2008 S80 wheels

ajdusman · Post by **ajdusman** » 27 Dec 2009, 19:12

I just bought a 2008 S80 with 18" wheels and low profile pirelli tires. In my opinion they ruin the ride. Am I asking for trouble if I go to a 17" after market wheel and a higher profile tire? Performance buffs in the audience will have to excuse me - the ride is more important to me!

kevmcrae · Post by **kevmcrae** » 28 Dec 2009, 19:41

I have a 2000 that came with 16's. I kept them for my winter tires and got aftermarket chromed aluminum 17's for my summer tires. The 17's don't have a bad ride at all. I just bought a 2007 with factory 18's. While the ride is more firm I don't find it too rough for this 48 year old!

Talk to a tire shop and just make sure your diameter is the same and you shouldn't have a problem with the 17's. The only thing I have to contend with on my 2000 with the aftermarket wheels is they are difficult to balance perfectly. Tire dealer put hub rings on them and has been better since then. But you must buy good name brand tires. The cheaper ones won't balance out right.

What factory 18" rims do you have? I may be interested in buying if they are the chrome!
Kevin

pj8708 · Post by **pj8708** » 28 Dec 2009, 20:14

I have had my 2007 S80 for 5 months. It came with 17", VERY wide, low profile tires. These are the widest, and lowest profile tires I have seen; though at 61 I'm not as up to speed like I should be.

I have never felt the ride was as smooth as it should be, even with the suspension setting's selector. After reading your postings, could these tires be the cause of my not so soft ride?

Post by **meine39** » 29 Dec 2009, 02:32

www.tirerack.com offers a number of 17" rims for the S80 (Matt has a link to tirerack that you should use so that the site gets some support money). tirerack ships from Delaware so if you're in PA you'll get your order pretty quickly.

Watch the weight of whatever wheels you buy - some of them are real tubbos - heavy wheels do NOT help performance or handling.

kevmcrae · Post by **kevmcrae** » 29 Dec 2009, 23:03

pj8708, the lower the profile tire the firmer the ride....that's for sure. Personally I don't mind the 18's on my 07 or the 17's on my 2000. But the smoothest ride is definitely with my 16 inch rims that I run my snow tires on my 2000. They are a higher profile, more side wall, so they absorb more impact.

pj8708 · Post by **pj8708** » 30 Dec 2009, 07:41

Kevemcrae: Thanks. That helps!