Going from 16" to 18" wheels....
Going from 16" to 18" wheels.... So, I'm about to change out to 18" wheels all around. Now, my question is if a lot of you guys change the springs since you're going to be sitting 2" higher? Do a lot of you guys drop the car a bit because of the extra height?
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Waldwick, NJ
Originally Posted by TTSSZ
well.......... 
The 18" tire will have a smaller side wall so the tire dia. can be the same size.
just the rim is bigger.
The 18" tire will have a smaller side wall so the tire dia. can be the same size.
just the rim is bigger.
Originally Posted by rally2247
my question is if a lot of you guys change the springs since you're going to be sitting 2" higher?
WOO-HOO... i fainaly used that stuff i learned in high school!
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Originally Posted by WhiteKnightZ28
Actauly even if you got tires with the same sidewall hight you'd only be sitting 1" higher, the diamiter of the wheels is 2'' bigger but the radius (hight from the center of the rim to the outside) will only be 1" higher.
WOO-HOO... i fainaly used that stuff i learned in high school!
WOO-HOO... i fainaly used that stuff i learned in high school!
if he got tires with the same sidewall height, it would be 2inches higher, bc the diameter is 2 inches taller, if the radius is 1 inch taller, that doesnt mean it will only add 1 inch, he doesnt have half of a rim...
radius plus 1in + radius plus 1in = diameter + 2 in
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Ohio
I agree.
It would would make sense that in order to keep the same height you would have to get a tire with 2" less sidewall to make up for the additional 2 inches of the rim. So does that mean if you go from stock 16 inch rims and put on 17 inch ws6 rims that with the sidewall adjustment the car would have the same ride height as the ws6?
It would would make sense that in order to keep the same height you would have to get a tire with 2" less sidewall to make up for the additional 2 inches of the rim. So does that mean if you go from stock 16 inch rims and put on 17 inch ws6 rims that with the sidewall adjustment the car would have the same ride height as the ws6?
Originally Posted by Donohue96M6Z28
to me that makes no sense..maybe im missing something though
if he got tires with the same sidewall height, it would be 2inches higher, bc the diameter is 2 inches taller, if the radius is 1 inch taller, that doesnt mean it will only add 1 inch, he doesnt have half of a rim...
radius plus 1in + radius plus 1in = diameter + 2 in
if he got tires with the same sidewall height, it would be 2inches higher, bc the diameter is 2 inches taller, if the radius is 1 inch taller, that doesnt mean it will only add 1 inch, he doesnt have half of a rim...
radius plus 1in + radius plus 1in = diameter + 2 in
Originally Posted by trix5032
well ur wrong but let me try to explain. u only count the added height from the radius because thats where the axle comes through which is the center
lol we arent seeing things the same way
, who cares i guess 
You can slice and dice it either way you want to, in the end, he's gotta lower the car. It doesn't matter what wheel you put on these cars, fact is, car should be lowered, at least an inch. GM just likes jacking up the Fbody for some reason....ah hell so does Ford with the Mustang....the lowering springs manufacturers have to make their money somehow 
Look up tire diameters on Tire Rack. I am about to go from 16s to 18s, as well, and the difference between a 245/50/16 KDWS and 295/35/18 is less than half an inch total height.
Wheel diameter has NO EFFECT on how high the car sits. The TIRE DIAMETER is what's going to affect the car's height. A 16" wheel with a 26" tall tire will be just as tall as an 18" wheel with a 26" tall tire. When choosing tires for a larger diameter wheel you need to use an online calculator to get tires that are the same height, or as close as possible to the stockers, or else you will get false speedometer readings. Aesthetically, I think 18" wheels do make the 4x4 look stick out more. When I put on 18's, I swapped springs a week later.
