I am looking to get some new rims... I really am looking for performance gains first, looks second. As far as size goes if I go 19 or 20 how much performance am I going to lose if any if they are light? Should I just stay with a super light 18? Also I have no drop yet... There was a nice pair of 18 inch volks for sale but I CANT FIND THEM! Anyways hit me up with your feedback on this, please let me know what are the lightest best performing wheels that can fit on a sedan... and your opinions on size vs performance...

 

1 piece forged is your best bet. BBS, Volk, Advan make some very light wheels

 

I got some super light Advans in 19s, and I'm kicking myself a little bit because finding a good R compound is tough and expensive for that size. If you're into tracking your car, I would stay with 18s, but if you want a nice street wheel (and have 18s or something for the track), Advans, Volks, BBS, and Enkei all make nice lightweight wheels.

 

It's not as simple as just wheel size, it also comes down to tire weight as well. Remember, you could have a lightweight 19" wheel with a heavy tire that could perform the same as a heavier 18" with a lighter tire. Also, don't forget that ride comes into play. A very lightweight wheel/tire combo can degrade ride quality somewhat though it would perform very well.

Overall, though, as I think you've already pointed out, smaller and lighter is the rule of thumb for performance. Just look at the cars that tracked frequenty, and you'll see that they tend to run 18 or smaller.

 

20" wheels and performance doesn't really mix well. Stick with forged 18" wheels/tires for performance but if you want to sacrifice some performance for appearance, go with 19"s. Ultimately, I think driving skills and tires best determines performance.

 

A very good point that very few people seem to take into consideration. Although both setups are equal in weight, the latter setup would actually be worse, since more weight (each tire) is further from the hub.