[SupraSaver87]

Effects of new rims, and rubber.

Rims:

The way that a rim would affect your driving is if it is a different width. A thinner rim, with rubber (Depending on the rubber) would usually give you less traction, and a slower cornering speed. Also you would break loose easier, how easy depends on how much smaller.

If you are going with a wider rim, then the affects are more to what you want. You would get improved traction, cornering speed, and wouldn't always feel like you want to start spinning when you corner over anything more than 75% throttle.

Theory

Friction is your best and worse friend. A larger rubber width, give you more friction with the pavement, however with more friction, you get more resistence, which would decrease your fuel economy (Depending on the width increase you may notice it, or you may not). Acceleration would also be VERY MILDLY effected.

Rubber/Tires

Rubber is REALLY where the differnece is when upgrading your wheels. If you were to have a smaller width tire, then the QUALITY of rubber matters, you would want something with a softer rubber, to maintain the same stats as your old rubber, or even sometimes you would get a better stat than the old ones. Now if you were to go bigger, then you would gain the most traction...and we can never get enough traction. If you were to get something like a 290/50 D16 tire, you would be laughing as you corner past all the cars around you.

Basically you decrease performance with smaller ANYTHING involving your wheels, and if you go bigger, then you more than likely will gain performance.

NOTE: I am no specialist on rims, rubber, or wheels. I just pick up info as I get older, and then relay what I know to you guys. Again, correct me on anything that I am wrong on.