17/18's or 18/19's?

[Blue Batmobile]

One of the first things I will be doing when I get my nsx are wheels. I'm stuck between 17/18 combo or 18/19 combo. I'm thinking of the weight penalty with the latterr but may look nicer than the 17/18 combo. Your opinions and pics would be helpful. I will be dropping the car slightly as well.

Bat™

 

[Ojas]

Smaller is better, but between the two...

If you care about performance go with 17/18. If you care about aesthetics... still go with 17/18.

To my eyes, the NSX is such a "lean" looking car, especially from the side profile, that big wheels look a bit odd. 19" wheels look acceptable on an E46 M3, for example, but that car has much more bulk - especially in the profile. The same size wheels on an NSX do not have the sort of aggressive look to me.

My opinion. Your car. Your wheels.

Good luck!

 

[Blue Batmobile]

Thanks. I did notice some pics of 19's and I though they looked alittle too big, but then again if your wheels have a lip on them 19's look ok, depending on wheel style. You have pics of your setup? How wide did you go?

Bat™

 

[Ojas]

I know I am in the minority...

Actually, I think 17/18 is too big, so what do I know? I am sure others will chime in with their own good advice, though. I do think you are absolutely right: The style of the wheel can make a significant difference. If possible, the best way is to decide is to look a different sizes and styles in person.

My 17x8/18x9 look too big to me:

I think my tiny 16x7/17x8.5 look just about right:

 

[Osiris_x11]

17/17's...

I was looking for a set of 15/15, but to no avail' as far as fitment for the NSX goes... :biggrin:

So then I pondered 16/16, but Mugen's are next to impossible to acquire nowadays (atleast in preferable offset/finish). :frown:

Well, I settled for 17/17!?! And you know what, I love it! It looks great in terms of front-rear balance/symmetry (aesthetics), tire availability for max. performance summer & ultra-high performance is excellent, and the '02-'05 NSX's & NSX-R all share the same wheel size! (Father HONDA knows bests')

IMHO, unless you go BBK, the 18/19 setup will look silly on the petite '91-'96 rotors. Also, due to the negative camber, you'll be basically using the inner 1/3 of the tire only and have to replace them rather readily if 18/19 setup. As of now, there is no camber-kit for the NSX! High performance tires in that size are a pretty penny. :redface:

 

[D'Ecosse]

I personally (obviously!) love the look of 18/19 setup - it all depends on the style of the wheel of course, so there is no hard fast rule. One thing that does make a big difference aesthetically is how open the spoke pattern is - with an extremely open design, it makes a great imbalance between the relatively small size of the brake discs & caliper to the wheel. I might be concerned regarding the iforged Aeo of your prefernce in that regard.

On the ride side of things, clearly the 18/19 which requires lower profile tires will definitely transmit the road more. However for me it is not overly prohibitive, but certainly trlatively noticable.

My Works Equips are 225/35/18 on 8" x 38mm offset front; 275/30/19 on 10" x 43mm offset rear.
Tires are Bridgestone Pole Position SO3. Car is lowered on JIC FLTA2 Coilovers.


.

 

[Shumdit]

I like the 18/19 also, and in my case they weigh less than stock 16/17's, so no trade-off there. I agree that 17/18 also looks great on most wheels, but on a few styles, they look too small.

 

[Malibu Rapper]

18/19 for looks no question for me. Sometimes at certain angles the 18/19 combo looks small even, I never think it looks too big on the car. 17/18 gave me too much tire sidewall to look good IMO. A 20 looks great in the back I think. If you have to have the performance, keep around a set of stockers for track use. A step up to 17/18s was pointless and wasteful for me, there was just too much sidewall.

 

[clarknm]

I like the 18/19 also, and in my case they weigh less than stock 16/17's, so no trade-off there. I agree that 17/18 also looks great on most wheels, but on a few styles, they look too small.

just FYI..18/19s with the same weight of 16/17s will still have a weight penalty, the majority of the weight is further from the center and so requires more power to get them rolling.

Anyway, from what I've seen 17/18 is best but then again I have 17s on my TL too.

 

[Shumdit]

just FYI..18/19s with the same weight of 16/17s will still have a weight penalty, the majority of the weight is further from the center and so requires more power to get them rolling.

Anyway, from what I've seen 17/18 is best but then again I have 17s on my TL too.

In theory, yes, but in reality (my case anyway) there is no difference in performance. My OEM tires weighed more than the ones on the 18/19's also, JUST FYI :biggrin:

 

[RAVN NSX]

i prefer 18/19's! :biggrin:

 

[DrVolkl]

i prefer 18/19's! :biggrin:

Damn that car is badass.


It looks to me that the 17/18 is the way to go, UNLESS you have some sort of body kit....then the 18/19 looks really good. Everyone sporting the bigger wheels has the skirts/lips/etc...and it looks great. (plus the lowered stance) Knowing you Bat, you should just get the 18/19.

(Unless of course you want to sell me your 17/18 when you realize you made a mistake. lol)

 

[ediddynsx]

i have 18, 19's with no bodykit and it looks fine to me :smile:

 

[skynet0419]

I just got my 18/19 setup and i think they look beautiful! :biggrin:

of course i still need to lower it to get see the final product :tongue:

 

[sidetracked3]

I am about to get my nsx next week and I am pondering the same thing. I like the hp evos alot but I worry about having to use spacers on them. Is there a 17-18 combo that has a big lip?

 

[zahntech]

I was thinking about the 18/19 HP EVO set but I saw a car recently that had them and the rears were just too much..they looked Big for the sake of being BIG..could be the 38mm offset + 4-5mm spacer..but I think I will be sticking with the 17/18 set up.....

 

[kclements]

John,

Could they be these wheels ? :biggrin:


man I thought we were friends.. you couldnt tell me they looked like crap to my face.... :wink: hahaha j/k

 

[kclements]

Here is some more pics of my 18" 19" setup.. Hp Evo's

 

[zahntech]

Nah not "Crap" just ..uh..Meaty! yeah thats it Meaty! :smile:
Your car also has the carbon hood and a more aggressive look than mine so the Meats look better on your car....can you hear the back pedaling? :wink:

And yes we are friends :biggrin:

 

[Doc C]

I know this pic has bounced around here before, but I love these wheels (OZ Velas). They are 18/19 in this setup and they're what I would like to have except maybe in a 17/18 setup.

 

[PoohBEAR]

18/19...........i have to say.

 

[Osiris_x11]

feelin' bleu...

i prefer 18/19's! :biggrin:

That my friend is instantly one of my fav' Prime NSX's!!!

Have you considered going w/ a black-painted or vinyl-covered roof (ie. coupe-look), CF B-pillars, black side-mirrors (or CF)?

I'm not sure what hood you have, it resembles NSX-R style from a side profile, painted in monaco blue... is the CF left exposed behind the vent? That would be the icing on the cake!

Man, nice setup... I like it alot! :biggrin:

 

[Blue Batmobile]

I think the 18/19's look really good with bodykits.

Bat™

 

[RAVN NSX]

Re: feelin' bleu...

That my friend is instantly one of my fav' Prime NSX's!!!

Have you considered going w/ a black-painted or vinyl-covered roof (ie. coupe-look), CF B-pillars, black side-mirrors (or CF)?

I'm not sure what hood you have, it resembles NSX-R style from a side profile, painted in monaco blue... is the CF left exposed behind the vent? That would be the icing on the cake!

Man, nice setup... I like it alot! :biggrin:

I've thought about it, but i like the the roof the way it is, i like the mirrors, I didn't do the CF exposed on the hood. I think i've done enough CF. This pic doesn't include the new CF hatch i just got either.

 

[jagtiger]

Here's my 18/19 in set up with 4" lip.