Question for the wheel experts***

[RAZE]

ok, I found an american eagle wheel dealer that is selling a wheel package. It includes 17" American Eagle 077 Chrome 17X8, 38mm offset, 5X115. THe tire is 255/40/17 Zrated pirelli tires. Isn't 255 a bit high??? Would this fit a grand am okay? If I can find that link again, then I will post it later. Thanks

[AMRAAM4]

255 won't fit, has to be a 225 or 235

I'm thinking it was a misprint...off the top of my head I don't believe a 255 will fit safely on a 8" wide rim

you don't want 17's anyway lol

[Kodeblue]

Originally posted by RAZE
Isn't 255 a bit high??? Would this fit a grand am okay?
Actually, this will fit. With the 16" tires you have on right now, the diameter of the 17" rims is only .17" larger then what you have now.

[AMRAAM4]

255 is too big!

[Natedog]

try and get a package with 18's... and 235/40/18 or the biggest u could fit would be 245/40/18's..... how much is this package by the way??

[Kodeblue]

Originally posted by AMRAAM4
255 is too big! What do you use to base that information on? I have a program that I use and what I posted would make me think it would work. If you want, I can send you the same program I have for you to see. Let me know.

[AaronGTR]

If you get 17's the side wall should be 45 series. 40 series if you get 18's. As for tread width, stock wheels are 6.5" wide with 225's. That's a wide tire, but the tall sidewall allows it to fit on the wheel. The shorter you go in sidewall height, the closer you have to be to wheel width. On a 17x7 wheel you could fit a 245 tire. On a 18x7 wheel you'd have trouble getting a 235 on. On a 18x8 wheel no problem. For 255's you'd need a 9" wheel. If you can get the package with 17x8 wheels, ask for 245/45-17's. Be forwarned this combo will make your speedometer read 3.3% to slow. You'd be better off with 17x7's with 225/45-17's or 18x7's with 225/40-18's. That would give less than 1% change.

[Kodeblue]

Is this program called "Tire Size Comparator" that I have giving me false information?

[Molson]

I have that too. It MAY fit on the rim, BUT, 255s will rub the fender lining when turning. That may be what he meant.

[Kodeblue]

Thanks Molson. I was just wondering if the program was wrong. I wouldn't keep it if it is no good, lol.

[AaronGTR]

I was going by recommendations from toyo for wheel sizes for certain size tires, and by a tire size calculator I have. Your program is probably right. It would fit the wheel, maybe not very well, but that wide a tire on that wide a wheel with that offset would probably rub somewhere like Molson said.

[RAZE]

They were $979 for the package, plus $80 or $120 shipping. I'm not sure. I thought everyone who has the AE 77 wheels had the 8 inch wide. I'm not really big on 18's so I'd prefer to stick to 17 inches if possible.

[Gator]

Originally posted by RAZE
I'm not really big on 18's so I'd prefer to stick to 17 inches if possible.

I am sure I will get flogged for this but oh well....I have felt this way for a long time. I have yet to see any wheels bigger than 17's that I feel look good on a Grand Am. Now don't get me wrong I like many of the wheels I have seen I just think that in 18's they do not fit the car properly. What I mean is proportionally they are wrong. The amount of actual car versus wheel is off (especially in the front where we have pretty skinny fenders) and looks wrong. The wheel is meant to accent the vehicle not the other way around! Just my opinion, but I was glad to see that someone else shares my opinion! :)

Richard
"Gator"

[Ridah_1]

I just got Giovanna Kuji 17 inch rims put on today , they look nice and everything but the thing is that i get a lot of noise on the rear wheels , and also when ever i hit 60 mph the wheels feels all ( wobly?) and they make a lot of noise. Did any of you had this problem ?

[Molson]

Originally posted by Gator
I am sure I will get flogged for this but oh well....I have felt this way for a long time. I have yet to see any wheels bigger than 17's that I feel look good on a Grand Am. Now don't get me wrong I like many of the wheels I have seen I just think that in 18's they do not fit the car properly. What I mean is proportionally they are wrong. The amount of actual car versus wheel is off (especially in the front where we have pretty skinny fenders) and looks wrong. The wheel is meant to accent the vehicle not the other way around! Just my opinion, but I was glad to see that someone else shares my opinion! :)

Richard
"Gator"

I thought so too, until I put these 18s on, I think it suits it perfectly. http://www.aleromod.net/albums/Molson/100_0005_IMG.sized.jpg

[AMRAAM4]

17's are basically no different to stock unless you have a trained eye like all of us here. I mean there are many other model cars that come with 17's stock. If I am going aftermarket I am going something that isn't the norm. Baahh, to each their own though.

Ridah...you got something going on wrong there bud. Either your wheel isn't on the hub correctly, your lugs aren't tightened down enough, the wheel balance is not correct, or any combination of the above. As for road noise, depending on the tire you bought that is probably a by-product that you will have to live with.

[RAZE]

Originally posted by AMRAAM4
17's are basically no different to stock unless you have a trained eye like all of us here. I mean there are many other model cars that come with 17's stock. If I am going aftermarket I am going something that isn't the norm. Baahh, to each their own though.

Ridah...you got something going on wrong there bud. Either your wheel isn't on the hub correctly, your lugs aren't tightened down enough, the wheel balance is not correct, or any combination of the above. As for road noise, depending on the tire you bought that is probably a by-product that you will have to live with.

Why do you say 17's are no different to stock? Is it because it's only one inch? Well, if that's the case then 17's are no different than 18's :thumbs:

[AaronGTR]

Exactly! 18's look bigger than 17's, well 17's look bigger than 16's as well. I can tell the difference immediatly. I don't think 18's are too big for a GA, but that is about the limit. I like 17's better. As for these people putting 19's and 20's on their cars I think they're idiots. Upsizing that much is hard on your car (suspension, brakes, power steering, drive train) and it doesn't look good at all. It looks like a match box car or tonka truck, like all those stupid SUV's with 24" wheels on them.

You have to think about ride comfort and drivability as well as cost. 18's are heavier, more expensive, and ride rougher on the street. But they offer a good compromise between performance and show. If you're looking for a performance edge, 17's are the way to go. They are big enough to fit bigger brakes, and they are lighter and cheaper than 18's. Just depends on what you're looking for.

[AMRAAM4]

17's only add a 1/2 in to each side. 18's add 1 inch to each side of the rim. Technically there is only 1 inch difference between all your comparisons, but we are comparing 17 to 16 and 18 to 16. Visually your going to notice 1 inch on each side a helluva lot more than 1/2 inch when looking at a diameter.


I'm not going to argue though, do what you want.