n00b wheel size decision help

[Nibs]

hi guys I've been reading up alot on this site about everyone's wheels and tires. I have an 07 LB with 14"OEM wheels. I'm ordering some wheels online and can't decide between 15 or 16s. After talking to a guy in a local shop today he tried to hook me up with a package for 17" rims and 215/40R17 tires saying this is the best size tires for 17". After checking the tire guide here that doesn't seem to be the case. It's not even on the sheet for the non RS model. Though I have seen some garages here with them on...

I've never bought aftermarket wheels before so I'm a noob. What I'm looking for is the most width really.... according to the tire guide sticky here if I go for 15" rims I should get 205/50R15 tires to get closest to OEM. If I go for 16" I should get 195/45R16 which are only -0.21%. Even though the 16" wheel is 7" wide would it be wider with the 195 tire then the 15x6.5" would be with the 205 tire?

is the 205/45R16 tire ok even though its a 1.34% difference? I think this one would be the best being 16" and 205 wide

Am I just completely making this decision way harder for myself then it really is? keeping close to OEM seems to be the biggest thing...

I'd appreciate any feedback in helping me with this decision. thx

+1 185 55 15 584.50 23.012 1836.26 72.294 4.4 0.17 0.24%
185 60 15 603.00 23.740 1894.38 74.582 62.5 2.46 3.41%
195 55 15 595.50 23.445 1870.82 73.654 39.0 1.53 2.13%
195 50 15 576.00 22.677 1809.56 71.242 -22.3 -0.88 -1.22%
205 50 15 586.00 23.071 1840.97 72.479 9.1 0.36 0.50%

+2 195 45 16 581.90 22.909 1828.09 71.972 -3.8 -0.15 -0.21%
195 50 16 601.40 23.677 1889.35 74.384 57.5 2.26 3.14%
205 45 16 590.90 23.264 1856.37 73.085 24.5 0.96 1.34%

[seanele]

2 days ago..they did the same to me, suggesting 215-40-17 for my new 17x7 rims.
i'm okay if i'm not planning on lowering the car.

...i think the best for 17 in rims..is 205-45-17, not too low but also not too high.
i saw this setting at last meeting at Bella Terra last Friday.

[Black Yaris]

click my signature

[cali yaris]

2 days ago..they did the same to me

oh man, I thought the Yaris Hazing was a secret! :wink:

[Black Yaris]

you are making it too hard....

answer a couple questions
1. do you plan to lower your car?
2. what kind of driving do you do?

[seanele]

oh man, I thought the Yaris Hazing was a secret! :wink:


dude..i'm a victim here...:frown:

[kimona]

you are making it too hard....

answer a couple questions
1. do you plan to lower your car?
2. what kind of driving do you do?

The questions Black Yaris asks here are important to determine the best wheel and tire size set-up for your car.

Forget about the wheel and tire guide on this forum; it is incomplete, inaccurate, and misleading.

Once you answer the questions, repost for some first hand wheel/tire feedback from members.

[Nibs]

The questions Black Yaris asks here are important to determine the best wheel and tire size set-up for your car.

Forget about the wheel and tire guide on this forum; it is incomplete, inaccurate, and misleading.

Once you answer the questions, repost for some first hand wheel/tire feedback from members.

the tire guide is inaccurate?
1. I am not really wanting to lower my car because I plan to drive up the mountains to snowboard (will be putting stock steelies back on for winter rubber) but I will lower if i find the gap to nasty looking.

2. I guess I drive pretty aggressive ( for a 1.5 yaris :rolleyes: )

I didn't know much about different rims and tires until reading this forum. From what I understand here is you want to stay as close to stock size as possible that's why I put down those two size tires for 15" and 16" rims.

thx for the input so far

[kimona]

Okay, Nibs:

If you don't plan to lower your car and don't want the gap to look "nasty", then don't run low offset rims. For example, ET38mm will push the wheels out to the limit up front and accentuate the gap, and the car will look go-cart like.

OEM rims are between 5.5" and 6.5" wide and have high positive offsets between 45mm and 51mm. Look at photos of stock Japanese Vitz and you'll notice that the gap looks quite acceptable because of the OEM rim and tire sizes.

So, with aftermarket rims, you could run the following set-ups without having your car look like it's ready to climb hills:

For 15's, go with 15x6.5 (or 15x7), ET42-45, with 205/55/15 rubber.

For 16's, go with 16x6.5 (or 16x7), ET42-45, with 205/50/16 rubber.

For 17's, go with 17x7, ET42-45, with 205/45/17 rubber.

A rim with a 45mm offset will look best with the unlowered Yaris.