Need new wheels, but I'm confused!

**tom2112** · 06-13-2004, 03:50 PM

OK, I need new tires and wheels. But I am thouroughly confused as to what to get. Can someone who knows tell me a few things about wheels?

First, I've got a 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT, with the stock 17" by 7" wheels. The reason I need new wheels is that mine are dinged from running something over. The problem, is that I don't know what. I don't remember hitting anything nasty. The roads here are so bad that hitting a pothole is hardly memorable.

Anyway, I was thinking about getting 18" wheels, with lower profile tires. That increases my risk of damaging the new wheels. So I want some tough wheels. I also want rims that are not real heavy. Lighter wheels improve handling and response.

So where do I make the compromise so that I don't ding the new wheels as soon as I get them?

Forged aluminum wheels are supposed to be very tough. But they're really expensive. Regular aluminum wheels ding easily. Steel wheels probably won't ding, but they're heavy. What about chrome? What are the other options?

Thanks in advance,
Tom

**no1knows** · 06-13-2004, 04:03 PM

Chrome is just aluminium plated. I've got 18" wheels with very low profile tyres, ive written off one and had to take a sledge hammer to 3 to correct pothole damage. I'd suggest you stay with 17" if your roads are bad. Or if not, make sure you order 5 so uve got a spare.

If you do go for 18" and u want them to be strong yet light your gonna be forking out a lot.

**tom2112** · 06-30-2004, 09:52 AM

Well, it turns out that I'm forking out a lot. I went with 17's, but I did get forged. I got SSR Competition's and Continental Extreme Contact's 235/45WR17's. Mounted, balanced, and all that will cost about 2 grand. Damn. I was hoping to spend only about 1 grand. Oh well. ;o)

**lgbr** · 06-30-2004, 09:24 PM

Can I have your old ones? This hubcap junk is annoying.

**Grayscale** · 06-30-2004, 10:32 PM

And I thought spending $799 was gonna suck...of course mine are only silver, not chrome, and they are 17"s

**tom2112** · 07-04-2004, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by lgbr

Can I have your old ones? This hubcap junk is annoying.

Sorry dude. But I'm keeping the old ones for the possibility of severe weather tires - with studs and such. Besides, two of the four are damaged. Who would want bad wheels anyway?