Wheel Mod

[EuroStar]

Hey all, got a question, what is the exact wheel and off set size for 99+ grand am's? I was looking at a few rims and most I saw were 5*114.3, I believe our ga's have 5*115, but not sure exactly, can someone let me know.
thank you

[99GrandAMSE]

... yes, 5x115 is the exact bolt pattern ... don't recall the offset though :(

[EuroStar]

Thanks 99grandamse,
ok what else do I have to know when I buy new wheels?

Thanks

[GrandAmageGT]

Originally posted by EuroStar
Thanks 99grandamse,
ok what else do I have to know when I buy new wheels?

Thanks

From an accuracy standpoint if you go to bigger rims and tire sizes your speedometer may read off.

[IrateGT]

You have to make sure you "plus-size" when you buy. Your stock wheels are 225/50R-16...

17" rims: 225/45R-17
18" rims: 225/40R-18

Also, make sure you get centering rings as most aftermarket rims are lug centric... the stock rims are hub-centric.

[rollbonez]

Originally posted by IrateGT
You have to make sure you "plus-size" when you buy. Your stock wheels are 225/50R-16...

17" rims: 225/45R-17
18" rims: 225/40R-18

Also, make sure you get centering rings as most aftermarket rims are lug centric... the stock rims are hub-centric.


Rob,

What's the difference between the lugcentric and hubcentric? I just bought rims in a 5x115 bolt pattern from Discount Tire Co.

I thought as long as the lug pattern is correct, everything should be cool. The guys at Discount Tire should know these things, right?

God, I hope my lugs don't snap off!

tom

[digital-d]

Lugcentric means that the wheel spins off the lugs which put more pressure on them. Hubcentric is what you want, it means that the wheel spins off the center hub where the wheel bearing is and there is less pressure on the lugs.

I just have one question, on the 95 ga's the 16" tire size is 205/55/16, I was just wondering what sidewall height would be good for a 215 and a 225 and which you width would recommend more.

[IrateGT]

Check out this website... it has one of the best and easiest tire calculators I've seen on the net:

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

[99GrandAMSE]

Originally posted by IrateGT
Check out this website... it has one of the best and easiest tire calculators I've seen on the net:

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

I agree 100%

[rollbonez]

Originally posted by digital-d
Lugcentric means that the wheel spins off the lugs which put more pressure on them. Hubcentric is what you want, it means that the wheel spins off the center hub where the wheel bearing is and there is less pressure on the lugs.

I just have one question, on the 95 ga's the 16" tire size is 205/55/16, I was just wondering what sidewall height would be good for a 215 and a 225 and which you width would recommend more.


Ya know, digital-d, I jsut bought new rims and didn't even take that into consideration. I had them mounted and balanced at a Discount Tire Co.

How do I know if they mounted it with a centering ring? If I take one of the wheels off, should the ring just pop off too? How can I tell without taking off a wheel?

Thanks for helping the idiotic out.

tom

[IrateGT]

You can't tell unless you take the wheel off, although you might notice some symptoms which include "shuddering" and "shaking" at speeds over ~50mph. If you take your wheel off, it will look like a thin piece of metal or plastic that usually is stuck on the hub of the car... it typically does not come off with the wheel.

ps: if your lug nuts shear off when you try to remove the rim, that is a major indicator that you're having wheel fitment issues.

[rollbonez]

Originally posted by IrateGT
You can't tell unless you take the wheel off, although you might notice some symptoms which include "shuddering" and "shaking" at speeds over ~50mph. If you take your wheel off, it will look like a thin piece of metal or plastic that usually is stuck on the hub of the car... it typically does not come off with the wheel.

ps: if your lug nuts shear off when you try to remove the rim, that is a major indicator that you're having wheel fitment issues.


Crappola, Rob. So I go back to Discount Tire to see if the installed my American Eagle Alloy 077 rims with a hubcentric spacer and they said, "If you don't feel a vibration at high speeds then you're ok. Those American Eagles are lugcentric, but we don't like to work with spacers if we don't have to."

I can only assume that they wouldn't sell me the rims if they knew it wouldn't fit right.

I don't feel any vibration now, but let's pray they are right and my lugs don't snap off.


tom