This has probably been brought up before but couldn't find a lot on the topic so please don't flame me. Anyone compare the ride quality from stock wheels to 19" or 20" wheels. I was planning on getting 19s but the wheel I want is only made is 20" now. Is going from stock 17s to 19s/20s going to make my ride a lot harder? Would I notice a difference between getting 19s or 20s?

Thanks for any input,
Sean

 

The ride on 20s is going to be terrible. The 17" stockers probably have the best ride of any of the stock wheels because the tires have the highest sidewalls.

There are three problems with 20" wheels IMO. 1) The suspension is not designed for them so handling and ride are going to be terrible. 2) Aesthetically, the Z just doesn't look good in 20's. 3) You will spend a fortune on tires. Low profile 20" tires are not as easy to come by and they are expensive. 4) You will take a big hit in performance in most cases with 20" wheels. They will be heavier with the weight much farther out than with your 17 stockers.

!9" look OK and if you find a set of the 19" Rays wheels for the G, they would work well. Still, the ride won't be as good as your 17"s. 18"s are a good compromise between larger for looks and not take a big performance or cost hit.

Just one old man's opinion though.

 

My 18" on coilover rides pretty firm already...I can only imagine what 20" will feel like...

 

The basic answer is this - the larger the diameter of the wheel, the shorter the tire sidewall you will need in order to keep the overall OD of the tire the same. The short sidewall on the tire is stiffer that a tall sidewall, that stiffness translates into a harsh ride.

More wheel (larger diam) usually means heavier which translates to performance loss, rougher ride, more stress on the suspension.

 

Tire choice
Tire size
Sidewall height
Sidewall composition

All matter concerning ride quality. I cannot give you a definitive answer.

 

You are welcome.