18" or 20" rims on an RS-V?

[87VLCALAIS]

Has anyone on here any experience with 20" rims on an RS-V?
What's the ride like?
Are they worth the extra money you will spend on replacing the tyres?

 

[MattSAU2XR8]

20s probably do look better
But almost certainly don't work better:
- Loss of sidewall makes for a harsh ride
- Heaps of magazine tyre tests have found that 18 inch wheels on medium/large cars offer best performance
- Even V8 Supercars don't run 20's
I've got an RSV with the stock 18s and it rides OK, but given relatively firm suspension I don't think it'd be much fun on 20s...

 

[87VLCALAIS]

Thanks. That was kind of my thinking too. They're Calais V rims on a Black Edition RS-V. I'm not even sure I like the look of them, too much black.

 

[Badgerdog]

I swapped out my Calais V 20 inch rims for 18 inch RSV ones for two reasons.
Much better ride quality on 18's.
18 inch tyre replacement costs are almost half the price of 20's.

 

[87VLCALAIS]

I swapped out my Calais V 20 inch rims for 18 inch RSV ones for two reasons.
Much better ride quality on 18's.
18 inch tyre replacement costs are almost half the price of 20's.

Did the dealer do this for you? Did you have to pay extra? I quite like the 18" Calais rims.

Yep, I priced up the different tyre sizes, the 20's were significantly dearer.

My reasons for wanting the 18's was ride quality, less chance of kerbing the rims, cost of new tyres and looks. The hole in the middle of the 20's looks out of proportion to me, though I guess it's what you get used to.

 

[Badgerdog]

Did the dealer do this for you? Did you have to pay extra? I quite like the 18" Calais rims.

Yep, I priced up the different tyre sizes, the 20's were significantly dearer.

My reasons for wanting the 18's was ride quality, less chance of kerbing the rims, cost of new tyres and looks. The hole in the middle of the 20's looks out of proportion to me, though I guess it's what you get used to.

Agree 100%, my reasons the same. The dealer had an RSV in stock so I asked really nicely at the time of doing the deal if they would do me a favour with the switch and they did.

 

[StrayKiwi]

20s probably do look better

Each to their own, I don't have an opinion either way.

But almost certainly don't work better:
- Loss of sidewall makes for a harsh ride
- Heaps of magazine tyre tests have found that 18 inch wheels on medium/large cars offer best performance
- Even V8 Supercars don't run 20's

- Not with the adaptive dampers. It even passes the wife test, she loves the ride. You honestly forget you are riding on 20s.
- So they put 20's on for aesthetics alone, which is fine because the VXR is not a performance car.
- Maybe they should, they might win more races...

I've got an RSV with the stock 18s and it rides OK, but given relatively firm suspension I don't think it'd be much fun on 20s...

On that we both agree.

 

[Badgerdog]

Adaptive dampers are getting better and better these days.
I haven't driven a VXR so can't comment on that but the Kia Stinger I drove with adaptive dampers really impressed in terms of how cushy the ride was on the comfort setting. Quite a significant variation between the firmest setting and the most relaxed.
Bilstein adaptive dampers on my former Chrysler SRT8 also had a huge variation between the settings.

 

[MattSAU2XR8]

Adaptive dampers sound like the go. Although hopefully don't need replacing too often, seems they could cost upward of $4k per wet...

https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/what-is-magnetic-ride-control-111180/

 

[lmoengnr]

Adaptive dampers are getting better and better these days.

Wonderful things they are, until they break, leak, or just wear out...
Not much in the way of 'aftermarket' support at the moment, so you're forced to pay extortionate factory prices for replacements.