Wheel size vs. smoothness of ride

[mikenmar]

I saw a review (USA Today) that said the larger wheel sizes contribute substantially to a rougher ride.

Can someone who's driven, say, both the 20" wheels and 18" wheels confirm or deny that?

[live2well]

I can confirm that the ride is slightly rougher with the larger wheel but it also depends on the size of the sidewall on the larger wheel.

[Stevo]

Yep, larger wheel diameters usually havetires with a smaller profile (thickness from the wheel to the ground)- if they didn't they might not fit in the fenderwells or might rub the fenders on turning. The sidewall of these tires is typically made stiffer -- if they didn't then a speed bump could easily deform the tire and the underlying wheel rim. The stiffer walls translate to a rougher ride but better cornering.

[dougmac]

You also got to realize that the Camaro has tires with a 28-5/8" o/a rolling diameter ... this is HUGE, compared to most other cars on the road. With the 20's, you still have 4.331" of rubber between the rim & road.

As a comparison, 2010 Mustang GT tires have a 27-11/16" o/a rolling diameter and with it's optional 19" wheels it has similar 4.34" of rubber between rim & road.

Doug

[LadyinBlue]

I wouldn't call the ride on the 20s necessarily rougher - you're just more aware of what your tires have just passed over :-) Being a Midwesterner I've always watched for potholes and rough patches; driving this car means being just a tad more vigilant.

Don't let the naysayers of the 20s scare you away - the handling is amazing and while the ride isn't like one in your grandma's Buick, it certainly won't send you to the chiropractor!

[danraz98]

so how would 22"s feel? Thats what i plan on getting

[UsedTaHaveA68]

Originally Posted by danraz98

so how would 22"s feel? Thats what i plan on getting

Like every other ricer-fied car out there. Hahah I'm just kidding with ya man. In all serious, it will ride rougher because

A) You will have significantly less tire between the rim of the wheel in the road

and

B) 22" wheels will be significantly heavier than 20's, which means they have a higher inertia, which means it's harder to move the wheels up and down in its suspension stroke, translating into a rougher ride.

The only vehicle with 22's I've ever ridden in is a GMC Sierra Denali. It came with 20's and rode incredibly smooth. He put 22's on there after about a week and now it rides about like our friend's Z-71 I guess. Not in the same way, because you don't notice it much when you're going slow, or when the bump is fairly large and smooth. You notice it over all the small, sharper bumps in the road. With the 20's every single road imperfection was absorbed. With 22's, all those imperfections get translated up to your body. It's not obnoxious by any means, just noticable. Keep in mind though, with those 22's there's about the same amount of sidewall as what the Camaro has with 20's. So you going to 22's will be much worse.