17's, 18's in Maine can be dangerous, not to mention the possibility that always exists for rubbing. However, I'd go with a 215/45 tire rather than a 205/45. Cost wise I'm not sure it's a huge difference, but you'll have alot more options, and you get a wider tire.
I'd be sitting on 18s if I could. I was more worried about buying tires for them then anything. Winter and summer. Guess it's a good thing I didn't get 18s tho. Even just 17s seem to be rubber in the inside of my finder when I have to make really sharp turns.
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Yeah, I punched a baby once, in anger. But in my defense the baby was being kind of a dick.
Eh, same size doesn't always make it the best fit. The SVT runs the 215/45/17. The percentage difference is pretty small and well within legal limits. 205/45/17 is 10mm narrower, and has a slightly smaller sidewall. The smaller sidewall isn't too bad, but the smaller tread width stinks.
I like the 17's. The 18's just look too big to me. Makes the car look like something out of a comic book. The pictures look dark, so I can't really see the rims, except for the polished lip.
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Not a rub. I have the SVT suspension in mine also, and no rub. It all depends on the wheel offset sometimes just something to think about. The lower the offset number the farther the wheel will stick out of the well. You are looking for an offset around 40-49mm.
Both look nice but 17's better. From the pics it appears that you haven't lowered car with new springs. I'm at the same juncture, my '05 ZX3, I went with 15 " rims because my tires were still new. I may be wrong, due to my poor eye site but it appears you have just about the same amount of wheel gap in fender well as I do. I posted about going to 16"-18" rims and tires w/o lowering car but replies came back that it wouldn't solve the wheel well gap problem.
I've also encountered a problem that I'm getting a slight wobble vibration in steering wheel at hwy. speed . Mgr. at Discount Tire told me, (not sure of term) centering rings since the rims may have a slight difference, than the OEM steel wheel. All I know is, if he thinks I'm paying for this product when I wasn't told of the potential problem ahead of time he's F'd. I'll have him remount original steel rims and stick with my 9 spoke hubcaps. Then when time for new tires, I'll reconsider other rims. If you have dropped the car already sorry, my bad!
JT
Last edited on Wed May 11th, 2005 08:49 pm by JTex
some people will go with wheels before a drop (I did, it looked funny at first, but I didn't mind). As for the centering rings, some wheels will require those, my O.Z.'s required centering rings that just popped into the wheel, others don't, I'd also venture a guess that perhaps you might have a wheel out of balance.
Went to D.T. straight from work. Yes, at least one wheel was out of balance didn't watch them rebalance the rest but also got centering rings installed for free. Went on a cruise to the beer store (you'd have to live in N.E. Tx. to believe it, the county I live in is dry, what a bunch of shit) any who car drives perfect now and got some beers. No drinky while driving though, learned that the hard way back in '89. I'm home now!!
I say 17s - cheaper tires, less risk of feeling every road imperfection you go over with more tire sidewall, and both sizes look real nice on the Focus anyway. The choice of wheel looks good as well!
if you want to know about rubbing, look into the thread from a while back about OFFSETS..im too tired to find the link ta the moment, but thought id point you in the right direction. long story short, with different offsets you can lose or create rubbing
i am on 18s, after the stock 17s..i like em better, cause bigger is better. but i dont like them persay in new england. ive always wanted 18s since i started getting into cars, but now that i have them...i still love them dont get me wrong, but 17s work just as fine and look fine as well
just my opinion but i like the look of 17's with a 2 finger gap drop. the 17's dont make the wheels over power the car and blend it in togather. even though the 18's on sveets car look freakin bad ass id still stick with a 17.
17's, 18's...sorry I don't see too much a difference...although the 18's on Chris'car look good...but as others have said...New England and 17's are bad enough...Here's my 17's..
____________________ 02 SVT Focus, CD Silver, No. 2032.
aurora wrote: cool 18 inchers mate! what make are they? coz me and my mate are considering black 16s for the fez those would be Enkei RS-7s, anthracite w/ silver lip
