what size rims would be better for a 96 accord. 17" or 18". Will 18" rims really slow my car down that much? thanks

 

depend what type or rims, there's aluminum forged rims which is ultra light

 

15" = greatest performance
16" = best compromise performance/looks
17" = great looks, eh, suffering performance not toooooo bad
18" = very very slow, good looks

 

17's are the biggest I would go in a performance concerned application. otherwise you starting killing off your gear ratio and what not.

for looks though go 18's or 19's... the 6th gen looks killer on them with its bodystyle.

 

If you're running the correct tire size for the rim, you won't be affecting your gear ratios at all - or if there IS an effect, it will be a VERY slight one. Whatever rims you decide on, make sure you can get a tire you like in a size that will have the same (or VERY close to the same) overall diameter.

On my '91 Accord LX Wagon, I upgraded the 15" steel wheels it came with to 16x7" Borbet Type S wheels, shod with Falken Azenis (because it never, ever snows in Austin) in a 205/55-16 size. I opted for that size because (1) the tires don't rub the fender arches, and (2) the overall diameter of the tire is within 0.25" of the stock 205/60-15s. A quarter inch doesn't sound like much, but it can make your speedometer read a bit off at highway speeds. I opted for a LARGER outside diameter because it will make the speedo read a little low, thereby maybe saving me a ticket!

The Azenis are notorious for being wider than their stated section width; mine have got to be more like a 225 instead of a 205. I actually needed to roll my fender lips under a bit to get clearance for them!

Prior to the Azenis, I tried some Yokohama AVS-intermediates in (I *think* this was the size) 225/50-16. They rubbed, too.

Here's a little equation to help you figure out what size different tire sizes will actually be (or what they're SUPPOSED to be), in diameter and radius, so you can figure out what fits and what won't, what will throw off your speedo and what won't:

Tire Size: 205/55-16

The first number is the Width of the tire in millimeters, measured from sidewall to sidewall.
The second number is the Aspect Ratio - the ratio of sidewall height to width. It's a percentage scale - a "60"-series tire's sidewall is 60% as tall as the tire is wide, so when multiplying by the Aspect Ratio, use "0.60" (use the decimal equivalent to YOUR tire's aspect ratio: .55, .50, .45, etc.)
The third number is Wheel Size - the diameter of the wheel you're using.

To compute overall diameter, you need to know the sidewall HEIGHT. Get this by multiplying the Aspect Ratio by the Width, in millimeters. In this example:

205mm X 0.55 = 112.75mm

Now, multiply that number times TWO (two sidewalls, remember? Top and Bottom)

112.75mm x 2 = 225.5mm

Now, convert that number to inches by dividing by 25.5 (1 inch = 25.4mm)

225.5mm / 25.4 = 8.877953 inches (round it up to 8.88 inches)

Add that to the wheel's diameter:

8.88" + 16" = 24.88"

I used that formula, and looked at LOTS of different tire sizes before deciding what I wanted to use.

By the way, the biggest factor that'll slow you down with the larger rims is the weight - 18" rims DO tend to weigh a bit more than 15-inchers. It'll also negatively affect your handling, since the suspension now has more unsprung weight to deal with hanging out at the ends of the struts and springs.

Mike

 

17 or 16' are way too small for 5th genth accord..... i would go w/ 18'

here is my 97 on 18' (luv it)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Kwicko &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I opted for that size because (1) the tires don't rub the fender arches, and (2) the overall diameter of the tire is within 0.25" of the stock 205/60-15s. A quarter inch doesn't sound like much, but it can make your speedometer read a bit off at highway speeds. I opted for a LARGER outside diameter because it will make the speedo read a little low, thereby maybe saving me a ticket! </TD></TR></TABLE>

actually its the opposite. your odometer and speedometer will read lower than your actual speed. If the diameter is bigger than stock, the computer will use the stock size/circumference per rotation of the wheel, so you will have more circumference than the car's speedometer thinks.

 

I agree, 18's are the right size...17's or 16's are too small for my liking

Thats just IMO of course

 

just since were on this topic... just wonderin what size rim i should go on my 90' accord exr 4 door?? is 16" too small/not strong enough my buddies seem to think so.. what should i do?

 

im gonna be putting some lightweight 18's on my accord sometime after i put in an h22a. i think they are about 17 pounds each, which is pretty good for 18's

 

Thanks for the formula Kwicko. I prefer the easy way though.
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
You can find exactly what your speedo is going to read with what tires and rims you choose. I went with 17's on my 95 accord to reduce weight but still have the look.

 

Good site.. thanks

 

so do you this like 20-22lbs is to much wieght

 

i put the wrong link last time.

http://pw1.netcom.com/~sgalaba/tiresize.htm

This is the ticket. Helps out a lot

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1slowaccord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i put the wrong link last time.

http://pw1.netcom.com/~sgalaba/tiresize.htm

This is the ticket. Helps out a lot
</TD></TR></TABLE>

your link sucks

for the visual learner(cough st00pid ppl) like me

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

 

Just get what you think looks best. You know if they will slow your car down or not.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by iam7head &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

your link sucks

for the visual learner(cough st00pid ppl) like me

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html</TD></TR></TABLE>

notice i put both links. The second one that you aren't very fond of helps to figure out your speedo as well as everything else. Both good links though.

 

will honda civic si 90-95 rims fit on a 90 accord

 

no they dont.... si rims are 4x100... 90 accord is 4x114.3

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vtec fan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">will honda civic si 90-95 rims fit on a 90 accord</TD></TR></TABLE>

whoops, on my last post i thought u said WELL instead of WILL. my bad, sorry man they wont fit. i tried gettin some 5 star gsr rims for my accord but did some research and found out it woulda been a waste of time, and then i found out that integra and civic both have same bolt patter, 4x100. so i was screwed with my 2 top picks for rims.

 

definatley go with 18's looks great and if ur worried about performance buy some drag slicks for the front or if you dont have the money throw the stock ones on the front like everyone else does.