do i sacrifce performance if i go with an 18x7.5 wheel on the same width tires

[1995red318i]

hey guys, i found an 18" wheel i totally love. http://www.altwheels.com/Products/at296.htm

its the alt wheels, at-296, or the blade. its a gorgeous wheel, with a great satin finish on it...but the wheels only come in an 18x7.5 size:(


right now i am on 17x8.5 all around, with 225/45/17 tires. if i went with an 18x7.5 wheel, with 225/40/18 all around, would i be sacrificing any handling performance?

i love the wheel, but i love the feel of my car right now more importantly. i don't know, 18x7.5 seemed kind of skinny, but i did a search and some folks are running them all around.

so is the wheel to skinny, or does the size of the tire make the most difference?

thanks.

[SilverBeam]

if they weigh more, yes, you will be. But if you stick with the same tire size I don't think you will notice a decrease in handling. Yeah, 7.5 is a little thin for an 18. I'm getting 18s to upgrade from my 17x7.5 wheels I have now. Moving up to 8.5. But if you like them, and can justify them, get them. They are beautiful wheels.

[Daved]

I have 18x7.5 now, I think they're the best fit for 225mm tires. I didn't want something wider because I thought they would weigh more and I was worried about rubbing (anyways I'm rubbing now with the 7.5"s but I didn't rub when my car wasn't so low).

[1995red318i]

so you guys are saying the handling is a little more dependant on the tire size?( which of course is related to the wheel size ).

but if i had a 18x8.5 wheel in a 225/40/18 tire, and i had an 18x7.5 wheel in the same size tire, the handling would be basically the same?

[JoeZ]

7.5" should be fine for 318. Just look at some of the stock widths that come on bmw's, w/ more power than you've got.

[SilverBeam]

I don't think you'd see a difference if you stick with the same tire width, becuase you have the same size contact patch. But if the wheels are heavier, the unsprung weight would effect speed and handling a little.

[1995red318i]

okay, that's what i was wondering.
yeah i know that if the wheel is heavier it would affect performance, but i was speaking a little more along the lines of the width that i was worried about.

i sent an email to alt wheels requesting more info about things like the weight, but as far as i can tell, i believe these 18x7.5 wheels weigh just about the same as my 17x8.5s( adr m-classics ).

[mojave]

I dont know about handling, but the ride will be a little rougher.

[1995red318i]

rougher because its a 18x7.5 wheel or rougher just flat out cause its a 18" wheel?

i am aware of the pros and cons of upgrading to 18" wheels if that is what you were referring too.

but if you were speaking more along the lines of its rougher because its 18x7.5( as opposed to 18x8 or 18x8.5 ), could you please eloborate?