Anyone prefer their 17s???

[silversport]

...anyone prefer the stock 17s over the stock 18s??? Anyone have any resources for stock 18s??? I see all the aftermarket wheels and even like some of the Aussie wheels but wondered if there might be any take offs available (obviously at a better price) for 18s...I have been unable to find anyone close to the Chicagoland area with these...just a thought...
Bill

[GTO 05]

I never liked the look of the stock 17's and I ended up getting the 18" VZ's from JHP. JHP also has our stock 17" wheels in an 18" version which look better but not as good as the VZ's.....JMO.

The VZ's with 245/40/18 tires ran me around $2k.....The stock center cap from your 17's will clip straight in, and the wheels just bolt on.

[smokehouse]

I hate t say it but those factory 17’s look like shit on the GTO. It’s amazing what a different set of wheels can do for the car.

[BLACK05GTO]

I had the oem 17'' on my 05 GTO. My 06 GTO came with the 18''.

The 18'' look much better and are much easier to clean. The car also has a better all around feel (connection with the road).

As far as ride quaility
The 17'' give you a much smoother ride on broken or uneven pavement. If you do a lot of driving on farm roads or or road with a lot of bumps, etc, the 17'' would be better.

But on smooth roads, highways, etc the 18'' are the way to go.

[gotzaGTO]

Hey Bill

For GM replacement 18's you have two choices... 1 is GM has GTO specific chrome wheels that you can buy from your dealer in 3 different styles

or

2. you can go to JHP and buy any of the 18s' and 19's that come as options on the Monaro.

[redgtocruiser]

The 17's look like crap, Whoever chose them from GM for the GTO should be shot. They do nothing for the car. No thought what so ever went into it. The stock 17's were already in the Holden parts bin when the GTO went into production.

[ShelbyGoat]

CV8Z's FTW!!

[ROKS ROKET]

I don't know what it is, but I'm not too happy with any of the choices for tires/wheel options. I should have gone with skinner wheels on the front and I want wider tires on the rear. There's one GTO that I've seen with the perfect set up, but I forgot who's Blue GTO it was.

ROK

[svede1212]

i like them enough that i paid to mod my back ones to 9". rubber bands on big wheels are just the latest fad. it will all change and your kids will tell you they look like crap :D. 17"s launch better than 18"s or 19"s and give a much better everyday ride and suspension protection. i personally wish that everybody "upgraded" their wheels so mine looked "custom" :D

[silversport]

I like the wheels from JHP...nice choices all...glad no one held back on their feelings for the 17s...I like the others too but I don't think the 17s look like $%^& either...I like them fine (17s)...I did ask though...:D...thanks, I'll check with dealers as well...
Bill

[whiteboyslo]

it should have come with the VZ wheels IMO.

i'm not a fan of the stock 17s or the stock 18s. than again, after seeing the wheel choices some people make around here.......


to each their own, i guess

Mike

[Georgia GTO]

i like them enough that i paid to mod my back ones to 9". rubber bands on big wheels are just the latest fad. it will all change and your kids will tell you they look like crap :D. 17"s launch better than 18"s or 19"s and give a much better everyday ride and suspension protection. i personally wish that everybody "upgraded" their wheels so mine looked "custom" :D

:iagree: Exactly! I got rid of 18s for 17s and like them a whole lot better. Its about the ride to me. You can look pretty as long as I'm winning.

[ProjectGTO]

I'm not a big fan of my stock 17s and so I've ordered a set of staggered 18" ROH Drift-Rs in silver to replace them. I'll keep the 17s as a backup though- no reason to get rid of them since they still have good rubber on them.

[jetlag]

I like the stock 17s on my Quicksilver since they match...but on other colors it isn't so good.

[archerm3]

I think the 17's give a much better ride and better handling. But the stock tires on 17's suck butt.

[fuzzybam]

The 17's from an aesthetic point of view suck, but I am thinking I might stick with some different 17" wheels to stick "wider/bigger" tires under the car than some 18" wheels.

[uke]

The 17's look like crap, Whoever chose them from GM for the GTO should be shot. They do nothing for the car. No thought what so ever went into it. The stock 17's were already in the Holden parts bin when the GTO went into production.

Guess I need to be shot, then :rolleyes:

Reason I chose the 17's over the 18's are several-fold:

-I don't see *that* much of a difference, they both look good to me. Besides, I spend most of my time in the car and it's an insignificant detail.

-When it comes time to buy new tires, mine are going to be a LOT cheaper than your rubber band tires :wiggle:

-more stealth factor, your 18's doesn't make you go faster, only make one look "cooler", which I could care less about.

-I prefer to "be" fast rather than "look" fast

[Anthony K]

17's look more muscular while the 18's look euro

[fuzzybam]

17's look more muscular while the 18's look euro

Excellent way of wording it.

[multistrada74]

on a lowered car like mine, the 17's look ok actually. when they are clean, they kinda look good. they are a bitch to clean though.

[lastc4]

I think the stock 17's are among the best looking stock wheels offered on any car. I think they look a bit more like a race wheel than a "bling" wheel.

As others have said, everyone has an opinion. Lots of folks liked the Trans Am "bowling ball" wheels offered some time back. I thought they looked pretty silly.

[COUPE 4]

The 17's just don't really do the GTO much justice. The 18" just filll the wheel arches out so much better. However, 19's look completely mean in comparison and give the goat a more agressive stance.

Basically any oem GM Holden or HSV wheel that you are interested in can be supplied by us. If you don't see it on our website (5 pages of genuine Holden and HSV wheels (http://www.jhp.com.au/wheels.php)) then just send us an email and we will help you out.

Regards,
JHP.

[Lorider680]

I think my stock 17's are one of the best looking set of wheels on the board's.
Smoke dipped chorme FTW. I don't like the eighteens, look to generic.IMO
Face!

[silversport]

On Quicksilver Metallic...those look awsome...I didn't like the chromies on the Orange I saw but they look great on yours...
Thanks,

Bill

[redgtocruiser]

Over in Aussie land all the Ute's got the 17 inchers they put on our GTO's. The Monaros all had 18" wheels and tires from day one!!! You guys remember that GM picked the 17" wheels for some BS reasons. They have been talked about before. I know the OEM 18" are made in Japan by ENKEI. Anybody know who makes or made the 17" wheel? I got both sets of wheels so I can change my mind anytime.

[RobertHammen]

Hey Bill

For GM replacement 18's you have two choices... 1 is GM has GTO specific chrome wheels that you can buy from your dealer in 3 different styles

Had... that company got acquired by someone else. MC2 or something? Good luck finding replacements if you curb one of those 3 styles.

<-see avatar for IMHO the best wheels for our cars... should have been the optional 18's, harking back to the old-style Pontiac Rally wheels.

(no, Steve, they won't be on my car Saturday. Frickin' vet bill for the dog... *sigh*)...

[bvbull200]

i like them enough that i paid to mod my back ones to 9". rubber bands on big wheels are just the latest fad. it will all change and your kids will tell you they look like crap :D. 17"s launch better than 18"s or 19"s and give a much better everyday ride and suspension protection. i personally wish that everybody "upgraded" their wheels so mine looked "custom" :D

Guess I need to be shot, then :rolleyes:

Reason I chose the 17's over the 18's are several-fold:

-I don't see *that* much of a difference, they both look good to me. Besides, I spend most of my time in the car and it's an insignificant detail.

-When it comes time to buy new tires, mine are going to be a LOT cheaper than your rubber band tires :wiggle:

-more stealth factor, your 18's doesn't make you go faster, only make one look "cooler", which I could care less about.

-I prefer to "be" fast rather than "look" fast

17's look more muscular while the 18's look euro

I share most of those thoughts. I can see why people might not prefer the design of the stock 17's, but I don't think they look bad at all. I almost laugh when I hear how people go crazy about how bad they think the stock 17's look. It is such a basic look/design, that it can't possibly cause such a reaction. I think it is an over-anxious way to justify the 18's. Nobody ever says, "I wasn't too crazy about the stock 17's, so I optioned for 18's", its always, "The stock 17's are the worst rims ever made! We should rally together and make the designer burn at the stakes!".

Anyways, I like look of the slightly taller sidewall on 17" wheels (whatever the design, stock or not), vs the lower profile look of 18's or 19's. As stated, there are also some benefits (mainly launching and comfort) to the 17's. Something aftermarket, almost always improves the look, but I still like 17's instead. At any rate, its still a personal opinion. I haven't really seen much on this board that I really dislike that much. Some things I don't necessarily prefer, but nothing that makes me freak out. I will shut up now.

[NeveGTO]

i wouldn't mind the stock 17's in the 18"s they sell.

[dragman]

I hate my stock 18's! I like the Stock 17's but only chrome

[ZigZag]

My stock 17's are in the loft in my garage. The TSW's I got I like alot but am now thinking about some 18's. Only real problems I can foresee is a change in the ride, and the bigger problem of having so many potholes here in the northeast that possible rim damage is giving me second thoughts about buying 18's.

[Nix06]

I started out with the stick 18"

18"- Better highspeed handling, bad wheel hop, sucked in weather under 40 degrees, tread wore quick, ride sucked, 4 get about it in the snow

17" Suck at highspeed handling, softer ride, great in the rain and snow


I still can't decide which I like better.

[uke]

17" Suck at highspeed handling, softer ride, great in the rain and snow



Considering that:

1. If I'm going 120mph, I'm just going straight (who does the slalom at 100mph???)
2. It snows here (and rains)

looks like I made the right choice! :wiggle:

[SJFGTO]

I like the look of the 17 inch wheel and with a pedders track II the 17's handle just fine. I am going to upgrade the tires to F1-D3s, but the tire size and appearance of the stock wheel is just fine with me.

[PhantomBlack04]

I hate my stock 18's! I like the Stock 17's but only chrome

wanna trade?

my chrome 17s for your 18s?

[julio]

Correct me if I'm wrong but does the 17 have far less problems fitting wider tires than the 18?

[Jookmasta]

went with the 17's due to the fact that (knock on wood) should i ever have a flat, the car won't feel weird with the full size spare?

[zero]

I hate t say it but those factory 17’s look like shit on the GTO. It’s amazing what a different set of wheels can do for the car.

I'll take tire width over wheel height any day.
18 is a serious tire size.. but 235 aint.

[04SLVRED]

My 17's ride just fine, not too harsh not too soft with all my suspension mods and lowering. 18's would probably be too harsh a ride IMHO.

[ruski]

I always liked the look of both 17 and 18, and I do like those VZ wheels a lot too, but they are $$$ and I don't have money to throw around, My car came with 17 and I am very happy with them.

[Hawkgfr]

I like the 17 better and the chromes one look fantastic. I am not a fan of large ass wheels...and prefer to have some sidewall rubber to go with my wheel. In fact the 17's fill up the wheel well better than the 18's. The 18's are cleaner looking as far as upkeep but the 17's look excellent.

[smokehouse]

I'll take tire width over wheel height any day.
18 is a serious tire size.. but 235 aint.

?

I’m running 275’s in the rear. 235 is perfectly fine for the fronts, why in the hell would I need anything larger than that? I’m not on a race track…

[PreludetoaGTO]

I love my 17's. And I bet they actually handle better. Wider tire>shorter sidewall. Either way I have no problems with the way it handles.

Go 17"!

[JTSnooks]

I like the 17s, although they do make the car look like a boat in comparison. The 18s actually make the car look smaller and I like how simple they are, but I'd rather have the 17s for ride/handling/cheap tires aspects. However, if I ever replace my wheels I'll probably upgrade to aftermarket 18s. I'd really like 18"front/19"rear.

[11 Bravo]

I prefer 17's. Especially with the limited width tire we can fit. The bigger wheels look corny being so skinny. Anything narrower than a 295/18 just doesn't look right. 17's are lighter, will have better traction, more tire choices (especially dr's), cheaper cost tires, and a better ride. They fill the wheelwell just fine. GTO's don't have a 4x4 look like the stock f-bods have. 19's look horrible imo. May as well put spinners on.

[zzjim]

I like the stock 17's so much that I bought a second set and had them chromed. I drove cars with both 17's and 18's when I was shopping for my SRM '06. The 18's had a harsh ride and were WAY to easy to spin off rubber. I'd bet that a professional driver, driving stock GTO's on a slalom course, would run almost identical times, with the slight edge going to the 17's for their extra contact patch. For street use, I'll take the 17's.

I'm an old musclecar guy who thinks the "rubber band" monster big wheel look is just a fad that will fade in the near future, just like scallops, pin striping, pastel painted street rods, and whitewall tires! (LOL)

Seriously though, it's all a matter of personal preference. As someone else said, some of the choices that I've seen posted on this site look all wrong on the GTO. It seems that some people choose an aftermarket wheel to say "look at me" rather than selecting something that really enhances the styling of the car. Just my two cents worth.