Aftermarket Wheels For The Hybrid

[MarkJnK]

It doesn't look like we have much info or experience with aftermarket wheels in the Hybrid forum, so lets start one here. I've had a look at the Sonata forums here and even they have a limited amount of photos of aftermarket wheels on Sonatas.

Here is what I'm planning, if any of you wheel experts see a flaw in my choice, please feel free to voice it! I'm open to criticism.

Will sell the stock 215/55-R17 Kumho Solus tires and will mount a decent winter tire in the same size. Something like a Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice. This will be my winter wheel and shouldn't effect mileage significantly.

For a summer wheel I'm looking at the Enkei Razr 18x8 +40 wheel with 225/45-R18 Falken ZE-912 tires. This combo would push the outer edge of the tire about 24mm further out from the stock set-up, giving the car a nice wide stance without being too over-done (I think). Tires are only going up one size (225 vs 215) wider so fuel economy shouldn't be impacted too much, although I know it will be less efficient than the stock set-up.

Any thoughts?

This is a Photoshop image of how it will look, including the wider stance. Unless someone talks me out of it, I'll post pics of the real thing in a week or two. Car has been de-badged and tinted. Colour is Silver Frost. Smoked front licence plate cover really sets off the "intake" area. I'm also a sucker for red calipers (since my German car days) and am too lazy to paint them so I bought the MGP caliper covers in red and will mount them with the summer wheels.

[Pete155]

Looks nice. I don't think the loss in efficiency will be that great, especially if the majority of your driving is stop and go.

[Gene48]

Hope it's OK that my car is an Optima. I replaced the original wheels and Kumho tires with aftermarkets and Michelin Primacy MXV4s (GreenX). I didn't change sizes, but figured anything would be better than the stock wheels. I don't know if the mpgs will take a hit, hope not. Here are a couple of pics if interested.

Gene

[MarkJnK]

Another issue that has come up is that when you push the wheels outward a little for a wider stance, the lower part of the wheel is now outboard of the body mouldings opening up the possibility of tone chips etc on the lower mouldings. Mud guards don't exist for this car yet.

[MarkJnK]

I still haven't pulled the trigger. Picking wheels is harder than picking a wife... well almost

Now I'm wandering in this direction, another photoshop edit... what do you all think? A blend of sporty and classy? I think the wheel colour is a good match for the grill colour.

[Jason_AZ]

Mark,
I like the first set better. But eitherway, it looks sharp.

[Eric1r]

Dude, you have some serious Photoshop skills!

Both sets look awesome - tough choice...

[RacerX]

Originally Posted by Jason_AZ

Mark,
I like the first set better. But eitherway, it looks sharp.

I agree.
Nice photoshop work.

[MarkJnK]

Originally Posted by Eric1r

Dude, you have some serious Photoshop skills!

Both sets look awesome - tough choice...

Photoshop is a tool i use every day in my business. Ordered the RAZR's today (first pic). Opinion was unanimous among those I showed. All the chrome on the Hybrid really makes a silver rim more appropriate. Dark wheels, while nice, suit cars with painted out trim or blacked out trim IMHO.

[Jason_AZ]

Mark,
You made the right choice. Post some pics when you get them on