17" vs 18"

[BJoe]

I've been looking at getting V-6 Chrysler 200 Touring and the most basic model at that. One thing I'm not sure of is the rolling stock, the base Touring uses 225/55/r17 tires on 17x6.5" aluminum rims and for $300 I can upgrade to 225/50/r18's on 18x7" aluminum rims Can you guys come up with a reasonable excuse to spend the extra cash to go to the 18's? Only reason I'm looking at the Touring is that is the cheapest model you can get the 3.6l V-6 in so bling is not a consideration so much as bang for the buck performance and mileage in the car.

[Duuuuuuuude]

Personally, the first thing I would consider is the cost of replacement tires between the two. It kills me every time I have to replace the not-at-all-special tires on my Montero.

[GRIMGREG]

One thing to check is the price difference in the tires when it comes time to replace them.

[BJoe]

Tire price beyond the initial $300 outlay are the first two things that come to mind for me to, but Dad suggested that if the 18's and up being a bit taller and on a wider rim that the tire life and gas mileage would be better as well.

[Scattman]

They are gonna be the same height.

[microgoat]

If the roads in Chicago are still as bad as the last time I was there, you'll wish you had 225/70-15's on there.

[crunky]

I would go with 13" Daytons with 1/4" white walls... But i'm a pimp from 1989.




Kidding, as others have said I would go with the 17's and save the spare cash for gas.
You're going to need it if someone don't stop " speculating "

[BJoe]

Originally Posted by microgoat

If the roads in Chicago are still as bad as the last time I was there, you'll wish you had 225/70-15's on there.

They're getting better, at one time I thought Dad and I were going to need to set up my XJ as a prerunner though If push comes to shove though, Mopar and Magneti-Marelli have done something that can be adapted to the 200
MAGNETI MARELLI & MOPAR DODGE AVENGER RALLY CAR - YouTube

Originally Posted by crunky

I would go with 13" Daytons with 1/4" white walls... But i'm a pimp from 1989.

My neighbors would actually like that! Unfortunetly, I'd be laughed outta everywhere else........

Originally Posted by crunky

Kidding, as others have said I would go with the 17's and save the spare cash for gas.
You're going to need it if someone don't stop " speculating "

Those fawkers are part of the reason I'm looking at this car I'm getting mid teens out of my 14 year old XJ and it's begining to look like the better mileage, E85 compatability, and a good warranty (sounds like there is a lifetime extended one available too!) might be worth the car payment and extra insurance cost (I'm planning on keeping my XJ too.)

[BJoe]

Here's the two I looked at, only thing they had I really didn't want was the entertainment center w/HD thing, I'd rather just have a decent radio with a way to plug my phone or iPod into it.

[dkf]

I can put a set of 285/75R16 tires on my truck for just a little more than it costs for a relative of mine to put tires on their Ford Fusion with 18s. I'd go with the 17s.

[BJoe]

Originally Posted by dkf

I can put a set of 285/75R16 tires on my truck for just a little more than it costs for a relative of mine to put tires on their Ford Fusion with 18s. I'd go with the 17s.

That's why I was thinking 17's there.

[dkf]

Tire price beyond the initial $300 outlay are the first two things that come to mind for me to, but Dad suggested that if the 18's and up being a bit taller and on a wider rim that the tire life and gas mileage would be better as well.

The gas mileage on a taller wider tire will be worse. More load on the engine, higher wheel weight and more rolling resistance. Most of the 18" tires in car sizes are performance oriented and have a softer compound to suit. You won't get any more wear out of them, they will probably wear worse.

[BJoe]

So far as I can tell so far, pricing on either tire will be in the neighborhood of what the last two sets of 235/75/R15 Wranglers I've had on my Jeep cost.

[SMR 510RR]

Originally Posted by dkf

The gas mileage on a taller wider tire will be worse. More load on the engine, higher wheel weight and more rolling resistance. Most of the 18" tires in car sizes are performance oriented and have a softer compound to suit. You won't get any more wear out of them, they will probably wear worse.

X2 inertia is not your friend when driving around town.

[BJoe]

Dad and I have talked more on this, if and when I go to get one, it will be 17's on it, plus it's not like I couldn't find something comparable in size and maybe lighter down the road.

[jetboat]

whats wrong with the xj??? If your getting rid of it, let me know how much, I want a new wheeler

as for the tires. At least in Trucks I found a better tire selection in 18's vs 17's. 17" seems to be a kind of forgotten size. Otherwise I would say get the 17 so you have more sidewall between the road and the rim as you know how bad the local potholes are.

[BJoe]

Only major issue with my XJ is gas mileage Jeff. Dad and I do need to do brakes, front shocks, rear speakers (all of which we've had everything but time to do for over a year now), the power stuff for the driver seat is shot (I thought about just converting to manual from power too), u-joints on the drive shafts need to be looked at (still factory), and the clock spring and turn signal canelation ring both need replacing and those are two jobs Dad would prefer to let a dealership handle than have either of us try it, since it is airbag related and my XJ has the older high powered bags in it on top of that. Honestly, I've been surprised how well it has held up when it comes to rust, I noticed a few bubbles in the rockers last summer when we did the rear shocks, but other than that it was pretty solid.


17's seem to be fairly easy to find in this size of tire though and pricing isn't too far off what I run on my Jeep costs! I did look at what was out ther for the old 80's turbo Mopars I used to have a while back, speed rated 50 and 60 series performance tires for 15" rims that were no wider than what the 200 uses were actually hard to find!

[xirtic]

Joe.....you know who I work for.....so this is coming from that point of view. The company views 17"+ in the same category. Pricing between the 2 is not that dramatic for replacements. 18" will cost a bit more, but not too bad. I roll on 235-55-R18 SUV tires. I love the handling, but potholes scare me a bit. Jessica rolls on a 225-60-r17, and they feel a bit more forgiving, but the handling does feel different than my ride. BOTH are similar size/weight CUVs. Luckily I do not pay anything close to retail for my tires....but I can get you my "friends and family" pricing if/when needed.

[BJoe]

Dad found something interesting today, he looked at the measurements and aparently the 17" tires are actually a hair wider than the 18" tires even though they're both 225 section width.......

[BJoe]

Originally Posted by xirtic

Joe.....you know who I work for.....so this is coming from that point of view. The company views 17"+ in the same category. Pricing between the 2 is not that dramatic for replacements. 18" will cost a bit more, but not too bad. I roll on 235-55-R18 SUV tires. I love the handling, but potholes scare me a bit. Jessica rolls on a 225-60-r17, and they feel a bit more forgiving, but the handling does feel different than my ride. BOTH are similar size/weight CUVs. Luckily I do not pay anything close to retail for my tires....but I can get you my "friends and family" pricing if/when needed.

I don't mind a little more sidewall in all honesty, don't know how noticable that difference will be after driving my XJ with 235/75/r15's for the better part of the last 8.5 years. One thing that does worry me is how it will feel to go back to a car with R&P steering and so little sidewall. My kid sister's '06 Charger SE (V-6, so no, it don't gotta Hemi) feels down right twitchy in comparison to my XJ, so much so I don't feel comfortable driving it in the snow.