Why switch to 18s?

scarittagle

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You'd have to be a fly that understood japanese. :)

a smaller sidewall can also affect turn-in and some of that stuff. I assume if they did the ring run on the 20s there had to have been some benefit. unless that benefit is that they can run lightweight 18s for the next model and get a better time and brag about that.
Trust me they did 20 inches are purely for the look.

Thicker Tire wall is more endurable during Track Attack, especially corner thru the curbing.

Plus 18 inches have more Tire Choices and less weight. Check out BTCC and WTCR Race Cars and see what size they normally use.

And indeed 18inch and slightly wider tires alone could let Type-R get a better time.
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Type Rocket

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I found this read accidentally. Check it out. It explains why changing from stock could drastically affect handling in a bad way.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cu...5683452/smaller-lighter-wheels-hurt-handling/
There's a whole thread on this article, please go look for it and reply to it vs. here.

Regarding this thread, I think pretty much everyone who has gone smaller (and probably wider) is happy that they did (myself included). It comes down to what you do with your car, but for daily driving, 18s make this car better in almost every respect.
 

Speed9117

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20s were definitely a case where marketing won out over engineering. People always say "the engineers must have their reasons", but forget that even with how performance focused the R is, there were other people in those rooms making decisions. Even the Type R has compromises.
 


Hayabusa160

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main reason i will be going 18s is theres a giant selection of sticky tires vs 20s
 

HumbleSage

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I ran across that article as well (https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cu...5683452/smaller-lighter-wheels-hurt-handling/). It's making me think twice about changing my wheels. I won't pretend to be an expert on the subject. I couldn't find the thread Type Rocket said exists (maybe post the link to that discussion in your reply). Really wish someone with true definitive experience on the matter would settle this once and for all.
 

xLucidDream450

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I ran across that article as well (https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cu...5683452/smaller-lighter-wheels-hurt-handling/). It's making me think twice about changing my wheels. I won't pretend to be an expert on the subject. I couldn't find the thread Type Rocket said exists (maybe post the link to that discussion in your reply). Really wish someone with true definitive experience on the matter would settle this once and for all.
https://www.civicx.com/threads/why-change-from-20-inch-wheel-may-be-bad-for-the-r.31742/
 

FifStreet

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I ran across that article as well (https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cu...5683452/smaller-lighter-wheels-hurt-handling/). It's making me think twice about changing my wheels. I won't pretend to be an expert on the subject. I couldn't find the thread Type Rocket said exists (maybe post the link to that discussion in your reply). Really wish someone with true definitive experience on the matter would settle this once and for all.
I don't think you will ever get a "once and for all answer". Everybody has different purposes in mind for this car. The stock setup is a strange compromise of performance and looks that because of the lack of aftermarket tire options has led many people away from the stock setup. But because of the unique suspension geometry even replacing the wheels isn't a simple process.

I decided on keeping the stock wheels for summer/autocross and I got a second set of stock wheels (easy to find because so many are ditching them) and slightly larger tires 255/35R20 for the rest of the year.

But there is no one correct answer to this question.
 

HumbleSage

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Thank you very much! I am reading through that now. It almost seems so moot to me. I live in Michigan so I almost have to go with more rubber, 'lest the pothole devil claims my stock rims, yet AGAIN.
 

lorenkb

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Thank you very much! I am reading through that now. It almost seems so moot to me. I live in Michigan so I almost have to go with more rubber, 'lest the pothole devil claims my stock rims, yet AGAIN.
It seems moot because it is moot :)

You can skip right over all of the pure engineering VS compromise and looks VS performance arguments. Bottom line is that the stock wheel and tire combo increases the risk to your wallet if you drive on shitty roads. You can try and run a higher section height 20" but there's only so far you can go without clearance issues.

Now, if you want to go back to some of those skipped arguments... There are many people who take track duty serious with the R, and they don't run 20s or stock offsets. That's because it's not practical to do so. The readily available good tires don't come in 20", and the readily available good wheels don't come in offsets as high as +60. Despite this forced compromise, the real world feedback from the track is that this isn't an issue worth fussing over. These reports are coming from the same people who are beating the piss out of their cars with more than stock torque and horsepower, which should make any problems even more apparent. Is it the perfect solution from a suspension geometry standpoint? No. Does it impact steering feel? Yup. Does any of that appear to matter when the car is faster, cheaper, and you're a human that has a highly developed closed loop control system we call a brain that can account for these differences? Nope ;)

On the complete opposite end of the track argument, I'll give you my current experience. I drive on crappy roads, and the 20" look doesn't do it for me. I went with the 100% incorrect engineering solution: 235/45R18 all seasons mounted on +32 offset 18x8 wheels. Total change in scrub radius with this setup is a full inch from stock. I like the looks and I don't worry about the roads. I lay into corners and straights with gusto, traction control blinking its little heart out, and guess what? Torque steer is not an issue. Yes, it feels different than stock. No, it doesn't impact the driving experience one damned bit. Will I be sticking with 18" wheels with incorrect offset? Yup. As a matter of fact a second set of incorrect wheels are on the way with much more sticky tires :headbang:
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