All, I have a rebuilt 09' SS Auto. I have a set of 16" black chrome rims with the OEM tires on it. I have 48K on my SS now and I am starting to look for new tires. I have a slight bend in one rim and I am thinking about going back to the 18"s that should have been on my SS from the beginning. The question is this, should I go to a rim shop or tire rack and get a new wheel/tire package or do you think I would be better off finding a set of OEM or Keystone 18"s and then just buying my tires separate? Do you think I will notice a large difference in my drivability and ride quality from going to the 18"s? I think it will handle better but it is already a pretty stiff ride so I worry about that aspect of going up to the 18"s but I love the look of the larger wheel on the SS. I think I will get the one bent 16" repaired and either sell them on here or hold onto them for a winter set. Thoughts/advice?

Thanks all,
W

 

Keep steelies for winter. Get nice alloys for summer. No matter what you do, low profile tires will almost always ride harder than the taller-walled 16s.

Going to 18s could make your car ride like a rock-take that back WILL make your car ride like a rock since there is a shorter sidewall to keep the tire aspect the same for speedometer reasons. The handling should increase a bit too, however.

 

Ok, so I have found a deal on some Drifz 18" rims, with some Nexen 225/45/18s all new and installed for $850+tax. What do you think? I have seen some good deals on eBay also. Do you think I should hit some of the various independent rim shops also? I have never bought aftermarket rims. I like the machined lip with black accents look of a lot of the rims these days. Thoughts, ideas are welcomed.

 

Where did the 18 that came on it go ? They will ride stiffer no mater what tire you choose. I have had the chance to drive lots of tires on mine, MxM4 noisy, corner ok, traction not. DWS's, medium noise, corner great, ride smooth, traction, like claws. F1's medium noise, corner unbelievable, carbon fiber sidewall, master of all weather. traction, best so far. 760's smooth ultra quiet,( you can hear the wind leak around our crappy seals) TRACTION hang on we are gone, sucks that these are summer tires. So there you go besides the mxm4s they all had their charms. Tires wear out, ultra high performance tires especially, Wheels on the other hand we keep only buy the ones you love to look at. And rub on all the time, unless someone else washes your car/trucklet

 

I'll defer to you and other SS owners on the tire recommendations Sam, but since he has a rebuilt SS, I'm thinking the factory rims were lost somewhere along the line.

 

Yeah my ss was bought from an insurance auction and the ss rims were swapped for some 17" LTs before I got it. Now I have a small bend in one of the 17"s and I am due for a set of tires so I figured I would go ahead and swap both.

 

maybe I'll trade you wheels. How do you drive yours put put , or Zoom Zoom ? (here's the bowtie for that gauge)

 

Well mine is my daily driver so a little of both but I drive it about 40 highway miles daily and park it in the garage.