19"s or 20"s

[TIEfighter]

I have read that a few people have put 17"s and 18"s aftermarket wheels on their Sonics (both sedan/hatchback). I was wondering though, if it would be possible to fit 19"s or 20"s on a Sonic. I've heard that if you install bigger wheels on your car you have to reset the computer (ECM?) to get your speedometer correct. Also I've heard some people suggest to me not to get a tire wall less than 35. Don't know what that means but ok. Also I wouldn't mind putting 19"s or 20"s on my Sonic but I've heard that whenever you put large wheels/rims on your car it can start to put strain/ruin your transmission. I don't want to have to shave the wheel well or put a lift on the car to put the wheels/rims on. I'm planning on buying some wheels/rims within the next year so no rush. Just wanted to know what everybody else thought about 19"s or 20"s.

 

[laborsmith]

Once one goes over 17" or 18" rims, the weight of each rim increases dramatically. Our rims take a peculiar PCD (5x105) and the likelihood of a 20" 5x105 being made is small. If you are willing to spend the money, Forgeline and similar companies will provide wheels in those sizes for less than $1500 each. They would be monoblocks and could weigh less than the OEM 16s.

35 refers to the height of the sidewall, and would be thin indeed. Tires of that size can cost at least as much for one as four OEMs, and probably more.

So say you get a good deal, 4 rims for $4800 wearing 4 tires for $2200. That would be a very good deal. Bear in mind 35s or thinner tend to give a harsh ride. They will not give a soft American style ride, for sure.

The wider the wheel, the more aggressive the offset, otherwise rubbing of brake lines, suspension and wheel well will occur.

Properly sized there will be no need to flash the BCM.

By the way, tires of this size tend to be 180-220 for wearability. That means a treadlife of say 15000 miles unless you are an extremely careful driver, in which case why have such a set up? Some driving these setups get 7000 miles and are happy they got that much.

I am sure someone on this forum has thought about it. I do not know of anyone who has actually done it. Even JusticePete stopped at 18" and he is using Forgelines on his Sonic.

Laborsmith

 

[Eric Smit]

That would be horrendous. Alas, that is my opinion. I'm sure it could be done, but it would cost dollars.


-Eric Smit

 

[Sonic]

No, just no.

 

[Ridethesky84]

I would go no bigger then 18's!!

 

[SonicBoy24]

It's a Sonic. Not a Mexican lowrider.

 

[TIEfighter]

After reading everybody's posts I have come to the conclusion that it is much cheaper for me not to get 19"s or 20"s. If and when I purchase these wheels/rims I will probably get either 17"s or 18"s. I am not looking for a low rider type of vehicle as someone else mentioned. Just was curious about the tire and wheel sizes. Didn't know that 19"s and 20"s would be that expensive and the tire wall would be so thin it would wear faster. I'm glad everybody is knowledgeable about tires in this forum because I know very little about tires. On the brighter side of things...what is a good tire wall size to get if you have 17"s or 18"s?

 

[AndrewGS]

For 17" the best is the stock LTZ size, 205/50-17. For 18" the best would be 215/40-18. The actual best would be 205/45-18 but nobody makes a tire in that size.

20"s would be doable, but you'd be riding on a 225/30-20 which at best would be a 320 tread wear and that's for a Kumho tire that sells for $155 on Tire Rack. The 17" tires I went with are rated at 480 tread wear and go for $149 on Tire Rack, for comparison.

The biggest disadvantage with 20"s is weight, and that means ride, handling and fuel economy. If you can afford a lightweight 20" wheel and replacing your tires a little more often then I say go for it.

 

[esymr2]

225/45/17 or 225/40/18 are probably better sizes if you want more width without rubbing. I 'm sure anyone on this forum with that 17 size will tell you that it fits well without rubbing. I run the 18 inch size and it does not rub. Even if it were lowered it would clear. Both are very close to stock diameter and would not require and ECU re-flash.

 

[AxelRipper]

Well there was the thread where someone got adapters to put their WRX rims on the Sonic, so it would be possible to get there.

That being said... looks like 335/25-19's are only 1.5 inches taller than the stock sonic tires.... which means that with a lower profile tire, Z06 rims wouldn't be too big of a jump (stock rears are 335/35-19)

 

[AndrewGS]

That being said... looks like 335/25-19's are only 1.5 inches taller than the stock sonic tires.... which means that with a lower profile tire, Z06 rims wouldn't be too big of a jump (stock rears are 335/35-19)

Not sure if serious.....

 

[xtremsonic]

Here is the link for the WRX tires and adapters. I am ordering my adapters today and will be ordering rims next week. I am going to use the same size rims 17x8 with 225/45R17 tires, probably Goodyear Eagle GT.

http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/t2139/

Here is the link to the rims I will be putting on my VR HB

4 New 17X8 5x114.3 MB Motoring Bronze Wheels/Rims | eBay

 

[AxelRipper]

Not sure if serious.....

Neither am I....

 

[TIEfighter]

For 17" the best is the stock LTZ size, 205/50-17. For 18" the best would be 215/40-18. The actual best would be 205/45-18 but nobody makes a tire in that size.

20"s would be doable, but you'd be riding on a 225/30-20 which at best would be a 320 tread wear and that's for a Kumho tire that sells for $155 on Tire Rack. The 17" tires I went with are rated at 480 tread wear and go for $149 on Tire Rack, for comparison.

The biggest disadvantage with 20"s is weight, and that means ride, handling and fuel economy. If you can afford a lightweight 20" wheel and replacing your tires a little more often then I say go for it.

Thanks for the tire info AndrewGS!

225/45/17 or 225/40/18 are probably better sizes if you want more width without rubbing. I 'm sure anyone on this forum with that 17 size will tell you that it fits well without rubbing. I run the 18 inch size and it does not rub. Even if it were lowered it would clear. Both are very close to stock diameter and would not require and ECU re-flash.

I've heard that if you run a larger tire (i.e. 17"s instead of 15"s) you will get better gas mileage because of the tire wall is thinner. Is there any truth to that?

 

[AndrewGS]

Thanks for the tire info AndrewGS!

No problem.

I've heard that if you run a larger tire (i.e. 17"s instead of 15"s) you will get better gas mileage because of the tire wall is thinner. Is there any truth to that?

That's false. Usually it has the opposite effect because the tires and wheels are usually heavier when you size up. That's why most cars made for fuel economy come with narrow, thick-walled tires with small wheels.

 

[mitdr774]

I will be having some adapters made up to run 5x100 lug wheels on my car. Depending on how they work out for spacing I will hopefully be able to run my 14" Calais wheels for long trips and winter use (two sets, one has snow tires on it) and my polished 95-99 Z24 wheels the rest of the time. Personally I dont really care to run a very big wheel on my cars. 17" is the biggest I would go and I still would prefer a 16".

On a plus side, if the Calais wheels will clear the brakes I will be running 13# factory alloy wheels.

 

[gsxr1000]

For 17" the best is the stock LTZ size, 205/50-17. For 18" the best would be 215/40-18. The actual best would be 205/45-18 but nobody makes a tire in that size.

20"s would be doable, but you'd be riding on a 225/30-20 which at best would be a 320 tread wear and that's for a Kumho tire that sells for $155 on Tire Rack. The 17" tires I went with are rated at 480 tread wear and go for $149 on Tire Rack, for comparison.

The biggest disadvantage with 20"s is weight, and that means ride, handling and fuel economy. If you can afford a lightweight 20" wheel and replacing your tires a little more often then I say go for it.

205/50-17 is 25.07 inches tall that would mean a 20" rim would have 2.5" side wall

225/30-20 is 25.31 inches so almost the same height and 3/4 inch wider

BTW the /XX number is a precent of the width... so a 225 is 225mm wide so 225mm x 30%= 67.5mm there are 25.4mm=1 inch 67.5/25.4mm = 2.657 inch side wall at top and bottom so 2.657 x 2=5.31 inches + 20 = 25.31

 

[gsxr1000]

Well there was the thread where someone got adapters to put their WRX rims on the Sonic, so it would be possible to get there.

That being said... looks like 335/25-19's are only 1.5 inches taller than the stock sonic tires.... which means that with a lower profile tire, Z06 rims wouldn't be too big of a jump (stock rears are 335/35-19)

That is 5.1 inches wider then stock which would be the problem even though the hiegh is close

 

[AxelRipper]

That is 5.1 inches wider then stock which would be the problem even though the hiegh is close

Well yeah, you might need some fender flares... Tons of grip though!:banana:

 

[laborsmith]

Good find on the tires, Andrew. If one has the money for lightweight 19s, that would be an interesting change. The width of 20s seem to start at 8.5 inches and get wider from there. The OEM 17 is 6.5 inches wide.

Width of rim/tire is especially important for the Sonic: there is not a lot of room for a wider setup even with an aggressive offset. But all the forgoing notwithstanding, I would like to see how a 19 looks, but not on my car.

I and several other members are running 225/45 tires on 17" rims on a lowered Sonic with no rubbing, and I understand at least one member is or will be running 225/40 tires on 18" rims on a lowered Sonic, to give the original poster an idea of what can be safely done.

Laborsmith