I agree with you on tide comfort, and my experience is the same as yours. However, based on past experience of my own, it really depends more on just how much or how little side wall we're talking about, more so than percentage decrease from stock. Here's my wheel and tire chart for my previous car, the Scion tC:mistergib wrote:I've been modding my cars all my life...and literally lived by the adage thatwheels make the car....and I still believe that.
Now, in these days of the 18"rims and larger, I've learned a lesson inwhat to consider. My last three cars, I opted for the larger diameter wheels....and they looked great, but the thing that was very prevalentwas the decrease in ride comfort and the increase in tire noise.....you take away the amount of side wall height and it takes away your ridecomfort proportionately, the larger the wheel, the rougher the ride.
Since ride comfort and quiet riding tires were MY preferences, and if Iwanted the good looks of the larger diameter wheels, then I'd better buy tires that were as quiet and soft-rubbered as I could. Its ALL in what YOU prefer.
Again, I LOVE the look of the larger diameter wheels and yours should lookfantastic on your Rogue, I just found thru trial and error that I preferredride comfort over maximum looks...different strokes for different folks. IfI upgrade the wheels on mine, I will probably be sticking with the 17's.
Good luck with yours...can't wait to see some pics with them on...then, Imight re-evaluate my preferences....who knows??
Here is my wheel and tire chart for our Rogue:
As you can see, on the Rogue with 19" wheels, there is still more tire between the wheel and the road than is stock for the Scion tC, whose ride is actually quite compliant. This was my primary reason (along with the larger range of tire options) for deciding against going over 19". I feel that the damping of the Rogue's suspension is only slightly firmer than a stock tC's (as are the springs).
I wholeheartedly agree with you that the ride will firmer than stock, but I am fully confident that it will still be well in the comfortable range (for me). I also would not recommend going over 19".
-Ed