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OK, I'm new to this. Meaning, just always had my stock wheels the car came with.
I wanted to get new wheels years ago (its a 2002), but then lost interest and fell out of the loop.
So I need and want to know. Will 17" look stupid if I don't drop the car?
I'm aware the gap is the same, no matter what you have on there, BUT it becomes more pronounced with less tire and more rim.
So is 17 ok, or should I get a good balance and just go 16"??

I wanted to get Silver Motegi FF7's.

And no, I don't want opinions or comments saying "those are played out" etc. lol
Cause I'm not a young guy into the major modding scene. I just want some new sharp rims to mix things up and go a bit bigger. I'm just for looks.

 
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almost every single person will say....rims without a drop is weird...it truly is. it just does not look good on our cars because of the huge amount of wheel gap we have. thats my opinion and I am sure you will here it from so many others. But, it is YOUR car and your choice...sooo, do what you want.....good luck man

 
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True. But I don't think 16" would be that bad??
There are alot of cars out that come with 16, and even 17 inch rims as stock or options. Although yes, maybe the design better suits it and less wheel gap.
But even just for 16", my dads 2004 Accord has 16 inch rims on it. And I'm sure it's not dropped like a sport cars cause it has 16's on it. lol

I think 16 would be ok. Just to bring out the wheel more and a little less fat tire. But maybe 17 is pushing it.

I remember looking into this years ago, when I first got my car. almost 5 years ago now. And I swear I saw some pics and opinions, that larger rims on the sedans (and with the skirts), can get away with it more then the coupes.

I wonder if my car has dropped a bit on it's own over the years lol
Those other pics were old. here is a pic taken today.

 
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eh do it who cares. If you look at our cars from far away and squint, allowing the black tire color to blend in with the fendergap area, our cars look even worse with our small *** hubcaps since the edge of the hubcap is even further from the body of the car than a 17" rim would be. Heck, look at any car with stock wheels for that matter.

Yeah it'll look weird with 17"s unlowered since most people who see cars with rims are the same people whose tastes are lowered cars with rims, but honestly, the distance from the edge of the rim to the body of the car will be less. The only thing is you will draw more attention to your wheels with an aftermarket wheel, and thus more attention to the horrible gap.

 
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I have a sedan with 17's and no drop. I'll be honest with you, it's not as bad as you think. I may have some pics in my gallery you can scope out. I haven't posted any new pics in awhile so....

 
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Yes.I guess it's not THAT bad. But I would say there are two things that make your stand out even more then they have to be. But even with these two factors, it's still not THAT bad.

The fact that your rims are black with the shiny edge, makes it stand out more and looks like a white wall stripe, like old tires.
And you don't have the side skirts.

So with me having the side skirts, spoiler and solid color rims I want, I'm sure it would look fine.
And if 17" looks that decent on your car, I'm sure I can get away with 16's.

Thanks for the input and pics.
Again, it's not that bad as you said and considering the things I mentioned too.

 
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Just don't get a real low profile tire on a 17" rim and it will look fine. If you went w/ a 205/40/17, that would look stupid not lowered, but like a 225/45/17 maybe? not up on 17" tire size choices. Get as close to your factory size overall diam. or a tad bigger and it will look fine.

 
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Personally, babylon, i've been riding unlowered for about 2 years on 17's and my friends still prefer my rims over my car with steelies and hubs. Check it out.



But I'll have to admit, my car would look 10x meaner with a drop.

 
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it's all about the tire size. For 16's 205/55/16 would make the gap seem not as big as the diameter of that combo is a bit bigger than the stock diameter, actually reducing wheel gap a bit.

 
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Your car DOES look lower in this pic as opposed to the first

I wouldn't go with the 17s if you aren't going to drop it though.. it just looks funny because of the crazy wheel gap(as previously stated)

and in case you're wondering...

17's on a 4dr w/ no drop

 
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Yeah, mine seems to lean on the drivers side cause i'm the only one that rides in it on a daily basis. I do plan to lower mine with a nice set of coilovers sometime early next year though.

 
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I would just go with a bigger tire. Before i lowered my car i had 205/40/17 and it looked horrible, as if i were attempting to produce an off - road look because the 40 series tires. 50's would not be bad at all. Try iT!

 
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Yes, even I will agree....17's look funny on a sedan, IF it looks like your MOMS car. lol Like that Silver one there. lol
I mean, at least I have a good color, side skirts, spoiler. Cool rims dont look right on just the standard Civic there.

But Armeio's car looks sweet. That just works. Right color, right rim, right skirts. Riding up high like that, it almost looks like it has muscle car feel to it.

I like it!!

I think I'll play it safe and go for 16's. At least it's right in the middle. A bit bigger then my 15's, but not too big like the 17's.
And even though it's not that much bigger then my 15's, at least it IS a bit bigger, and a different rim, with different amount of spokes. SO should be a nice little change.
Then I'll have a nice set of summer wheels, then put the stocks back on for winter.

 
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I bought my car with 17s and been riding with em for 3 years now without a drop. I don't think it looks bad in person, bad in pictures, but not in person.

 
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well.. just dont get low profiles..ie, 205/40s. get something close to a 225/45 as stated above..

 
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I am digging that paint job on the hood! I havent put 17's on my sedan yet but I will drop it just a little when I do, though. I have a buddy with an 03 sedan with 17's and no drop and I really dont think it is that bad... plus, when you have friends in the car it drops the car! So 17's+friends= Rims and drop!

 
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LOL @ his tails

 
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screw every single person that says it looks stupid without a drop. sure it looks better with one, but it still looks good without one. I've gotten tons of comments on my car, and people even asking me "is that the Eibach Prokit, it sits perfect". Although 17s are more noticeable than 16s. I'll see if I can find a pic of my car without a drop with both 16s and 17s for you to see.

 
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It looks pretty bad to me.

 
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Yeah find that pic... because every EM2 I see on big wheels with no drop looks damn foolish.

 
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17s aren't big wheels.....

 
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heres a pic of my car from back in the day on 17's w/o a drop
it does look rather silly without it but hey its your car do what you want!!!

 
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LOL @ THIS THREAD

this thread has become a "POST PIX OF UR CAR WITH OUT DROP"

 
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In my Opinion. If you get rims w/o a drop you're not really changing the whole "Look", You're just upgrading your wheels & tires. Yea, it does look better with aftermarket rims, but it doesn't give you that Aggresive stance. You know what I mean. Decide on the size of rims you want, then decide on the Tire size. If you don't like the Look, then don't be lazy and spend the money, at least lower it 1/2 a inch or One Inch. Get Coil overs so you can control the ride height that you prefer. Since you already Started then why not finish ..

 
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What ever rim you go with, just make sure you get the tire with the most side wall to fill the gap. I didn't want to slam my civic either, so when I bought 18's, I got size 40 sidewall rather than 35's like most people get. Plus it protects the rim better from potholes. Peep my ride. I don't think the gap looks that bad.
Good Luck!

- D