I just bought a used 2007 G35x. It has the stock rims, which I like the look of, and Goodyear RS-A tires, 225/55/17. Pretty blah tires.

When these RS-As wear out I want a decent ultra high performance all season like Goodyear Eagle GT's which are pretty inexpensive. I'd also like to put larger rims on the car to get a shorter, stiffer sidewall since I may give autocross a try.

I've looked through the entire thread of tire/wheel pictures and from what I've seen 19's look the best to me. No offense to anyone but I do not like the lowered suspension look and wouldn't spend the money even if I did and to me 19's on a stock suspension look just right.

But why are the tires for 19 inch rims so much more expensive? Even 20's cost less, sometimes a lot less.

I think 20's look good too but I'm concerned the ride will be terrible with the narrow profile of 20's and this car gets most of its use as a commuter/around town car.

In another thread, blnewt said his 20's ride fine. Anyone else have experience with 20's?

Thanks,

George

 

19" tires are more expensive because they arent as common a size as 18" and even 20" tires

 

Welcome to the world of supply and deman. There is a greater deman for 20" tires, hence the reason they are cheaper than 19". I went through the same dilema in deciding betweeing 19 and 20" wheels. In the end i went with 19" because of the extra protection 19" tires gives than 20.

 

Okay, so why is there less demand for 19's comapred to 17, 18 and 20's. See what I'm saying? It doesn't make sense that there is high demand for 17,18 and 20 but not 19. I'm not disagreeing that 19s are in low demand, just saying I don't see a reason for it.

Anyway, it is what it is.

Celwin, what do you mean by more protection?

George

 

18 and 20 inch wheels have been around for much longer with a much wider variety of choices than the 19 inch option. Like someone else said there has never been to much of a supply because demand is lower.

I think this has alot to do with the fact that when bigger wheels became popular, 20 inch size was the size. If people were going to upgrade to larger wheels, they would go with the 20 inch option.

 

I think I may just go with 18's. Not a big difference from the 17's in appearance but I suspect sidewall stiffness if better in the 18's.

Although, looking over the Eagle GT specs I don't think they make an 18 with a similar OD as the 17, 19, 20. Go figure.

 

Odd number tire sizes are always more expensive.

 

The prices on Eagle GT's trend upwards from 15-19 and then drop for the 20's. So at least for the GTs the odd number theory does not seem to hold true.

In fact, based on this, it is not so much that the 19's are unusually expensive, its that the 20's are unusually affordable.

 

The bigger the wheel, the smaller the aspect ratio of the tire. A 40 and 35 aspect ratio tire has more tire on the wheel than a 30 series tire. Most 20" applications for our car has an aspect ratio of 30. That is too small for my taste. With 19" I can rock 40 in front and 35 in rear. Which is exactly what i'm running now.

 

I could not believe this either when i started looking for wheels but if you look up tire prices i have found a huge difference up to like 40$ or more a tire..... from 19 to 20

 

Celwin, that's what I thought you meant and that is my concern as well. Since this car is our daily beater and trip car, I'm afraid the narrow aspect ratio will ride too harshly. That thin aspect ratio is also at about the limits of my taste as well. 19 seems perfect. 18 seems the most practical.

 

20 is too big imo. 19's are perfect. the thinner walls on 20's = harsher rides... And the G isn't a smooth ride as it is.

19's have always been more than 20's. Even back in the 90's.

All these G drivers switching to 20's isn't helping us either. We need to get more demands for 19's.

 

Once you go 20s you won't go back
The ride is a bit tough when you hit potholes or some very tired asphalt, but for the most part it's not bad at all IME, and you will feel very connected to the road. 19s are great too, just don't be hatin' us 20'ers. I've got 35mm sidewalls so they're not rubberbands like the 25-30mm sidewalls.

 

Disagree completely.
Went there & wished I never did; came back to 19s
IMO they're the best combination of performance & looks.