Wheel sizes

[billyc2013]

Good Morning Gentleman,

I have a 2017 Continental on 20” rims. I’m just about ready for new tires and looking to purchase some replacements, however the ride quality is not the best if I’m honest.

I see this model year comes with 18” rims and was wondering if swapping them with my existing 20” would the ride quality noticeably improve? Two inches of extra tire doesn’t seem like much, but figured I’d ask!

(To note I usually purchase continental tires, always had a good experiences with them)

 

[Vegascruiser]

The general wisdom for any car is that bigger sidewalls from smaller rims will always give you a softer ride. It also offers much better protection against pot holes and performs better in snow because of more downforce on the tire patch and reduction of a tire's tendency to ski over the top of snow. What you give up is some cornering performance because of the taller sidewall. However, people don't usually buy Continentals for their aggressive cornering Bigger sidewall tires also tend to be less expensive. I have 18" rims on mine and am very pleased with the ride comfort. When I was shopping, I avoided Continentals that had 20" rims for those reasons.

 

[billyc2013]

The general wisdom for any car is that bigger sidewalls from smaller rims will always give you a softer ride. It also offers much better protection against pot holes and performs better in snow because of more downforce on the tire patch and reduction of a tire's tendency to ski over the top of snow. What you give up is some cornering performance because of the taller sidewall. However, people don't usually buy Continentals for their aggressive cornering Bigger sidewall tires also tend to be less expensive. I have 18" rims on mine and am very pleased with the ride comfort. When I was shopping, I avoided Continentals that had 20" rims for those reasons.

Awesome, thank you for the information! I’m sure this is isn’t correct, but I called my local dealer and they said the ‘17 model year didn’t come with 18” wheels and cannot fit them in general. I briefly looked online and it does appear 18” wheels came in that year,
I’ll have to do more digging.

 

[bbf2530]

Awesome, thank you for the information! I’m sure this is isn’t correct, but I called my local dealer and they said the ‘17 model year didn’t come with 18” wheels and cannot fit them in general. I briefly looked online and it does appear 18” wheels came in that year,
I’ll have to do more digging.

Hi billyc2013. What a particular model in a model year was equipped with can vary by trim level.

For example...18" wheels may have been available on some lower trim level Continentals without performance options, but if your trim level/vehicle had those performance options and was equipped with larger brakes, then an 18" wheel may not fit.

I am not saying an 18" wheel will not fit your particular vehicle, only that the fact some Continentals had 18" wheels is not the final word.

Keep us updated and good luck.

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[Vegascruiser]

Your dealer is wrong. Big surprise. The 2017 order guide states that 18" rims were standard equipment on the Premier with 19" rims as an option. The model guide shows no options that would effect brakes and a quick check of brake pads on Rockauto.com for all 2017 models shows the same pad so 18s will fit on your Continental. Most tire stores can help you select the correct rim and will guaranty fit for a lot less $ than the dealer. The model guide is here The Definitive 2017 Lincoln Continental Pricing & Ordering Guide | Carscoops

 

[billyc2013]

Pricing around, the OEM 18” wheels I’m interested in (photo below) from the Ford parts website are about $300 each. I’ll call my local dealer again to see if I get someone different this time lol.

 

[billyc2013]

Awesome, thank you for the information! I’m sure this is isn’t correct, but I called my local dealer and they said the ‘17 model year didn’t come with 18” wheels and cannot fit them in general. I briefly looked online and it does appear 18” wheels came in that year,
I’ll have to do more diggi

 

[billyc2013]

The general wisdom for any car is that bigger sidewalls from smaller rims will always give you a softer ride. It also offers much better protection against pot holes and performs better in snow because of more downforce on the tire patch and reduction of a tire's tendency to ski over the top of snow. What you give up is some cornering performance because of the taller sidewall. However, people don't usually buy Continentals for their aggressive cornering Bigger sidewall tires also tend to be less expensive. I have 18" rims on mine and am very pleased with the ride comfort. When I was shopping, I avoided Continentals that had 20" rims for those reasons.

May I ask what tire specs you have? I would like to price rims and tires out at the same time. Thank you!

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[Vegascruiser]

OEM Tires are Goodyear Eagle F1 all season 235/50/18 with a W speed rating.

 

[MarkX]

Pricing around, the OEM 18” wheels I’m interested in (photo below) from the Ford parts website are about $300 each. I’ll call my local dealer again to see if I get someone different this time lol.

This was the standard 18"wheel available for 2017 models. Similar to the Ford you found.

 

[batchman]

For sourcing OEM wheels, salvage yards will probably be the lowest cost option. Sites like car-part.com will show you what's nearby. Since they won't be new you'll have to put some effort in, IME buying one they will bring out the crappiest one first to see if they can get rid of it, when they can't they'll bring out the next (taking their time) lather/rinse/repeat.

For aftermarket choices it's hard to do better than tire-rack.com but you should know the OE stuff will be stronger than most mid- and certainly low-cost options.

GL,
- Jeff

 

[wimpy]

I'd do car-part.com. Easy to search for make, model, year & part desired. There's also a wheel interchange website which my bookmarks don't show on this browser. But would give you alternative options as far as offset/rim width & OD, i.e., does an Lincoln Navigator have a wheel, etc.

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[Action]

+1 to post #11.
Non-OE wheels are not built to the same standard as OE wheels.
They are less money because they are built to a lower standard.

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