Which rim size handles better on highway conditions, 16" or 18"? Also which would handle better in the snow?

 

My humble opinion is that the 16 is the perfect size for both. for highway it is more comfortable and in the snow it has more sidewall for when the rubber is cold. 18 is good if you want a race car with some low profile tires for cornering but you will know if you run over a dime in the roadway.

 

16" allows for bigger tires which leads to a better ride. You also will have a wider variety of choices with the 16" when it comes to choosing a tire.

 

Without a question the lower profile tires on 18" rims give better highway handling, there is less sidewall deformation when you apply lateral pressure. Switching to red polybushes or heims on the panhard etc also improves handling. It does not make the suspension ride more compliant though which is what the first comments were addressing.

You do however save a significant amount of fuel running lower profile tires, your best bet is to have one set of 18" with street tires and one set of 16" with MTs and just switch as needed.

 

16" tires give more side wall strength, add more to the suspension, take more abuse, offer much better tread patters, cost less and last longer with no exception.

 

16" tires are a lot cheaper than 18"

 

You can say that again!
The price alone is half the reason I want to upgrade to 16"s. And I drove my friends DII with 16"s and you really feel the difference. Love the looks of the 18"s but if I see a good deal on 16"s im jumping on it.

 

Oh yeah, my thoughts too. I'm keeping my eye out for a set of used 16".

 

18"s will handle better on the highway.
16"s will be better in the snow because you will have more side wall to dig in a grip with.