Please forgive my dumb tire size questions in advance.

Been shopping 18" wheels for my 09 panel, so far the front runner is the AR Casino's, my local Discount Tire suggested 245-40-18 for a tire size but Im open to other size suggestions.

My likes would be:

I dont want rubber bands for tires.

Would like to keep the ride soft,, (am I better off going with 17" wheels,, or can I still get a soft riding tire with 18" wheels)

Would like a tire with a beefy wide truck look to it (hope that made sense)

Dont mind of care if the tire size raise's my panel up a tiny bit.

Want a tire size that wont throw off my spedo to much,,, and will work with my TPM's.

Wont be doing any mods such as lowering my panel so I need a tire size that will fit my stock panel with no tire rubbing or issues.

Ok,, there is all my wants/likes,,, please be kind to me (the tire size dumbass).

So what tire size does it look like I need for my wants and likes.

Thanks much in advance
Cheers
Davyo

 

Well assuming the wheels you're looking at are either 18 X 7.5(stock size used for the SS), or the more common 18 X 8. The stock 225/45/18's used on the SS would be a good size to start with.

The size recommended by Discount Tire is also an option, but the SS guys here can chime in with any rubbing issues they might have with fender liners, etc.

You will pick up a speedometer error of somewhere between 2.7-3.7%, so it will read slow. An indicated 60mph will actually be somewhere around 61.6-62.9 mph actual ground speed.

You will lose ride quality, you have to think of the tires as springs, the shorter the sidewall...the stiffer the spring. Low profile tires always trade ride quality for stiffness, stiffer tires with low aspect ratios do handle better, but you'll feel the bumps more.

No issues with the TPMS system, as long as the sensors aren't damaged moving them to the new rims they don't care what size tire they are in.

So I guess the decision you'll need to make is whether you like the looks of 18" rims and are willing to accept the trade offs, or do the rims you're considering come in a 17" size so you can go with fractionally taller sidewalls and preserve more of your ride quality.

 

"Would like to keep the ride soft,, (am I better off going with 17" wheels,, or can I still get a soft riding tire with 18" wheels)"



Think 17's if ride quality has any relevance to you....... 18's are cool and handle well and all that jazz, but ride quality goes away with lack of sidewall.

 

Thanks for the input so far.

Yes, the wheels Im lookng at come in 16" and 17" sizes.

Part of me wonders if Im just better off going with the wheels in the 16" size, that way I can just put my already existing tire's on the new wheels (the 16" tires I currently have on my panel are almost new)

Keeping a soft ride is important to me so 17" might be a better choice but then again how much of a difference "looks wise" is a 17" wheel vs a 16" wheel.

Geeze,, picking wheels and tires can be a pain in the ass making the right choice.

What to do,,,,,

Cheers
Davyo

 

I've got both 16's and 17's, you can check my gallery photos for some visual differences. Both sets are the same tire (Goodyear Eagle GT and 225 size) and same overall diameter. Both handle excellent, hard to note a difference when I'm running some twisties. The ride quality is different with the 17's reflecting more road surface, but still not "harsh".

I run the 16's mostly for looks, the car came with the 17's, I like the "more tire than rim" look just for the old school vibe. (this may not work, visually, with all wheel styles if you get my drift) The 17's may be your best compromise....

 

Give this link a try, its Discount Tire's interactive wheel guide, you can see what the different wheel sizes will look like on a virtual HHR...might help with your choice.

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/int...4673&rc=NCOINT

 

I have tried a few size tires on my 18" wheels, up to 255x40 none of them rub. Ride comfort is not always how squishy can we get it. I'm comforted knowing the tires I have on there will do anything I'm bold enough to try. These Potenza's are sticky and very quiet, they only make 1/2 the noise the Michelins made.