Wheel setup opinion
11-16-11, 08:24 PM
#16
Is it true that if i get 19 wheels, my ride height will be 1 inch higher since I'm riding on 18 now? Therefore, the H&R (which drops around 1.4) will compensate the 1 inch raise from the wheels, PLUS a net drop of 0.4 ? Thanks .. ! and sorry for the noob questions as always 
11-16-11, 08:46 PM
#18
Uh.. I thought by lowering a car you minimize the fender to wheel gap ..?
I'm riding on stock height with 18" now. So are you saying after i switch to 19" wheels, my ride height will be 1/2" higher than right now? How about after I drop on H&R?
I'm riding on stock height with 18" now. So are you saying after i switch to 19" wheels, my ride height will be 1/2" higher than right now? How about after I drop on H&R?
11-16-11, 09:12 PM
#19
so far in this thread, there are parts that are true, and parts that i can't figure out how you got there.
as far as the parts that are true...
the H&R springs lower your 2is by 1.4", so that much is fact. ergo, with H&R springs, the distance from the topmost point on your fender to the center of the wheel hub will be 1.4" less than same distance w/ oem springs.
by going from 18" wheels to 19" wheels, yes, you are gaining an extra half-inch from the center of the hub to the outer edge of the wheel. HOWEVER, it is the tire that makes contact with the road, not the wheel.
looking at the front, you're going from a 225/40-18 to a proposed 225/35-19. note that you are going with a lower aspect ratio tire size (see tire rack's explanation). therefore, the overall diameter (and radius) of the tire will remain relatively the same.
the radius/diameter (as measured from the center of the hub to the outer edge of the tire - where it meets the road) for 225/40-18 is 12.54"/25.08", and the same for 225/35-19 is 12.60"/25.20". the sectional heights of said tire sizes are 3.54" and 3.10", respectively.
therefore, by going with 19" wheels/tires, although you gain a half inch on the radius, you lose approximately a half inch. see visual explanation below.
X ---- distance from hub center to wheel edge ---- | ---- sidewall height ---- |
X ---- 9.5" ---- | ---- 3.10" ---- | (225/40-18)
X ---- 9.0" ---- | ---- 3.54" ---- | (225/35-19)
so if you keep the same wheel/tire radius/diameter but lower ride height, the net effect is the same as the lowered ride height.
on a related note, that is why it is important to get properly-sized tires when going with larger-diameter wheels.
11-16-11, 09:20 PM
#21
so far in this thread, there are parts that are true, and parts that i can't figure out how you got there.
as far as the parts that are true...
an easier way to look at it is to account for the ride height by measuring it from a fixed center point to 1. the topmost point of the fender edge, and 2. the ground.
the H&R springs lower your 2is by 1.4", so that much is fact. ergo, with H&R springs, the distance from the topmost point on your fender to the center of the wheel hub will be 1.4" less than same distance w/ oem springs.
by going from 18" wheels to 19" wheels, yes, you are gaining an extra half-inch from the center of the hub to the outer edge of the wheel. HOWEVER, it is the tire that makes contact with the road, not the wheel.
looking at the front, you're going from a 225/40-18 to a proposed 225/35-19. note that you are going with a lower aspect ratio tire size (see tire rack's explanation). therefore, the overall diameter (and radius) of the tire will remain relatively the same.
the radius/diameter (as measured from the center of the hub to the outer edge of the tire - where it meets the road) for 225/40-18 is 12.54"/25.08", and the same for 225/35-19 is 12.60"/25.20". the sectional heights of said tire sizes are 3.54" and 3.10", respectively.
therefore, by going with 19" wheels/tires, although you gain a half inch on the radius, you lose approximately a half inch. see visual explanation below.
X ---- distance from hub center to wheel edge ---- | ---- sidewall height ---- |
X ---- 9.5" ---- | ---- 3.10" ---- | (225/40-18)
X ---- 9.0" ---- | ---- 3.54" ---- | (225/35-19)
so if you keep the same wheel/tire radius/diameter but lower ride height, the net effect is the same as the lowered ride height.
on a related note, that is why it is important to get properly-sized tires when going with larger-diameter wheels.
11-16-11, 09:40 PM
#22
so far in this thread, there are parts that are true, and parts that i can't figure out how you got there.
as far as the parts that are true...
an easier way to look at it is to account for the ride height by measuring it from a fixed center point to 1. the topmost point of the fender edge, and 2. the ground.
the H&R springs lower your 2is by 1.4", so that much is fact. ergo, with H&R springs, the distance from the topmost point on your fender to the center of the wheel hub will be 1.4" less than same distance w/ oem springs.
by going from 18" wheels to 19" wheels, yes, you are gaining an extra half-inch from the center of the hub to the outer edge of the wheel. HOWEVER, it is the tire that makes contact with the road, not the wheel.
looking at the front, you're going from a 225/40-18 to a proposed 225/35-19. note that you are going with a lower aspect ratio tire size (see tire rack's explanation). therefore, the overall diameter (and radius) of the tire will remain relatively the same.
the radius/diameter (as measured from the center of the hub to the outer edge of the tire - where it meets the road) for 225/40-18 is 12.54"/25.08", and the same for 225/35-19 is 12.60"/25.20". the sectional heights of said tire sizes are 3.54" and 3.10", respectively.
therefore, by going with 19" wheels/tires, although you gain a half inch on the radius, you lose approximately a half inch. see visual explanation below.
X ---- distance from hub center to wheel edge ---- | ---- sidewall height ---- |
X ---- 9.5" ---- | ---- 3.10" ---- | (225/40-18)
X ---- 9.0" ---- | ---- 3.54" ---- | (225/35-19)
so if you keep the same wheel/tire radius/diameter but lower ride height, the net effect is the same as the lowered ride height.
on a related note, that is why it is important to get properly-sized tires when going with larger-diameter wheels.
So in summary, by going from stock ride height and stock 18" wheel, to 19" wheels + H&R spring + proposed tire sizes, the overall ride height and fender-tire gap would be half an inch shorter?
11-16-11, 10:46 PM
#24
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I use to get confused on this topic as well. Although your increasing your wheel size by 1", you are decreasing the side wall height of the tire which must be taken into account when focusing on wheel gap. They sort of cancel each other out. Larger diameter wheel means you need a shorter tire sidewall. So the wheel gap will be about the same. By adding the H&R springs you will lower your ride height by 1.4 inches in both set ups, 18" or 19". I hope this is right...
