Actually the City of Fullerton in Orange County, Ca. That's where discount wheel warehouse is located. A lot of us have used their website to check out wheels and they have competitive prices.

I've narrowed my search to two wheel choices, both are black with chrome lips. Discount has my first choice (you'll get to see when I get them ;) ) and after a couple of months of saving my pennies, I will head off tomorrow morning (Saturday) in search of some new shoes for the HHR! :D

Hopefully they have what I want, if not it's off to Joe's Tire in San Diego for my second choice. I'm going with 18's, hopefully no rubbing. If not it's a trip to the local custom shop for some fender rolling :( . I'll take my camera and when I get back I'll let you know how it went.

Later
Ng

I can't wait to see what you get. :smile:

I can't wait to see what you get. :smile:

I can't either! :lol:

News Flash: If you buy 8"s - your'e going to rub. That's just how it is. The HHR has a +42mm offset with 7-inch rims. This centers the wheel in the fenderwell and allows full suspension travel without rubbing. Once you go wider (to 7.5 or 8-inches), it will require more offset to center the wheel. Unfortunately, most aftermarket wheels have 40mm or less offset, causing the tires to stick out more - and rub. Since your car is lowered, the wheels will travel up into the fenderwells more, increasing the probability that they will rub. Rolling the fenders may help some - the the true deciding factor is going to be the wheel offset you end up with.

Best of luck,

I just ordered my wheels, shoudl be here by Monday it is the American Racing Razors in Chrome. I chose these since they have the Thrust look but are little more modern looking and they make them for the HHR. This weekend I will be lowering the car and Monday new shoes.
:cool:

Caint wait to see pics of both of you guys rims.

News Flash: If you buy 8"s - your'e going to rub. That's just how it is. The HHR has a +42mm offset with 7-inch rims. This centers the wheel in the fenderwell and allows full suspension travel without rubbing. Once you go wider (to 7.5 or 8-inches), it will require more offset to center the wheel. Unfortunately, most aftermarket wheels have 40mm or less offset, causing the tires to stick out more - and rub. Since your car is lowered, the wheels will travel up into the fenderwells more, increasing the probability that they will rub. Rolling the fenders may help some - the the true deciding factor is going to be the wheel offset you end up with.

Best of luck,

More News Flash!!! The clearance issue on the typical HHR has absolutely nothing to do with wheel width, but instead, with offset and where the shoulder of the tire ends up. The most critical point is in the outer rear, where the fender lip extends straight inward.

Offset is the distance between the hub mounting surface and the true centerline of the rim (and also the mounted tire). All the HHR rims are 42 mm offset, as Mike said (but all widths are 6.5"). If you go to a wider rim and the offset stays the same, there is a zero change in the centerline of the rim or the tire. As an example, if you go from a 6.5" rim to a 7.5" and the offset stays the same, what will happen is that the rim now extends 1/2" further out on the inside and outside. The center of the tire will also not change.

For anyone buying rims, if the offset is less than 42 mm, you will be moving the centerline of the wheel and the tire outward.

For anyone buying rims, if the offset is less than 42 mm, you will be moving the centerline of the wheel and the tire outward.

Joe, - I said exactly te same thing in my post above: :D

"Unfortunately, most aftermarket wheels have 40mm or less offset, causing the tires to stick out more - and rub."

Hopefully more wheel options will arise for us soon...

More News Flash!!! The clearance issue on the typical HHR has absolutely nothing to do with wheel width, but instead, with offset and where the shoulder of the tire ends up. The most critical point is in the outer rear, where the fender lip extends straight inward.

Offset is the distance between the hub mounting surface and the true centerline of the rim (and also the mounted tire). All the HHR rims are 42 mm offset, as Mike said (but all widths are 6.5"). If you go to a wider rim and the offset stays the same, there is a zero change in the centerline of the rim or the tire. As an example, if you go from a 6.5" rim to a 7.5" and the offset stays the same, what will happen is that the rim now extends 1/2" further out on the inside and outside. The center of the tire will also not change.

For anyone buying rims, if the offset is less than 42 mm, you will be moving the centerline of the wheel and the tire outward.

Seems that the wheel width really is a factor in the clearance issue. As you describe
If you go to a wider rim and the offset stays the same, there is a zero change in the centerline of the rim or the tire. As an example, if you go from a 6.5" rim to a 7.5" and the offset stays the same, what will happen is that the rim now extends 1/2" further out on the inside and outside. The center of the tire will also not change.

indicates that with the same offset, the wider the rim, the more possibility to rub against the fender. True?

True - if you widen the rim and do not increase the offset, the rim will rub on the HHR.
If you buy aftermarket 8" rims with less than a +42mm offset - you will have further rubbing issues.
The less positive offset, the more the rim "sticks out" - more positive offset "tucks" a rim in.

Hope that clears it up.

yeah..

;) clear as mud.... :roll:

Somebody needs to buy a clue here.... :confused:

Re-read my post! Mike, you are wrong!! ;)

SoCalHHRs: "True - if you widen the rim and do not increase the offset, the rim will rub on the HHR."

If the offset stays the same and the rim is wider, there is absolutely no change in where the rim centerline, nor the centerline of the tire, is in relation to the hub mounting surface!!!

Folks, draw yourselves a picture....

One vertical line is the wheel hub mounting surface.

Then sketch a wheel mounted to it...

If the center of the wheel is exactly lined up with the mounting surface, then the offset is zero. On a typical front drive car, which the HHR is, the offset is positive, in other words the centerline of the rim on the HHR is 42 mm to the inside of the mounting surface.

If the offset is less, it will move the rim centerline (and the tire centerline) outward.

Rim width has absolutely nothing to do with this!!

If nothing changes with the offset, and you widen the rims, what will happen is that 1/2 of the width increase will happen on both the inside and the outside, resulting in no change in the offset. That will also result in no change on where the tire is in relation to the body.

Any problems that anyone (including myself) has had with rubbing is the result in less offset, putting the rim and tire outward. If your new tires have a wider tread width, that will increase the problem. The rubbing issue will first occur on the rear, as I mentioned above. The front has more room.

If you are in the market for rims, pay close attention to the offset!!! The rim width is not an issue!! :D

you WILL rub, but dont get the fenders rolled me and cjnappo have figured out trying to roll the thin fenders will result in a ripple effect that you will be able to notice, insted get a good body man to take a grinder and grind the lip up to the spot welds :;):

you WILL rub, but dont get the fenders rolled me and cjnappo have figured out trying to roll the thin fenders will result in a ripple effect that you will be able to notice, insted get a good body man to take a grinder and grind the lip up to the spot welds :;):

There's both the outer sheet metal and an inner panel there that are spot-welded. If you grind it, you have removed both the zinc coating and sealer that was put there by Chevy. Good luck with the rust that will likely show up soon.

Also, you are still leaving a sharp edge that may still contact the tire and cut it.

No thanks. I worked with a friend of mine that owns a Beemer shop and had a proper rolling rig and we did it. No rubbing, no "ripple effect" that you spoke of. If the fender "rippled", somebody did something wrong.

There's both the outer sheet metal and an inner panel there that are spot-welded. If you grind it, you have removed both the zinc coating and sealer that was put there by Chevy. Good luck with the rust that will likely show up soon.

everything was sprayed and sealed after the job was finished, any creditable bodyman would have common sense to do this

Also, you are still leaving a sharp edge that may still contact the tire and cut it.

no, that leaves enough room for my tires to clear the metal edge


No thanks. I worked with a friend of mine that owns a Beemer shop and had a proper rolling rig and we did it. No rubbing, no "ripple effect" that you spoke of. If the fender "rippled", somebody did something wrong.


that tool wasnt available in my area and at $399 for a tool that will be used one time No thanks..

SoCalHHRs (Mike), may I suggest something?

Consider buying a fender rolling tool and make it available for rental. At reasonable cost and a refundable deposit. With a reasonable time limit. Directions would be helpful also.

When rolling a fender, the following need to be kept in mind:

Position the tool on the hub with it at normal ride height.

Take your time. Do it gradually. Rushing it and too much pressure could well result in the "ripple effect" mentioned earlier.

If the temps are on the cool side, heat the lip with a heat gun to soften the paint and prevent any cracking of the paint.

NewsFlash: I'm getting my rims regardless and I will be visiting a auto body shop to have my fenders rolled profesionally! :D

That's the right attitude. :twothumbs :beer: :yourock:

Rim width has absolutely nothing to do with this!! The rim width is not an issue!! :D

Hey Joe; thanks for clearing that up. :lol:

I'm going to order myself a set of 10" wide rims now.
As long as they have a 42mm positive offset - I'll be good to go - right? :breakdanc

Everytime I see this post subject i'm thinking of Pimp my ride. Great Title

Hey Joe; thanks for clearing that up. :lol:

I'm going to order myself a set of 10" wide rims now.
As long as they have a 42mm positive offset - I'll be good to go - right? :breakdanc

Go for it, Mike!! :thumb:

Since I have about 1-3/8" clearance on the inside of the front struts and better than that on the inside rear with my 8" rims, there should be absolutely no problems, except for that rear fender opening rub issue, unless you want some 295xx wide tires. :D

Everytime I see this post subject i'm thinking of Pimp my ride. Great Title

Yeah the title was inspired by the show. But I am headed West :lol:
BTW They are no longer on the coast, they moved inland to Corona....I wonder if they are going to change their name? :confused:

dout that, so is there any rims out there that you dont have to roll your fender?

dout that, so is there any rims out there that you dont have to roll your fender?

:scared:

We'll I'm off to the West Coast...Talk to you guys/gals later...

Ng

bye

Good luck with the rims.

(he should be home by now......) :confused:

REPORT! REPORT! :D

He decided to stop by Home Depot on the way and get scamed again. :rof: :beer:

(checks wallet)

:nuts: I'M BAAAACKKKKK!!!!!! With a grin from ear to ear :nuts:

Ng

http://www.wolfpackcc.com/forum/images/smilies/ttiwwop.gif

I'm doing like HVROD and creating some supsense! :lol:

Hey Joe; thanks for clearing that up. :lol:

I'm going to order myself a set of 10" wide rims now.
As long as they have a 42mm positive offset - I'll be good to go - right? :breakdanc

why not go 12s mike what the heck, they will just stick in and out as long as you don;t change the :confused: oh what the hell ! j/k mike your point is well taken. joe you are right as well. but wheel with does matter! no one wants to ruin there rides, take your time and get the facts. measure twice cut once. :thumb:

Back from the West Coast!

Check it out!

Wheel Pix! (http://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1653)

Good to hear you got what you wanted..

how was the service and whats your offset for your custom milled rims.

Looks very nice ng! Makes me proud of my Black HHR and of course ALL HHR owners! We need a Black HHR to hook up with Sindy so we can have the "Ying & Yang" of the HHR world! D'OH! Time for coffee! :D

I was finally able to lower my car this weekend and took it to the wheel shop and added much needed new wheels. :cool:

caint wait to see pics how much did they charge to lower you HHR?

caint wait to see pics how much did they charge to lower you HHR?

I did the job myself, pix are in the gallery, SoCal's site or one of the two sites in my signature.

I put 20x8.5 with a 38 offset and its flush with the fender, the front and the rear had plenty of clerance while it was stock. It has Air Suspension now, so its not an issue unless its laid down then it just skims the rear fender.

I put 20x8.5 with a 38 offset and its flush with the fender, the front and the rear had plenty of clerance while it was stock. It has Air Suspension now, so its not an issue unless its laid down then it just skims the rear fender.

More pics required NOW! :D http://www.wolfpackcc.com/forum/images/smilies/blingbling.gif

http://www.wolfpackcc.com/forum/images/smilies/ttiwwop.gif

More pics required NOW! :D http://www.wolfpackcc.com/forum/images/smilies/blingbling.gif

http://www.wolfpackcc.com/forum/images/smilies/ttiwwop.gif

ditto ditto ditto ditto

Oh...and WELCOME! :welcome:

How do i post pics im new to the forums

I have some pics on car domain
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2334756