20's vs 19's
 

I'm likely to get some heat about this question but I'm going to ask it anyway. I have tried searching for some opinions on this but either I'm searching for the wrong combination of words or there isn't really much about this on the site.

Does the additional inch of tire sidewall for 19 inch wheels provide a noticeably better ride? What about road noise? Is there a slight reduction in road noise having a little more rubber to dampen the wheels?

I absolutely LOVE how my 20x9 Velgen VMB5 wheels look on my car. Especially now that the car is lowered a bit the car just looks killer to me. I'm very pleased with how it looks. However, because I drive so much, I am very aware of how different the ride quality is...and the increase in road noise. I have 245/35R20's all around.

I started thinking the other day about how, if at all, different a 19 inch version of these same wheels would look and feel. I realize that this is a fairly subjective issue but surely some of you have some reasonable opinions and/or experience with this that can provide some insight. Surely there are at least a couple folks here that have started with 20's only to go down to 19's for similar reasons. Maybe hopefully is a better word to use than surely. (Stop calling me Shirley.)

I suppose it is possible that it is just the tires. I know some are better than others as far as sidewall stiffness goes but is there really that much of a difference?

I get that the ride quality is going to be different due to 1. larger wheels have more mass which means that movement vibration transfers into the frame more, 2. lower profile tires have shorter sidewalls which means less rubber to dampen the ride, 3. the aftermarket coilovers are not set as soft as OEM on purpose, and 4. lowering the vehicle changes the geometry of all of the suspension components which were originally designed to function at a specific ride height so changing them may affect their ability to function as well as originally intended.

All that said, what should my expectations be regarding this? Is there not a middle ground? Is it possible that I am already experiencing the best that my setup will allow me to? Should I just forget about it and enjoy the car how it is? I drive a lot so I need to try to get it as close as possible. Problem is, none of you can ride in the car to compare it to what you've had in order to tell me if mine is good or bad. I don't have a shop close by that is very experienced with these things so I'm left to asking questions here.

I have contemplated posting a trade request. Unfortunately, it will probably take a long time before the exact circumstances of my trade request will be met. First, it is unlikely that there will be anyone here with 19 inch versions of the VMB5s. Then, it is unlikely that they will have a square setup (staggered is so much more popular right now). And lastly, it is even more unlikely that that same person regretted not buying the 20 inch version and is looking to trade for some 20's.

Before I do that, though, I thought I'd ask for opinions on the matter from the peanut gallery.

What say ye?

Not sure if there is drastic change in ride quality but I know that 19" tires are expensive.

Over the last 30 years, I've had cars with wheels that progressed steadily 1" in diameter car after car from 14" rims to 19" rims, and I believe the issue of comfort is owned far more by the suspension than how much sidewall you have. My aftermarket 19's w/Swift Springs seems indistinguishable in comfort to the OEM setup with 18's. Not that either is particularly comfortable on the OEM sport shocks, but there it is anyway.

I honestly think you're over-thinking it. But then, I've never owned a car with 20's.

19"s vs 20"s To answer the question to as best as the info given is this...

Either size of the rim really doesn't matter... though clearing your turns dips speed bumps pending how low you are? a pic would help on that if you can post one up of the back and front..

Tires vary on noise... Nitto seems to be a bit noisy for me Hankooks have a bit of a whistle noise but both handle well...as for comfort yes adding one size up will give you better bounce response but too looks and will you hit the fenders turning will play a factor...
Build your set up on how you drive and keep that medium...I drove my G long distances and still had it hammered...I just learned to deal with it and keep a eye on my surroundings...

If your looking at other Tire or wheel options please let me know I'd be glad to help any way I can

I looked at pricing on the 19's and cringed slightly, yes. If there is a difference, though, is the amount of ride quality gained worth the additional expense? I have to find out if it is different and then by how much before I can determine whether it is worth it or not. I have a feeling that Rochester is right about me over-thinking this, though.

Thanks for the input. I am definitely an over-thinker. By experience, though. I have been bitten so many times by not knowing enough information ahead of time. Which is actually the case here again. I'm not sure that I would have gone with the 20's originally if I knew what they were going to be like. That said, it's not like I can't live with it. I knew there would be a difference. And I do love how it looks. So I can live with it if needed.

Thanks for the input! Here's a picture I took last Friday. I had it aligned today so it is a little different than how it appears here. I drive too much to run a negative camber look. Well, in my opinion anyway. I bought my wheels directly from Velgen but if I decide to go with a different brand, I'll definitely get ahold of you. Thanks!

Attachment 140132

^^^
FWIW, that looks absolutely fantastic, brakes notwithstanding.

Those Velgens are real nice. IDK why I didn't give them more consideration last year.

So that's either the Sport bumper on a Journey/base...or it's a Sport model of the AWD X right? Or maybe it's a sport model RWD and the original brakes were sold off for some reason :dunno:

^ must be an XS model. cosmetic bits of the S model, but mechanicals of the standard X model.

OP - sharp looking ride!

Paint looks incredible. Right amount of tint. Background is outstanding. Lighting dead on. Nice photo taken by a keen-eye photographer who doesn't rely on photo shop software, watermarks, or special effects in order to give a boring picture some internet wow factor. Well done.

Wheel design I like, not as much as you do, but I do like it. I'd go with 19's and taller side walls, squared or not. You asked for opinions, and mine is 35 series tires on a 4-door family car never looks right. The overall look of your car is fantastic, but I wouldn't sacrifice ride quality that much for appearance sake.

My guess is its an XS model and that the parking lot is outside of his chiropractors office :)

Look at the side sills. Pretty sure those are not sport-package sills.

That said, the difference between the two is so subtle, you really need to be side-by-side to tell.

I think 20's look a bit too big on the sedan so my vote is for 19's.

Thanks guys. I appreciate the kind words. I bought it as an X Journey and added the spoiler, midnight black grille, sport bumper, and paddle shifters. The price difference between the Journey I bought and the regular G37S I was looking at was way too much to justify when I knew I could get the Sport look for a lot less. I prefer the seats in the Journey anyway and aside from things like the brakes, side sills, and data plate, there really wasn't enough of a difference. I want to do the Akebono brakes as soon as I can. It definitely looks much better. Especially with these wheels.

I asked for opinions and I honestly appreciate all of them I get. I am leaning toward the 19s the more I think about it. I'm not old exactly - 39 on the 17th this month - but I'm definitely past the days where I purposefully sacrificed practicality for appearance or performance. If this were a third vehicle for my family then I might take a different approach.

GAWD, thanks for the compliment on the photograph itself. I am an amateur photographer and definitely one who values getting what you want in-camera versus digitally manipulating something afterwards. Anyone with a computer can make adjustments to a photograph with free or cheap software. I have some friends who make a living manipulating photographs and they are artists in their own right so I'm not against processing but I like the challenge of capturing what I see with my eyes. I love natural light and very, very rarely use a flash because of it. However, I'm not the type of person to just let something untrue go unchecked. I took this with my iPhone 6 Plus and I did touch up the picture. It was very minimal, but it was manipulated. If I manipulate at all, I still like to do it in such a way that it only enhances the natural look. Oh, and it was out front of my work. No chiropractor needed yet, thankfully. Ha!

Jampsell, G is looking proper I must say :)
I didn't catch what brand & model tire you're running, if you posted it I must've missed it.
That would be of help to maybe get you closer to a happier place.
Maybe just a tire change might get you back to liking the ride more cause you've got the look going on for sure!

Thanks for the compliment. Much appreciated.

I should have said what tires I'm running but did not. Thanks for asking. They are Toyo Proxes 4 Plus 245/35R20 95W.

You make a good point about possibly changing tires. It would certainly be cheaper.

By the way, on a completely related to tires note but mostly unrelated to the original questions, what tire pressure do you guys who have 20's run? Do you stay with the OEM pressure recommendations? That may have something to do with my ride quality.

nice looking G you got.
I did have 20's with 35 series tires and i didn't like the ride at all.
I now have 19's with 40 series tires in front and i do notice the difference in ride quality.
you may look into maybe going up to a 20x40 in front if you have the room.

blnewt would be able to help more with that since he is the offset tire guru here.:D