5.5 wheel width vs. 7 inch, advantages and disadvantages Options

[opera guy]

well, it looks like i have my heart set on a set of ATS Classics wheel. i think i will get the 15 inch diameter ones. but im not sure of it yet.

what is the advantages of 15x5.5 over 15x7 besides i have to add flares?

is 15x5.5 in front and 15x7 in the rear a good set up? good compromise?

how much slower/faster is the 7inch over 5.5 inch? (diminish low speed performance? like 0-30mph)?

how bout 15inch vs 16 (or 17inch) besides speedo discrepency? like.. performance wise

[ArtechnikA]

What is the advantages of 15x5.5 over 15x7 besides i have to add flares?

is 15x5.5 in front and 15x7 in the rear a good set up? good compromise?

how much slower/faster is the 7inch over 5.5 inch? (diminish low speed performance? like 0-30mph)?

how bout 15inch vs 16 (or 17inch) besides speedo discrepency? like.. performance wise

-some- 7's fit -some- cars if the offset is just right and the guys at Karmann built the shell exactly right that day. also depends a lot on the tire - short tires with narrow sections will fit better... but i wouldn't depend on it. (you might get by with just pulling them a bit, rather than a full flare ...)

bigger in back can keep a high-HP car neutral on corner exit; otherwise it just adds to understeer. most people think it looks cool and never drive the car hard enough for the handling factor to be an issue.

7's will bump you a lot of classes in most regions if you're thinking of autocrossing...

wide wheels will be harder to turn in low-speed situations, like parallel parking. wide wheels only slow you down on the Autobahn.

there is no speedo discrepancy when changing wheel diameters - all that matters is the total diameter of the roadwheel. so running a 16" 50-series tire can result in an identical roadwheel diameter and no speedo discrepancy.

but it's hard to find tall (e.g. 17") tires that are also skinny enough to fit narrow wheels...