15" vs. 16"

[timmysonic]

I have a new 2013 Sonic LS with the 195/65/15 tires on steelies. I am considering a new set of wheels and tires from Discount Tire Direct. I have picked out a set of 215/60/15 tires on one set of wheels,and for about another 90 dollars or so,I can get a set of 215/55/16 tires with another set. Do the 16 inch tires improve the handling of the car enough to really make a difference,or is it mainly aesthetics? As far as Plus One or Plus Two goes,the 215/60/15 tires are closer in circumference and overall diameter to the original size than the 215/55/16 tires. I am not planning to autocross or race the car-this is just a simple change of rubber. Thanks for any replies.

 

[sx sonic]

In reality a bigger rim size is for aesthetics, there are exceptions but they're typically associated with some other supporting considerations (think corvette, etc. Tight suspension, wide sticky tires, lightweight rims with low-pro tires).

Honestly tire choice, coilover suspension, DDM rear brace, and or lowering springs will make a much more tangible performance change.

The change in cornering feel will be minimal to nonexistent given the same rubber. Your best bet would be to let your desire for tire selection, aesthetic desires, and cost make the decision.

 

[Swordsmith]

There are, however, very few tire choices for 15" rims, so if you're interested in having some selections you might have to go 16" anyway.

The question I have, though, is what is the lightest set of wheel+tire available. I've heard that the stock 15's may end up being the lightest thing you can run with, short of spending a very significant amount of money.

tire+wheel weight ends up counting for much more than any other weight on the car, because you have to spin it while the rest of the car just moves straight.

I was not aware of this when I bought my "upgrades" and while the handling is much much better, I didn't look for weight at all, and I suspect I've shot myself in the foot a bit, and may eventually go back to the stock rims, and look for tires better than Hankook but as light.

 

[barch88]

Between 15 or 16, just stick with 15.

 

[ss2000slp]

There was an interesting article in Car and Driver a few years back. They took a VW (Golf or Rabbit, I don't recall) and fitted different size wheels and tires. They went from 15" to 19", same model wheels, and same width tires, and did 0-60, 1/4 mile, and slalom tests. The end results were as the wheel diameter went up, acceleration times went down, and slalom times went up. The only variable was the 19" tires were W rated while the rest were V rated (due to lack of availability). I will try and find the article or link, but basically, considering the same wheels and tires, bigger = worse acceleration, but better handling.

 

[ss2000slp]

Effects of Upsized Wheels and Tires Tested - Tech Dept. - Car and Driver

 

[snowvapormg]

Are there any lightweight options for 15" wheels these days? The Enkei RPF1 is 9.65 lbs for the 4 x 100 bolt patterns. Do we have any options like this available yet for the 5 x 105mm bolt pattern?

 

[nickalltogether]

Best bet is going to a redrill IMO. Most true performance wheels out there aren't available in 5x105.

 

[TheGreenDragon]

Are there any lightweight options for 15" wheels these days?

Discontinued: 15" 5x105 pcd Sparco Assetto Gara

You might be able to find some on ebay if you are lucky.

Alternative: 17" 5x105 pcd Cruze Eco rims

Seriously, you won't find a lighter stock wheel for this car.

 

[RMinNJ]

I just put my 15 stock rims on for the winter since the pure contact Continental are better in the snow. I took off the stock RS wheels with Hankook tires.

The RS wheels looked much better and handling was better in the dry. But the cheap Hankook ventus tires I picked up were ..well..I could slide the car in the wet..scary..kind of negated the 17 inch handling.
So I think the tires are more important at the end of the day.
If running one set of wheels I think 16 inch would be ideal for the sonic. With 2 sets..15 inch snows and 17 summers is a good setup.

 

[LorbeerTLC]

Pot Holes

I've often wondered if you're in an area that has lots of potholes, would it be safer to have a tire with lots of rubber between the road and the wheel?

Years ago, I hit a massive pothole and it bent my rim. With roads continuing to deteriorate, I cringe when I see vehicles that have really narrow rubber between the road and the wheel. While you might lose the advantage of cornering at high speeds, I've learned my lesson from the conditions of our roads and have decided more rubber isn't so bad after all. Going from a 15" to a 16" isn't that much different, but when you start going to 19" or more... ouch!

 

[carsNskis]

I run the 17" RS in Winter, 18" in Summer on 40 series. Lots of potholes in Colorado, no issues in two years with either

 

[bondrey]

Light rims

Discontinued: 15" 5x105 pcd Sparco Assetto Gara

You might be able to find some on ebay if you are lucky.

Alternative: 17" 5x105 pcd Cruze Eco rims

Seriously, you won't find a lighter stock wheel for this car.

Thank you, I’ll look around for those sparcos. Do you happen to know the weight of them?
I’ve looked at the main online retailers and this forum, but no luck finding a 9-10lb rim like so many other cars have. :/

Something I didn’t see mentioned is tire weight as rim size increases. You’d think tire weight would go down as the profile got smaller and rim size increased but it’s not so. Of the ones I looked at, as rim diameter increases, the weight of both rim and tire both go up. So smaller is better for weight of course there’s a cut off point for sidewall height if you need the response required for autocross.