16" vs 18" wheels
03-10-2004, 08:36 PM
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16" vs 18" wheels
I had nothing better to do, so I used a spreadsheet downloaded from some other dufus to compute the torque loss of the 18" wheel & tire combo compared to the 16" that comes standard with the automatic. So all of what follows is only of interest for those who are looking at the AT.
The heavier 18" wheel & tire costs you about 4.7 lb-ft of torque compared to the 16" wheels & tires. That is about 3% of the engine output, and a larger % of what hits the asphault after drive train losses. Also, that is costing you in gasoline.
The stock 16" tire has a 7.5" tread vs the 8" tread of the 18" tire.
The 18" wheel and tire weighs about 8 lbs more that the 16". This affects not only the torque loss in rotational energy, but also the handling, in that the lighter weight wheel & tire will provide better comfort as well as better contact with the road.
The lower profile tire on the 18" wheel will provide crisper handling in cornering, in theory, compared to the 16".
As for me, I would go with the 16" with the AT, but for one blasted thing. You cannot get the limited slip differential without the Sport Pkg that includes the 18" wheels.
I really think that there's not so much gained with the 18" wheels, and that it is pretty much a fashion choice. Too bad the LSD is not a separate option.
~Berry
The heavier 18" wheel & tire costs you about 4.7 lb-ft of torque compared to the 16" wheels & tires. That is about 3% of the engine output, and a larger % of what hits the asphault after drive train losses. Also, that is costing you in gasoline.
The stock 16" tire has a 7.5" tread vs the 8" tread of the 18" tire.
The 18" wheel and tire weighs about 8 lbs more that the 16". This affects not only the torque loss in rotational energy, but also the handling, in that the lighter weight wheel & tire will provide better comfort as well as better contact with the road.
The lower profile tire on the 18" wheel will provide crisper handling in cornering, in theory, compared to the 16".
As for me, I would go with the 16" with the AT, but for one blasted thing. You cannot get the limited slip differential without the Sport Pkg that includes the 18" wheels.
I really think that there's not so much gained with the 18" wheels, and that it is pretty much a fashion choice. Too bad the LSD is not a separate option.
~Berry
03-10-2004, 09:29 PM
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My answer to this post is....
The 16s look like damn donunts, and Mazda shouldn't even offer this car with 16s becuase it probably handles like crap, and once again, the small wheels make it look like a Toyota echo with 13's. You are barely going to notice that differance, compaired to how much handling, etc you get out of going up 2" and 2" less of rubber. I do believe in getting light wheels, (that is why I am getting custom light-weight BBS CH wheels (18x10.5, and 18x9.5). They weight less than stock believe it or not (17.5 & 18), and I am still going to fit in the wheel wells with 10.5" I have to roll the fenders though, but that is no biggy.
Moral of the story: Anything smaller than 18s looks like crap, no matter what the performance increase, 19s are perfect but they are substantially heavier than 18 lb. stock wheels.
Troy J.
The 16s look like damn donunts, and Mazda shouldn't even offer this car with 16s becuase it probably handles like crap, and once again, the small wheels make it look like a Toyota echo with 13's. You are barely going to notice that differance, compaired to how much handling, etc you get out of going up 2" and 2" less of rubber. I do believe in getting light wheels, (that is why I am getting custom light-weight BBS CH wheels (18x10.5, and 18x9.5). They weight less than stock believe it or not (17.5 & 18), and I am still going to fit in the wheel wells with 10.5" I have to roll the fenders though, but that is no biggy.
Moral of the story: Anything smaller than 18s looks like crap, no matter what the performance increase, 19s are perfect but they are substantially heavier than 18 lb. stock wheels.
Troy J.
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