You may increase your vehicle’s stability and decrease your stopping distance by upgrading to larger wheels.
The heavier the wheel, the slower the automobile will go under acceleration (however, this also depends on the motor’s torque). That’s why people like changing wheel sizes on cars.
Among numerous tire upgrade cases, going from 16” to 17” rims is one of the most popular. Therefore, I will give you its possibilities and relevant information.
What Are The Differences Between 16” and 17” Rims?
Look at the main differences between 16′ and 17′ rims.
Appearance
Larger alloys and lower-profile tires are the preferred aesthetic for most automobile owners. The sidewall of a tire is wider on a 16-inch wheel than on a 17-inch rim.
Manufacturers often raise the standard alloy size when the trim level is updated since larger rims tend to contribute to the vehicle seeming finer.
Increasing the size of your alloys and lowering the height of your tires’ sidewalls only works to a certain extent.
The vehicle might seem ridiculous if its tires look like they are made of elastic bands.
Before making the transition, it’s a good idea to check out virtual versions of your vehicle with alloys of various sizes to ensure you’re pleased with the new design.
Comfort
A car’s ride quality with 16- or 17-inch wheels might be compromised. Re-emphasis on the height of the sidewalls.
The lower profile of the 17-inch rim means less protection for car passengers. The result is a more rigid and harsher ride, although potholes may be more uncomfortable.
A larger sidewall on 16-inch wheels means a smoother ride over rough terrain. Pothole-related tire blowouts are reduced as a result.
Noise Level
The 16-inch alloys are quieter than the competition, which is an added bonus. This again increases passenger comfort, particularly on faster roadways.
In addition, 16′′ rims with broader sidewall tires reduce noise.
Until I try both, 16′′ and 17′′ wheels don’t sound much different. The 16-inch tires may be louder than the 17′′ because the model matters.
The noise rating of most 16′′ and 17′′ alloy tires matches the manufacturers.
Fuel Consumption
When traveling the same distance at the same pace, 17-inch alloys use more gas than 16-inch alloys.
In addition, heavy 17-inch alloys increase the rolling resistance. As a result, the car has to use more fuel to cover the same ground.
Changing from 16-inch wheels to 17-inch alloys will decrease my MPG by just 1-2, so you won’t notice much difference in your fuel bill.
However, tires with a better fuel efficiency rating should be prioritized above larger alloy sizes if gas mileage is a concern.
Performance and Handling
When expanding the size of the alloy, the tire’s sidewall height must frequently be lowered to maintain a comfortable fit in the wheel arch.
The “sportier” sensation of a car with 17 alloy wheels and lower-profile tires. This will result in noticeably sharper and more secure handling, cornering, and stability.
But heavier wheels decrease velocity.
Alloy and tire models must match for these adjustments to take effect.
Therefore, alterations to any one of these aspects of the steel wheel might have a more significant impact than those made to the size alone.
Changing from 16-inch wheels to 17-inch ones (or vice versa) won’t be noticeable while driving and won’t affect your car’s performance or handling.
However, the responsiveness and handling are much improved with 17-inch alloys.
Price
The cost of 17-inch wheels is often higher than that of 16-inch wheels.
Although, when the alloys are $1,000 or less, the price discrepancy is usually approximately $50, it may be as high as $500 for more costly variants.
Alloy and Tire Sizes
Switching from 16-inch to 17-inch alloy wheels would need new tires.
Most drivers keep their wheel sizes close to factory standards to still fit inside the standard wheel arch and not throw off their speedometer.
When I upgrade to larger wheels, I notice a decrease in actual speed. If you change to smaller wheels, the speedometer will update more quickly.
The speedometers in both vehicles need to be calibrated.
Changing from 16- to 17-inch wheels eliminates this issue, although you may need to adjust the sidewall height of your size tires.
Are Going From 16” To 17” Rims Possible? How?
YES, it is possible but difficult.
The reason for this is that the diameter of the wheel compared to the width of the rim is disproportionate. The two components fit perfectly when the rim size is 50 percent of the tire size.
The tire and wheel sizes are the information you’ll need before you start.
It’s technically conceivable, but doing so would cause the wheel to act unnaturally and lead to a host of other issues down the road.
So, how can you put 17 inch rims on 16 inch tires?
Most people wonder whether a larger tire would fit on a smaller rim. Unfortunately, there is no mystery about whether or not 17-inch tires will fit on 16-inch wheels.
That calls for some careful thought. The process is analogous to changing tires. Easy solution: Make it a habit to widen the lip.
- Use shorter bolts (by an inch) instead of the original lug nuts.
- The next thing to do is remove the rubber gasket that lines the interior of the new tire. Care must be taken to prevent piercing the tire.
- Clamp or vice-grip each wheel in the middle until its center just touches the hub. This will ensure even spacing between each of the four steering wheels.
- After you’ve finished these procedures, you may put on your new tires.
- The car must now be raised using the jack and supported by jack stands.
- Next, use the new tire’s hardware to secure the shorter bolts to the rims.
- Now, remove the lug nuts, then replace them with the longer ones that came with your 17-inch tire.
- This step is to install the new tire, working from one side to the other and tightening the lug nuts as you go.
- The last step is to return under your car and tighten the lug nuts again.
FAQs
Can I Replace 16 Inch Wheels With 18 Inch?
Compared to a 16-inch rim, an 18-inch rim is superior in handling, ride quality, and aesthetics.
Some prerequisites must be met first. An extra weight 18-inch rim will help the suspension and ride quality even more than a standard rim. In addition, it can glide smoothly over curbs.
Verify that the 18-inch wheels have the same width and offset as the 16-inch wheels. Otherwise, the heavier wheels might scrape the suspension.
Third, go ahead and switch up the tire sizes. Most likely, you mounted your tire on a 16-inch rim. Tires larger than 18 inches will be required, unfortunately.
What Are The Problems of Replacing 17 inch Tires on 16 inch Rims?
Tires that are too long for their rims might cause handling and traction issues for your car.
However, the gravity of the situation may be grasped by considering the consequences of using a longer tire.
- Rapid tire depreciation is possible.
- Adding more mass to the vehicle is an option.
- Slippery conditions caused by snow and ice
- Potentially hazardous to the vehicle’s suspension
- At really high speeds, the tire might detach from the rim.
Conclusion
Going from 16″ to 17″ rims is possible, but I recommend not doing that if you are not a professional in the car’ system.
As a result, the vehicle’s performance will suffer and be damaged over time. Instead, use the tire size that the manufacturer specifies for your vehicle.
However, if you’re in a unique circumstance and an enormous tire is your only choice, you can make do with one for a little while.