better wheels

[SmartBob]

I like the 3 for me.....very sharp.

El Kabong...that is my Battlefield 2142 screen name. LOL

[prm1177]

One item to note. Smart wheels form an integral part of the crash/crumple zone on the car. Something to think about if going after market.

[Smartfor2guy]

Originally Posted by prm1177

One item to note. Smart wheels form an integral part of the crash/crumple zone on the car. Something to think about if going after market.

Actually what they are saying is that the short wheelbase, a side impact car crash will most likely hit the front and rear wheels and suspension, therefore providing extra side impact coverage

[Fredvon4]

Re part of the safety features...

I keep reading folks making some sort of issue about this when ever we start looking at wheel tire options...

I suppose that nobody wants to think about it for a moment...

Yes the suspension and much of all this car is deliberately designed to absorb crash energy in as few inches or feet of crumple zone as is practically possible...

I fail to see how a Smart 3~4 inch wide steel wheel vs a Smart 5.5~6 inch wide alloy wheel is factored in to the safety concern... How is having a 6.5~7.5 wider alloy any more or less safe?

Or are all the folks fretting about this, unaware that there are already a lot of combinations... including many MB approved aftermarket versions? (Think Brabus and Lornser)

The only issue at all is Clarence and overall tire diameter

There is a max wide tire that will fit under the wheel well...(I don't know how wide max is yet).. 195mm in front and 205mm in back is repored to still be inside the wheel well and not rub on inside under normal suspension compression or tight turning

Stock tire diameter is 22.3" front and 22.6" rear...We have to stay close to these diameters to keep the ESP, traction control, Anti lock, and speedo happy..

You can safely use any Alloy or Steel wheel that fits.....They are all equally safe or dangerous depending on point of view...

There is a legitimate concern using the 3 to 5 lug adapters.... they change the 3 lug 112.5mm to 5x 112.5mm

While they will allow fitment of a broader range of MB wheels they add width dimension. If you do not allow for the wider track with a compensation in the wheel offset you run the risk of added stress on the hub and bearings...

Mechanically, and from a engineering perspective, there is no added or inherent danger with the adapters....

[jwight]

Unless something changed recently, and the dealer reps can weigh in on that, PAG has not approved any third party wheels at the moment. Will they in future? Who knows. Your car, feel free to add wheels but I'd ask your smart center what effect that will have on warranty coverage from PAG in the first 2ys/24K miles.

[SmartPassion]

I can see where PAG will try to deny coverage if your wheel bearings wore out with custom wheels. But it might be a stretch if say, your headlights shorted out and you have custom wheels (not that they would ever try that ).

Also, if you go to almost any new car dealers these days, they are selling aftermarket wheels of all ilk - at a premium.

[saronian]

Meanwhile Scion offers 18" & 19" wheel options with series 35 profile tires and a 3-year/36K mile. smart is missing an opportunity to help us customize.

[smarticus]

I don't think it's smart, but PAG.

[MarkB]

Originally Posted by SmartBob

I like the 3 for me.....very sharp.

El Kabong...that is my Battlefield 2142 screen name. LOL

Awesome. Always nice when you find another gamer involved in your other interests too. My BF screen name is Battlefresh. But I don't play 2142 anymore. I actually played all the other BF's for years and now I'm waiting for BF: Bad Company for Xbox 360. Once I built my home theater it's hard to play on the pc again.

[jediknight36]

They remind me of my wheels on my 78 honda hawk hondamatic. Cept that mine are 5 star.