BamaNation

Would 18 inch rims make my car sit up higher? I can live with the stock stance it has on 17's, but I want 18 inch DD bullits and I was wondering what kind of tire & rim combos that I could go with and not make it sit up higher? Should I get 17 inch DD bullits? I really don't want to lower the car. Just trying to get into some chrome DD bullits without messing with the springs and shocks and the overall look. Any pics that you can share would be nice.

Thanks in advance!

blkstang06

no: in general rim size increase, tire hight decreases, overall dimensions stay the same...

89Trooper

You can make it sit higher if you mess up on tire selection. Stock 17's are 235/55-17 with a 27.2" diameter. You'll want to buy a 255/45-18 to give a 27.0" diameter - or if you don't want to go wider, a 235/50-18 to give a 27.3" diameter. That's about as close as you'll get to your stock tire diameter.

BamaNation

Thanks Trooper....I don't mind wider. I just don't want to make the wheel well gap so big that I would need to lower it.
I notice some people go 18x10/18x9 but also have their cars lowered. I'm not sure what that would look like for me without lowering my ride.
I'm wondering if It would look worse or better than my factory 17x8's If I went with 18x8.5 or 18x9.5 all the way around?
I've got to figure out the tire sizes a little better I guess, then I might understand what would look good.

aircare84

Here's a pic of mine with factory 18".
Hope it helps, not lowered.

Stoenr

You'll be fine if you pick the right tire size.
I hate the way mine looks in the winter with the 17's
I cant wait til spring to put the 18's back on. Same wheel well gap, but just looks so much nicer

BamaNation

That looks good. Same size rims on the front and back? What tire size is that?
I'm feeling better about not lowering

89Trooper

The factory 18s are the same size front and rear... and assuming he hasn't changed the tires, they would be 235/50-18 (factory tire size). If you are going to buy 18's, I would get 255/45-18's though.

Play around with this:

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Put 235-55-17 on the left for your stock tires, and 255-45-18 on the right. You'll see how the rim gets bigger, sidewall gets shorter, and the overall height stays the same.

Want me to really mess up your decision about not lowering the car? Then check this out: (but maybe you shouldn't)

Attachment 15224

9thPony

Here's mine with 18X9 Bullits and 255/45-18's all around. My car is not lowered (yet).

BamaNation

Thanks Troop, I bookmarked that miata site. You didn't mess up my decision on the lowering deal. Lowered looks awesome but the cons out-weight the pros for me on the lowering deal. Thanks for all of your info, you've been a big help for me on understanding the tire sizes.

BamaNation

Your car looks great!
I'm thinking thats the way I will go, except 18x9 chrome DD bullitts.
I noticed on the mustang tuning site that those where some of the cheaper rims that they offer. I wonder why?
I would have thought the opposite.

Thanks to everyone for their input on this topic!

06GTwJUICE

I think because they are chinese made knockoffs and the fact that there are tons of them out there..

Most likely from choice #1- made in china. (I have a set 18x9 and 18x10 with the made in china stickers on the inside of the rim)

aircare84

Mine are the stock 235/50/18" Same front & rear.

Nice ride 9th Pony.
I'll probably go a bit wider on the tires when I wear these ones out myself

Treadhead

Another pic for ya. I have 18" wheels with 255/45 tires and not lowered. Like the others have said, just make sure the diameter is the same or fairly close and it should be fine.

Dan

Not lowered. Keeping it that way

official_style

not lowered, 18x10s all around.

BamaNation

Are you happy with them? Would you buy those again?

BamaNation

Dang OS! You're trying to confuse me. Your Stang looks nice! I was just about ready to pull the trigger on 18x9's all around
Now I have to consider 18x10's all around Any issues with the 18x10's all around?

The wife told me last nite to order what I wanted and she would pay for them for Xmas. I told her that I still wasn't sure exactly what I wanted yet and she just couldn't believe it. I'll make up my mind this week and get them ordered. I'll post some pics under this thread when I get them installed (hopefully by xmas).

9thPony

I think if I could go back and do it again I'd get 18X9 255/45-18 front and 18X10 285/40-18's in the rear.

Doug

official_style

No problems at all with the setup, made it handle way better, the car handled weird with the staggered setup. The way I see it, the more meat on the road, the better it will handle. I will probably put wider tires on the back when I need new ones, but I doubt I could have any wider up front without rub.