Wheel Sizing

The first thing people usually notice about a wheel is its diameter. Picking the right diameter is a mixture of performance and fashion. A larger diameter wheel can allow you to run lower profile tires for more precise handling, but too large a wheel will be so heavy it will slow you down, make the car ride roughly, and even create handling problems. A 20-inch wheel may weigh more than twice as much as a 15-inch wheel, and its tire is also likely to be heavier. For most performance-oriented cars, a wheel between 15 and 18 inches is often a good choice, with the 15-inch wheels offering lighter weight and a better choice of drag racing tires, and the 18-inch wheels offering a good choice of tires for precision cornering. Some newer ...

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