17" rims on a '94 850 Turbo?

Post by **Sperry** » 20 Apr 2008, 06:22

If I go to a 17" rim, is the overall tire size the same as I currently have
with my 205/55/15?

Why do people use the bigger rim?
Lower unsprung weight?
Better performance due to lower tire sidewall?

What are the cons?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 20 Apr 2008, 06:49

Here is a good tire/wheel fitment calculator: http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html It uses Java so give it some time to fully load. To answer your questions, people like the larger rims because it looks nice! The larger rims fill up the tire well more fully and this is especially true if the car is lowered to any degree. With a shorter tire on a larger rim, there is more control on the road (less sidewall flex) but you also run the risk of bent rims if your area has a lot of potholes, so be aware of that.
Good luck trying to figure out what you want to do.

Post by **Sperry** » 20 Apr 2008, 11:15

I found this calculator when looking for a database on
rim offsets, center-bores, and lug hole configurations.

Thanks for the link! I'll bookmark it this time.

I drive a lot, and expect to, one day, come across a nice set of rims at a yard sale,
for a car someone's brother owned, but no one remembers what model it was.
The Holy Grail of rim finds, a nice set of like-new alloys for $40.

volvrow · Post by **volvrow** » 20 Apr 2008, 12:16

On the R model, the tire size is 205/45/17. You would not want to go a size larger than this because it will rub. It does enhance the "sporty" feel, and it turns much more responsively (especially at highway speeds) but it does take away some of the comfort because of potholes. You can find some rims on TireRack that look very similar to the R ones. Here is a link to the rims that should fit on your car.

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelClo ... sort=Brand

RABrillhart · Post by **RABrillhart** » 25 Apr 2008, 17:04

I remember Road and Track (or one of the auto mags) doing a review of the "R" series turbo and discussed the 17 inch wheel. They intoned that Volvo had modified the brake line holders and some other parts (can't remember all of them). They concluded that normal 850 turbo owners should not Modify their wheels do to scrubbing of the brake lines etal. I don't know if this is really a problem but I though I would pass on my 2 cents.

Post by **JRL** » 25 Apr 2008, 18:08

volvrow wrote:On the R model, the tire size is 205/45/17. You would not want to go a size larger than this because it will rub. It does enhance the "sporty" feel, and it turns much more responsively (especially at highway speeds) but it does take away some of the comfort because of potholes. .

Your .02 and the poster above have it all wrong

This is NOT true at all.

Go with 215/45/17. Nicer ride, it looks better and you will have a little but better "bent wheel" protection.
ALL my Gen 1's run that size tire

Post by **Sperry** » 25 Apr 2008, 19:08

Is that going to be a 17" x 7" rim?

Or is it 7.5" wide?

sony2000 · Post by **sony2000** » 25 Apr 2008, 20:10

You could also put on 215/50/17, and save a lot of $$$.

volvrow · Post by **volvrow** » 27 Apr 2008, 12:58

205/45/17 IS the stock size for the 96' R, as that is how it is posted in the manual and on the gas flap for recommended size.

Post by **JRL** » 27 Apr 2008, 13:59

Sperry wrote:Is that going to be a 17" x 7" rim?

Or is it 7.5" wide?

Either works