Wheel heights

[d3ad1ysp0rk]

What's the benefit to having a higher sidewall?

These are 195/50/15s mounted on SSR comps;


(I found a /50/ because that is what the RT-615s come in.. 205/50/15).

Wouldn't it look better and perform as well with a 45 sidewall?

[slowion2]

well, it's going to be taller than a 45 sidewall as long as the width is the same, meaning more rotations per mile, and technically the feeling of taller gearing. it will have more cushion too and possibly flex more than a 45 sidewall, but that has more to do with the construction of the tire. for the most part though it's the same. I would have went 205/50 or 205/55 though, not 195/50. the weight is going to be neglible.

[d3ad1ysp0rk]

Not mine, just a pic I found online. I was more looking at the tires mounted on the wheels and wondering why it looked so big.

[ProDarwin]

Age old discussion... do you want more tire or more wheel? Big reason for sidewall is to act as a cusion.

[The Shaolin]

I want more tire...less chance of breaking a wheel, fills fender gap better, rides a lil nicer (not really an issue on my car..lol)

[d3ad1ysp0rk]

Age old discussion... do you want more tire or more wheel? Big reason for sidewall is to act as a cusion.

Alright cool, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't like "Big sidewall = handling better and smaller sidewall = looking better".

[DasPirate]

Alright cool, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't like "Big sidewall = handling better and smaller sidewall = looking better".

While traditionally smaller sidewalls handle better due to being stiffer, it's waaaay more complex than that. You can read about tire technology for years and still not know all there is to know. A lot of it is still guessing and experimenting.

[ProDarwin]

Yeah, we've argued this over and over, as with any site.

Really what it comes down to is: for MAXIMUM performance, pick the tire, then find a wheel.

If its just a street car, do what you want. Some prefer 17s with rubber bands, others prefer 15s.

[saturnspeed_12]

I want more tire......... fills fender gap better

actually that just depends on overall diameter. you could go with 19" rim and have a tiny sidewall and it would fill the wheel well.


to me, for performance id look around 55-40 (also dependant on section width). im liking the 50's on 16"

[The Shaolin]

uhhh, duhr, yeah, thanks...

but i'm not going to put 22's on my Saturn to fill fender gap.