Can 16-inch Original Wheels Be Replaced with 17-inch Ones?

[VanAxel]

Original 16-inch wheels cannot be replaced with 17-inch ones. Car wheels cannot be changed arbitrarily. Although tires may seem simple in structure, changing their size affects many vehicle parameters. The entire car relies solely on the wheels for contact with the road. There are three main disadvantages to replacing car wheels: 1. Increasing wheel size reduces the car's mileage: Mileage is calculated based on wheel rotations, and changing the size can affect maintenance cycle judgments. 2. Vehicle modification regulations: Altering the registered appearance and technical data of a motor vehicle is not permitted for modification registration, except where national mandatory standards specify otherwise. 3. Safety concerns: Using substandard wheels may lead to accidents, as inferior wheels could fracture during high-speed driving, resulting in tragic crashes.

[NaomiLynn]

I did thorough research on this when I upgraded my wheels last time. Switching from 16-inch to 17-inch wheels is completely fine, but you must pay special attention to three parameters: First, the center bore size must perfectly match the original hub - even a 1mm difference will prevent installation. Second, the ET value (wheel offset) is crucial - my friend's wheels protruded 2cm after changing, causing them to rub against the fender when hitting bumps. Lastly, check the J value (wheel width) - upgrading from the original 7J to 7.5J is safest, going too wide will interfere with suspension arms. You'll also need to switch to lower-profile tires, for example changing from 215/55R16 to 225/45R17, keeping the overall diameter difference within 3%. I recommend visiting a professional modification shop to measure all dimensions with calipers before purchasing. After my upgrade, cornering stability improved noticeably, though I do need to slow down more for speed bumps now.

[SanSebastian]

I just upgraded my Golf to 17-inch wheels and want to share some experience. The key is calculating the circumference difference between old and new tires. According to the tire calculator, 225/45R17 is only 6mm smaller in diameter than the original 205/55R16, making the speedometer show 101km/h when actual speed is 100km/h - negligible difference. But pay attention to the new wheel's bolt pattern - VW group mostly uses 5×112, while Japanese cars often use 4×114.3. Don't forget wheel alignment after installation - my front right wheel initially showed some uneven wear, which was solved by adjusting the toe-in. Fuel consumption did increase by about 0.5L, but the improved grip is very noticeable, especially when lane-changing on wet highways.

[DeHector]

Attention for those wanting to upgrade wheels: Switching from 16 to 17 inches isn't just about size matching. After modifying my Civic, I discovered three hidden issues—thinner sidewalls are more prone to bulging (I damaged two tires in two months); the stock mud flaps rub against the tires when fully loaded; and the biggest hassle is reverting to original size for annual inspections. Before choosing wheels, test wheel arch clearance with a coin: when fully loaded, maintain at least a finger's width between tire and arch. The 215/45R17 setup recommended by the shop matched diameter but increased actual width, making steering heavier—especially noticeable during low-speed maneuvers.