Has 18" wheels ever been put on a smart..ever?

[putzie]

going from 15's to 16's slows the car down a bit so going any bigger you are now sacrificing power for looks plus with bigger wheels the ride also becomes more crashy , as a 450 driver i can only comment that they can suffer from rubbing with 16's without a bit of tweaking

[brian r]

Originally Posted by putzie

going from 15's to 16's slows the car down a bit so going any bigger you are now sacrificing power for looks plus with bigger wheels the ride also becomes more crashy , as a 450 driver i can only comment that they can suffer from rubbing with 16's without a bit of tweaking

When you add weight to the wheel/tire combination, you're increasing the "unsprung weight". Depending on where you take the engineering equations from, adding 1 pound at the wheel is equivalent to adding 4 pounds to the car. The OEM tires weigh 14 lbs front and 15 lbs rear (per Continental). When I spoke to someone at Tire rack he told me a few things about going bigger:

They estimate the standard fortwo alloys weigh between 12 and 15 pounds each. The average 18" rim they sell which might someday fit the car weighs 22-25 pounds; add 1-2 pounds for chrome. The smallest 18" tire made is a 215/35 18 which weighs an average of 22 lbs. He said that there is a better chance that lesser quality US or Chinese wheels available at chain tire stores will be made for the smart, and that they generally weigh near 30 pounds without chrome.

Here's some rough math:

Stock wheels (15 lbs ea) + tires (15 lbs) = 30 lbs x 4 = 120 lbs per set

Light 18" set (22 lbs) + tires (22 lbs) = 44 lbs x 4 = 176 lbs per set

Budget 18" set (30 lbs) = tires (22 lbs) = 52 lbs x 4 = 208 lbs per set


Unsprung weight difference converted to dynamic weight difference:

Stock to light 18" set:

176 lbs - 120 lbs = 56 lbs weight added x 4 = 224 lbs

Stock to budget 18" set:

208 lbs - 120 lbs = 88 lbs weight added x 4 = 352 lbs

So best case, with some lightweight wheels an 18" combination would give the effect of carrying a 220 lb passenger all of the time, and the average set would cause the car to drive like you're hauling a 350 pound passenger.

Ouch. The heaviest wheels add almost 20% to the vehicle weight. Then there's the effect of asking the shock absorbers to control that extra weight. Unless some top quality shocks like Bilsteins or Konis become available (and they're not cheap) the originals will have to be replaced a lot sooner than with smaller wheels. And with the short sidewalls (1 1/2" less), the car will ride much, much worse.

None of this could matter if the goal is to look cool and move slow.

[BobbyBRD]

Yes, I'm a soon to be 17" wheeler. but 18" or even worse the SUV style bling bling rims. Hell no.
These are about as sporty as need be.

[Gentrification]

Flying Tiger Development has 18" Azev wheels for the 451. As well as Brabus, S-mann and Lorinser gear.

Tell Eddy that Gent sent ya.

[ggabel01]

Originally Posted by rasrx7

i want to know if its ever been tried. Any problems that might occur? rubbing issues, fender gap issues, rubbing on struts etc. I know it may be a crazy question, but for some reason, i can find alot more blank wheels in 18 then 17 or smaller....18*8 +35offset

The question must be asked, WHY?

[Smartbillet]

In order to keep the diameter of the tires even close, you would probably need a 25 series tire, which would be impossible to source. I had a hard enough time finding a matched set of 35 and 40 series 17"s.

[GiantKiller]

Originally Posted by Smartbillet

In order to keep the diameter of the tires even close, you would probably need a 25 series tire, which would be impossible to source. I had a hard enough time finding a matched set of 35 and 40 series 17"s.

I've finally got my Schmidt space lines and installed them. 7.5x17 195/40 front, 9.5x17 225/35 rear. extremely tight tollerances on front strut spring base thought tire flex would rub for sure. Got the front to slide and no rub unbelievably close I guess they did there research. No clearance problems turning what so ever. All kinds of room in the back. Alittle past the fender in the back but doesn't look too bad. I got the 9.5s for the back so I can go as wide as possible on tires. For drag racing when I (if I) get to put the smartuki conversion. If you don't have those kind of reasons. I would go with 8.5 on the back for the best looks(9.5 rim is wider than tread on 225 tire) I'm thinking of going to 245/35 tire just for better looks in the mean time. But it's .62 of an inch bigger in diameter than the 195 front.Don't know if thats too much difference for the trac control, ect.

[Evilution]

Originally Posted by ajprice

And just to show its possible on a 450 (even if its not a standard body 450!)

They are only 18" on the back though.

[BobbyBRD]

Guy in Switzerland. owns a ferrari and knows how to treek a smart. carbon fibre vinyl graphics on tridion and 18"s. SWEET!

[miguel girasol]

I like the schidt space line myself, but can't find this rims nowhere in USA .I only foud sizes 16". can you tell where did buy, and how much was, so i can buy some for my smart too.