It's time for new shoes. I like 18's, but I do a lot of city driving with potholes and parallel parking (I can park like a mofo, but when in Chicago or Detroit, sometimes you gotta do it in a hurry, so curb rash is a fact of life). 17's are easier on the suspension, but what about performance?

18's look cool, but will I destroy the rims? Will I notice a difference in handling?

Anythoughts would be more then appreciated-

U.

i donno for my tastes the biggest i would go on an E36 is 18s nicely fill up the wheel wells and they look kool :stickoutt

In a few words: 18s for looks; 17s for performance.

ex- that pretty much sums up what I thought.

17's it is then.

I think 17s look best on the E36 as well.

I decided to go 17's with a 225/45, they look sick, sometimes I think they are 18s

18s

I'm thinking 17s with 235 on them- for that little extra something something. Any arguments for the 18's other then looks?

17" is teh go.
18" is teh show.

I'm thinking 17s with 235 on them- for that little extra something something. Any arguments for the 18's other then looks?

You'll spend roughly 100 more for tires every time you need to replace them.

You run a higher risk of bending a rim

to get real extreme: the extra unsrpung weight and rotational mass will make your car slower, handle worst, and lower the gas mileage (only slightly, of course)

I know 17's are better than 18's for practical use, but everytime i looked at my rims (my old rims now), i wished they were 18's. I would never be happy with the smaller size. thats just me though.

17" is teh go.
18" is teh show.
17" go
18" 19" show

Actually if you run a BBK you have to run the 18's. They don't kill performance, a lot of guys who do track events run 18 inch wheels. There is a much better selection of tires in R compound for the 18's than for 17's.

I am putting a stop tech front kit on my car and will have to run 18's to clear the front rotor/caliper. The 17's won't clear.

From what I've read and witnessed first hand (friend of mine does autox with a '94 911 S2 Turbo) most of the people using 18's on the track are using BBK's with them as well, and if you have more then 13.5 inch rotors, you pretty much have to. Some of those really spiffy 6 piston calipers require 19's even, depending on what you have (re: E46 m3 GTR race car). But I have no intention of getting one of those kits, since I don't do the autocross (yet) and unless you're doing that, the BBK is a waste of money. They're only really useful when you are placing repeated stress on the components, and that is when they really shine.

Right now I'm using Hawk HP+ pads, and am very happy with the braking for my street applications. I'm gonna upgrade to floating rotors as soon as this set us gone.

In short, I have no performance reason to use 18's, although GGray is right, there is a better R compound selection. I think that has more to do with the fact that most people that need that kind of rubber also need BBk's with bigger rims.

Now, if only the 17's that I ordered would actually arrive (I got my third email saying that they are delayed. I am not pleased.)

I need the BBK! I roast the front brakes at the track..although it is prettty cool to pull in and have the rotors smoking :D for five minutes and making crackling sounds...

Unless I was in need of more brake though I would stick with the 17's.

Ubertino..I am sorry but the money pit will never fill up.....Just think of it as more like a black hole that sucks the dollars right out of your wallet!!! The more you spend though the bigger you will smile, or get in trouble!

I'd suggest learning to parallel park. Curb rash doesn't have to happen, especially with the right tires. :)

Well, some of us are working photojournalists who do a lot of coverage in both Detroit and Chicago. Knowing how to parrallel park is one thing, but doing it in heavy traffic while under time constraints (wire deadline), sometimes you just might touch the curb here or there. I'm not saying it's epidemic or anything, just that it happens, and in my line of work, a fact of life. Right there with high milage cars and a bad back.

:)

Well, some of us are working photojournalists who do a lot of coverage in both Detroit and Chicago. Knowing how to parrallel park is one thing, but doing it in heavy traffic while under time constraints (wire deadline), sometimes you just might touch the curb here or there. I'm not saying it's epidemic or anything, just that it happens, and in my line of work, a fact of life. Right there with high milage cars and a bad back.

:)
Get tires with rim protectors like the Toyo T-1S (http://toyo.com/tires/tire_lines/sports_car/t1s.html).

Nice... I will have to look into them. Do a search on how good they are. Thanks for the info!

Ive had 18" w/ 225-40-18s for less than two months and I already nicked one from a pothole :mad

I've had no problems with my 18s and I've been running them for about 6 months. I only have a small scratch on one wheel and that is from hitting a chunk of concrete at 60ish mph.