (245/50) to 17" (275/40) wheels (tires).
Having said all that, I still believe that the switch to 17" wheels for spring/summer/fall duty was the right choice and I would do it again. Those issues I listed are minor at best. However, I do have a separate set of 16" wheels with 225mm snow tires for the winter.
5) I personally have noticed no significant difference in this area. Technically, rolling resistance will be higher, and overall wheel/tire weight will be a bit greater, so I guess it stands to reason that MPG would theoretically be decreased to some degree. But again, I think we're talking marginal amounts here because it was never enough for me to even notice.
Last edited by RPM WS6; Apr 3, 2013 at 12:58 AM.
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 388
Likes: 1
From: Mishawaka, IN
Several of these questions were answered in your last thread about this:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/wheels-ti...ss-wheels.html
But to recap.....
1) Yes.
2) Ride quality will be more harsh with the smaller sidewall of the 275/40 vs. the 245/50. Just how noticeable this will be depends on personal perception, road conditions, tire choice, and shocks/suspension condition.
3) No. Tire diameter is 25.65" for 245/50/16 vs. 25.66" for 275/40/17.
4) Yes. If you drive the car in snow conditions, the wider 17" wheel/tire combo will increase contact patch and spread the vehicle weight over a greater area, thus reducing bite in the snow. A skinnier wheel/tire combo will offer superior traction for these cars in snow conditions. Also, as mentioned in #2, ride quality will be a bit more harsh as compared to the 245/50 tires, all else being equal. Additionally, the wider tires will be more likely to follow grooves in the road. These are the things I have personally noticed on my two Z28s that I have switched from 16" (245/50) to 17" (275/40) wheels (tires).
Having said all that, I still believe that the switch to 17" wheels for spring/summer/fall duty was the right choice and I would do it again. Those issues I listed are minor at best. However, I do have a separate set of 16" wheels with 225mm snow tires for the winter.
5) I personally have noticed no significant difference in this area. Technically, rolling resistance will be higher, and overall wheel/tire weight will be a bit greater, so I guess it stands to reason that MPG would theoretically be decreased to some degree. But again, I think we're talking marginal amounts here because it was never enough for me to even notice.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/wheels-ti...ss-wheels.html
But to recap.....
1) Yes.
2) Ride quality will be more harsh with the smaller sidewall of the 275/40 vs. the 245/50. Just how noticeable this will be depends on personal perception, road conditions, tire choice, and shocks/suspension condition.
3) No. Tire diameter is 25.65" for 245/50/16 vs. 25.66" for 275/40/17.
4) Yes. If you drive the car in snow conditions, the wider 17" wheel/tire combo will increase contact patch and spread the vehicle weight over a greater area, thus reducing bite in the snow. A skinnier wheel/tire combo will offer superior traction for these cars in snow conditions. Also, as mentioned in #2, ride quality will be a bit more harsh as compared to the 245/50 tires, all else being equal. Additionally, the wider tires will be more likely to follow grooves in the road. These are the things I have personally noticed on my two Z28s that I have switched from 16" (245/50) to 17" (275/40) wheels (tires).
Having said all that, I still believe that the switch to 17" wheels for spring/summer/fall duty was the right choice and I would do it again. Those issues I listed are minor at best. However, I do have a separate set of 16" wheels with 225mm snow tires for the winter.
5) I personally have noticed no significant difference in this area. Technically, rolling resistance will be higher, and overall wheel/tire weight will be a bit greater, so I guess it stands to reason that MPG would theoretically be decreased to some degree. But again, I think we're talking marginal amounts here because it was never enough for me to even notice.
