17 inch rims

[Impulse]

Looking to buy some wheels for my car. Thinking about 17's for my 99 SL. Now im sure they will fit but if anyone is running this setup how do you like it?

[PurdueGuy]

A lot of people run 17's on S-Series. They're not optimal for performance, but many people like the look. Be sure to get the right sized tires, and it should be fine.

[S3aturnR]

Originally Posted by Impulse

Looking to buy some wheels for my car. Thinking about 17's for my 99 SL. Now im sure they will fit but if anyone is running this setup how do you like it?

terrible. makes your car even slower than it already is. had a set for awhile, but sold them. IMO you should stick with 15" wheels and 205/50-15 tires. but those are just my thoughts...




s3aturnr

[Impulse]

Originally Posted by S3aturnR

terrible. makes your car even slower than it already is. had a set for awhile, but sold them. IMO you should stick with 15" wheels and 205/50-15 tires. but those are just my thoughts...

s3aturnr

Those look great btw. Thanks for the opinions! Coming from fbodys and 18's being a median size wheel i didnt know how "dubbed" 17's would look.

[cloud819]

I like 16s.

[Uzzy]

Originally Posted by S3aturnR

terrible. makes your car even slower than it already is. had a set for awhile, but sold them. IMO you should stick with 15" wheels and 205/50-15 tires. but those are just my thoughts...




s3aturnr

I liked 'em! Those ones in particular, since I bought them. (And sold them last week).

I had another similar set as well. I like them because they were wider, but it was more for looks. They looked better than 15s, but for real performance, keep 'em a little smaller.

[Shovelheadfxwg]

I have MSR 17" rims on my 97 SL2 and I love them. It handles way better than the 15's and it will not make your car slower.
I'm running 215/45-17 tires and they seem to be about the right size for the SL.
Go for the 17's you won't regret it.

[cpriv91]

I have a 97 Sc2 I don't know if sl wheel sizes are the same but I assume they are. However anyways I have Tenzo R Av-7's which is a 17 in. rim with yokohama 205/40/zr17 tires and they matched up almost exactly to the stock wheel height. So I hope that helps...

[PurdueGuy]

Originally Posted by Shovelheadfxwg

I have MSR 17" rims on my 97 SL2 and I love them. It handles way better than the 15's and it will not make your car slower.
I'm running 215/45-17 tires and they seem to be about the right size for the SL.
Go for the 17's you won't regret it.

If the 17's are heavier than the 15's (they usually are), then it will make the car slower. But, most drivers won't ever notice the difference. Someone who autox's, etc, will notice.

[Impulse]

Thanks for the advice guys . Im leaning twoards the 17's. Not looking to improve et's or lap times lol. I love speed dont get me wrong but 8 points tells me slower is better for now. Damn TA's draw the wrong attention sometimes. just looking to have a good looking DD

[Saturndude82]

Cant go wrong with a decent set of 17s as long as they are not some 5 year old design that is heavy, the modern 17s you find from name brand wheel manufactures weigh no more than 1-3 pounds more than 15s. Better look, better grip, and a nicer ride with 17s!

[PurdueGuy]

Originally Posted by Saturndude82

Cant go wrong with a decent set of 17s as long as they are not some 5 year old design that is heavy, the modern 17s you find from name brand wheel manufactures weigh no more than 1-3 pounds more than 15s. Better look, better grip, and a nicer ride with 17s!

has nothing to do with age - just check the weight before you buy if you care about it. There are lightweight wheels that are older, there are freaking heavy wheels that are brand new. Truly lightweight wheels are going to cost more money, but you can get middle of the road weight for reasonable prices.

[Impulse]

My SL is silver with the primer bumper. I understand everyone has they're own taste and i know i have to get something that "I" like. With that out of the way, what color do you guys think will go best? All black, black with chrome lip, gun metal, that grey BMW shade, all chrome? The primer front and rear bumper are really throwing me off on a decision.

[eRic 02sc2]

Originally Posted by PurdueGuy

If the 17's are heavier than the 15's (they usually are), then it will make the car slower. But, most drivers won't ever notice the difference. Someone who autox's, etc, will notice.

I noticed going from 15.0 lbs 16x7 to 12.8 lbs 15x7 wheels with Hankook R-S2 tires mounted on both sets. the steering felt better and the car would change direction quicker on the 15s. less unsprung mass is better.

[Uzzy]

Originally Posted by Impulse

My SL is silver with the primer bumper. I understand everyone has they're own taste and i know i have to get something that "I" like. With that out of the way, what color do you guys think will go best? All black, black with chrome lip, gun metal, that grey BMW shade, all chrome? The primer front and rear bumper are really throwing me off on a decision.

Replace them with painted bumpers. I'd do that before the wheels, personally. You could probably find them in a junkyard. I'm a fan of black with chrome lip for most cars, but for silver. Hmmm.

I had white wheels on silver and I don't commend it.

[S3aturnR]

Originally Posted by Shovelheadfxwg

It handles way better than the 15's and it will not make your car slower.

no offense, but you have no idea what you're talking about. i've lived it, first-hand. sorry. the 17s are better in ONLY ONE category when compared to the 15s; looks.

i am 100% sure of the following:

on the s-series saturns, all else equal, a 15" wheel/tire combo will beat a 17" wheel/tire combo EVERY SINGLE TIME on a road-course race track.

the grip with a 15" wheel is more linear, gives more feedback to the driver and is a thousand times easier to balance on the edge of traction than a 17" wheel.

believe what you want. but if you don't know, don't say...


s3aturnr

[Impulse]

Again guys im not looking for performance or coming out of a corner flater and faster. I bought this car as a good gas milage DD, i have zero intenions on making this car perform other than getting good mpg's. Just want it to look sharp. Sorry no knowledge on autox here. Im a straight line guy lol, grew up at milian and lapeer dragways here in SE michigan

[HStockSolo]

I think some 17x9s with the 245/35R17 Toyo R1Rs would probably handle pretty well. It would be extra rotational mass compared to 225/xxR15s, but the gearing isn't bad. Getting the right offset so they actually fit might be tricky, and they may not be worth it with a stock engine. I am happy with the 205/50R15 V710s since I am stuck with 15x6 rims, but I don't run them on the street. My 225/45R16 Hankooks are nice street tires.

[plastic torpedo]

I have 17's. If I were to do it again, I'd get 16's. You'll notice a big difference in handling with the wider tires. As far as performance goes, you'll need a little extra to push them, but it's not that big of a deal.

[eRic 02sc2]

Originally Posted by HStockSolo

I think some 17x9s with the 245/35R17 Toyo R1Rs would probably handle pretty well. It would be extra rotational mass compared to 225/xxR15s, but the gearing isn't bad. Getting the right offset so they actually fit might be tricky, and they may not be worth it with a stock engine. I am happy with the 205/50R15 V710s since I am stuck with 15x6 rims, but I don't run them on the street. My 225/45R16 Hankooks are nice street tires.

good luck fitting 17x9 wheels with 245/35R17 tires on a Saturn S-Series. that would put you in STX. yikes. a rear disco would put me in STX. no thanks -- my drums are still in place then again I just looked at our region points for the year. no one in STX did more than 1 event. I could have run unopposed and be regional champion in STX!