Can't swap the tires. Mine are steel wheels 16", there are alloy17". I'll be on the lookout for a repaint on mine.

 

The bolt pattern are the same. Only mechanical difference would be a little speedo variation. Ride and handling might be discernably different.

 

I know, but I would rather have nice alloy wheels than hub caps.

 

Paint the steel rims!

 

I have bought a bunch of HHRs over the years

Rust on the bottom of the doors and big time rust underneath means a no-go, definitely a no-go for $6K. Maybe for $3-3.5K if you really wanted it.

I have found several Pennsylvania cars with almost NO RUST anywhere for less than that.

Last year I bought one for my daughter that came from Pennsylvania with very little rust underneath, no rust on doors, for $6K.

New York State cars (I live in Lockport, NY) are almost always in bad shape rust wise once they get over 10 years old. Higher mileage with less rust is better than lower mileage with more rust in my opinion.

Steve

 

Depends a lot on when the individual state stopped using salt on the roads. VA switched to beet juice and a pre treatment about 10 years ago, but we don't get really deep stuff.

 

I wouldn't buy any car with significant rust underneath for anything but a partout or a winter beater. But it's unlikely to happen, because there's always some hapless person willing to spend more than I am on such a car.

P23 Wheel - 17 X 6.5, Aluminum, Chrome
Isn't that the allow wheel with the chrome-clad plastic facia glued on?

Stock tire sizes were:

215/55R16 - 25.31" diameter

and

215/50R17 x 25.46" diameter

or about a 0.6% difference. Work out to about 1/3 MPH at 60 MPH. I doubt that GM bothered to calibrate those 2 differently.

 

Yes P23 is the plastic clad Pontiac G6 17” rims , they glued chrome 17” Malibu plastic hub caps to the left over Pontiac rims, waste not want not! The earlier 17” alloy rims were polished aluminium

 

They hold up really well against corrosive conditions, it seems. Stay shiny, provided no one tries chrome cleaner or polish on them. They need to be treated like paint.

 

I put 16's on for the winter with new snows and it worked well. No problems switching from 17 to 16. Put new tires on the 17's and ran through the sumer and mildest winter ever for Minnesota, Not more than a few inches of snow on the ground a season. Did not notice any issues .

As for the rust, it will always be there, even with replacing components.