Alloys Choice Ride and handling - 16" or 17" Rims?

deejayh · 18th May 2006, 17:03

Hi everyone,

I recently drove a 2006 Civic ES Diesel whilst my car was in for a service. I was very impressed (.) with the ride and handling and am now thinking of buying one. However, I wonder if the car would handle just a little bit sharper with 17" rims (and associated tyres) without compromising too much of the ride? (The ES currently comes with 16" rims)

Have any of you compared a Civic with 16" rims to 17s?

Incidentally, I'm not really interested in the 'bling' factor - just how it feels and behaves! (In line with Potsy's comments about his 17s feeling better than the demo car's 18s, I presume that the 18" rims will be a bit too much for my liking.)

Thanks!

basegreen · 18th May 2006, 17:05

The car handles best on 17s. The 18s were a little bit choppy (and contribute to the to the press saying the ride is bumpy - they always give em the 18s), the 16s are fine, but definitely better cornering on the 17s.

I've driven all three at length (ie more than a week)... so well placed to comment.

Kpow99 · 18th May 2006, 17:08

Welcome Deejayh, I personally preffered the ride on the 17's over the 18's.

deejayh · 19th May 2006, 10:03

Thanks for the welcomes and the replies folks!

Basegreen: sorry to read of the difficulties you have encountered with your Civic. Little consolation I know, but your experiences sure have provided some exhaustive research to help the rest of us!

basegreen · 19th May 2006, 10:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by deejayh

Thanks for the welcomes and the replies folks!

Basegreen: sorry to read of the difficulties you have encountered with your Civic. Little consolation I know, but your experiences sure have provided some exhaustive research to help the rest of us!

This is true. I hope that my experience will help people out somehow -- I can deal with it all better knowing that

Pottsy · 20th May 2006, 11:36

Didn't like the 18" here (car was very scatty on an uneven road) but the 17" work very well indeed.

mike222 · 21st May 2006, 12:44

Hi , Is it just me, or has anyone noticed that the jiggly ride is improved by having passengers ? Has any one tried playing with tyre pressures ? ( 17" standard Sport wheels ) The " sporty" ride is my only niggle, I will probably get used to it !

Kpow99 · 21st May 2006, 13:05

Hello and welcome, not had may passengers in the car, not a full load anyway, my old 307 has a firm ride so I guess I didn't really notice, did feel the 18's were a bit too firm for my liking though.

Pottsy · 21st May 2006, 13:22

Yes - the firm ride is a consequence of the light (when empty) rear on the relatively firm torsion beam rear suspension. The torsion beam has to be quite firm with lots of anti-roll effect to work well, and the car is very nose heavy (esp the diesel). Weight in the back will improve the ride and maybe the balance, but will reduce the grip available (more roll, more inaccurate wheel placement on the road from the trailing arms).

mike222 · 21st May 2006, 15:51

Did any one expect the metal plates that surround the brake discs to help keep the alloys free from brake dust ? I was mistaken !!!

Kpow99 · 21st May 2006, 15:53

What?!?!?

mike222 · 21st May 2006, 15:57

On my sport ( I presume other models are the same ) there is a pressed steel disc or back plate that that fits close around the circumference of the brake disc

Kpow99 · 21st May 2006, 16:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike222

On my sport ( I presume other models are the same ) there is a pressed steel disc or back plate that that fits close around the circumference of the brake disc

Yeah I know that bit but didn't know why it was there. Stop brake dust build up?!?!?! never on mine

Hartside · 21st May 2006, 16:41

Must be the material they are using for the brake pads. I've just spent the last hour cleaning my alloys front and rear, and they were caked with black brake dust! The dust was baked on hard!

Fedorov · 21st May 2006, 17:34

Just washed mine for the 2nd weekend in a row, thought I'd get away with just sponge and carwash like I used last week but already got a small buildup of black spots in the corners on the 17" alloys that wouldn't budge with my sponge/finger.

First use of my Meguiars All wheel spray and the trusty toothbursh already!

Still hasn't got it all off perfect though...

geoff · 22nd May 2006, 20:02

I have an 2.2es on 16" wheels and have just told the dealer about the better ride when there was some weight in the boot
the demo i tried was on 17" wheels and seemed a better ride

But it is a great car to drive

The only vehicle available without a wait was the one i bought
It had most of what i wanted as standard

18th May 2006, 17:03	#1 (permalink)
deejayh Valve Cap Join Date: 17th May 2006 Location: Bucks. Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Ride and handling - 16" or 17" Rims? Hi everyone, I recently drove a 2006 Civic ES Diesel whilst my car was in for a service. I was very impressed (.) with the ride and handling and am now thinking of buying one. However, I wonder if the car would handle just a little bit sharper with 17" rims (and associated tyres) without compromising too much of the ride? (The ES currently comes with 16" rims) Have any of you compared a Civic with 16" rims to 17s? Incidentally, I'm not really interested in the 'bling' factor - just how it feels and behaves! (In line with Potsy's comments about his 17s feeling better than the demo car's 18s, I presume that the 18" rims will be a bit too much for my liking.) Thanks!

21st May 2006, 12:44	#7 (permalink)
mike222 Valve Cap Join Date: 19th May 2006 Location: Worcestershire Posts: 40 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Choppy Ride ? Hi , Is it just me, or has anyone noticed that the jiggly ride is improved by having passengers ? Has any one tried playing with tyre pressures ? ( 17" standard Sport wheels ) The " sporty" ride is my only niggle, I will probably get used to it !

21st May 2006, 15:51	#10 (permalink)
mike222 Valve Cap Join Date: 19th May 2006 Location: Worcestershire Posts: 40 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Dirty wheels Did any one expect the metal plates that surround the brake discs to help keep the alloys free from brake dust ? I was mistaken !!!

22nd May 2006, 20:02	#16 (permalink)
geoff Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 20th May 2006 Posts: 533 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	ride and handling I have an 2.2es on 16" wheels and have just told the dealer about the better ride when there was some weight in the boot the demo i tried was on 17" wheels and seemed a better ride But it is a great car to drive The only vehicle available without a wait was the one i bought It had most of what i wanted as standard

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode


This thread is about: Ride and handling - 16" or 17" Rims?, it's in Wheels, Tyres, Suspension and Brakes at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Hi everyone, I recently drove a 2006 Civic ES Diesel whilst my car was in for a service. I was very impressed (.) with the ...

18th May 2006, 17:05	#2 (permalink)
basegreen Super Moderator Civinfo guru Join Date: 15th April 2006 Location: noitacoL Posts: 2,870 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader: (0)	The car handles best on 17s. The 18s were a little bit choppy (and contribute to the to the press saying the ride is bumpy - they always give em the 18s), the 16s are fine, but definitely better cornering on the 17s. I've driven all three at length (ie more than a week)... so well placed to comment.

18th May 2006, 17:08	#3 (permalink)
Kpow99 Explosive Mind Unleashed Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 5th May 2006 Location: London Posts: 535 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Welcome Deejayh, I personally preffered the ride on the 17's over the 18's.

19th May 2006, 10:03	#4 (permalink)
deejayh Valve Cap Join Date: 17th May 2006 Location: Bucks. Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the welcomes and the replies folks! Basegreen: sorry to read of the difficulties you have encountered with your Civic. Little consolation I know, but your experiences sure have provided some exhaustive research to help the rest of us!

20th May 2006, 11:36	#6 (permalink)
Pottsy Administrator Civinfo master Join Date: 10th April 2006 Location: Leics Posts: 5,098 Thanks: 18 Thanked 112 Times in 64 Posts iTrader: (0)	Didn't like the 18" here (car was very scatty on an uneven road) but the 17" work very well indeed.

21st May 2006, 13:05	#8 (permalink)
Kpow99 Explosive Mind Unleashed Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 5th May 2006 Location: London Posts: 535 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Hello and welcome, not had may passengers in the car, not a full load anyway, my old 307 has a firm ride so I guess I didn't really notice, did feel the 18's were a bit too firm for my liking though.

21st May 2006, 13:22	#9 (permalink)
Pottsy Administrator Civinfo master Join Date: 10th April 2006 Location: Leics Posts: 5,098 Thanks: 18 Thanked 112 Times in 64 Posts iTrader: (0)	Yes - the firm ride is a consequence of the light (when empty) rear on the relatively firm torsion beam rear suspension. The torsion beam has to be quite firm with lots of anti-roll effect to work well, and the car is very nose heavy (esp the diesel). Weight in the back will improve the ride and maybe the balance, but will reduce the grip available (more roll, more inaccurate wheel placement on the road from the trailing arms).

21st May 2006, 15:53	#11 (permalink)
Kpow99 Explosive Mind Unleashed Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 5th May 2006 Location: London Posts: 535 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	What?!?!?

21st May 2006, 15:57	#12 (permalink)
mike222 Valve Cap Join Date: 19th May 2006 Location: Worcestershire Posts: 40 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	On my sport ( I presume other models are the same ) there is a pressed steel disc or back plate that that fits close around the circumference of the brake disc

21st May 2006, 16:41	#14 (permalink)
Hartside Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 4th May 2006 Location: Northumberland Posts: 558 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Must be the material they are using for the brake pads. I've just spent the last hour cleaning my alloys front and rear, and they were caked with black brake dust! The dust was baked on hard!

Similar Threads for: Ride and handling - 16" or 17" Rims?
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Galaxy My new Civic Sport with 17" Storm rims	Uiligheid	Gallery	4	19th April 2007 13:53
18" Rims	M88RKE	For sale and Wanted	9	30th January 2007 16:42
R-Silver Type-R on 19" rims	CivPilot	Gallery	5	17th December 2006 22:54
Silver Alabaster Silver Metallic with 18" Rims	Juuzi01	Gallery	15	1st November 2006 09:39
Black Nighthawk Black 1.8ES on 17" Rims	Chucky	Gallery	2	8th June 2006 18:37

21st May 2006, 17:34	#15 (permalink)
Fedorov Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 15th April 2006 Posts: 783 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Just washed mine for the 2nd weekend in a row, thought I'd get away with just sponge and carwash like I used last week but already got a small buildup of black spots in the corners on the 17" alloys that wouldn't budge with my sponge/finger. First use of my Meguiars All wheel spray and the trusty toothbursh already! Still hasn't got it all off perfect though...