A couple of questions for the handling

[BigRandCarFan_5]

Hey everyone.
I'm an owner of a '95 Grand Am SE, and I can honeslty say it is the most fun car I have ever driven
Soon I'll be modefying it, and the first thing I'm planning on is to replace the wheels and tires, aswell as the suspension.
I live in a winter province(Manitoba) so I was planning to keep the stock steel wheels, and after market wheel covers. Just so I don't have to worry about damaging expensive rims. I know that later model Grand Am's use 205/65-15, mine are 185/65-15. If I was to switch to these larger tires all around, this shouldn't have any adverse affect on my speedometer calibrations and steering angels lock to lock right?
Secondly, I've also heard that the suspension tuning of the Grand Am GT and Grand Am SE, the GT having stiffer spring rates. I was wondering if it would be a direct replacement of my standard SE suspension for the GT, or if there were slight variations in the assembly and mounting that would need modification of my exsisting chassis for the new suspension.
If you all can let me know, that'd would be very much appreciated and incredibly helpful.
Thanxs again for your time and help.

Chris

[SE2000]

Larger tire will affect your speedo, you'll be going faster than it says, if you go with 205/55, it will be closer to stock heigth. but since you are in snow, I'd stay with the narrower tires. You can go to factory mag wheels. 15" wheels are strong, easy to come by and most importantly cheap.

[Dboucher]

Best thing to do for winter is to get acctual winter tires on steelie's. When summer or winter hits, you just need to swap them.

[BigRandCarFan_5]

if you go with 205/55, it will be closer to stock heigth.

Okay. So you think that if I go with a 205, the profile should be a 55 series then, which would make it closer to the rolling diameter of my 185/65-15.

Thanxs for your help with the question of mine. I really do appreciate it

And do you know if the GT suspension would be a direct replacement for me SE suspension, or would some modification be involved?

Once again, thanx you so much for the help.

[SE2000]

For a car running winter tires 9 months out of the year, skip the steelies. You are running them most of the year, so why not go with a decent wheel. I see so many cars that run winter for 4 or 5 months with steelies and no wheel covers that look like crap and then they spend lots of money and time on summer stuff, why not spend $20 for some walmart ghetto dubs ( fake mag stle wheel covers)

[Dboucher]

I rather rock steelies then use hubcaps, my chrometechs will never see winter. Anyhow just my 2cents.

[goredsox]

Originally posted by BigRandCarFan_5
Okay. So you think that if I go with a 205, the profile should be a 55 series then, which would make it closer to the rolling diameter of my 185/65-15.

Thanxs for your help with the question of mine. I really do appreciate it

And do you know if the GT suspension would be a direct replacement for me SE suspension, or would some modification be involved?

Once again, thanx you so much for the help.

Yup go to the junkyard or on EBay and look for some Alloys, I have SE 205/55/R16's Alloys or you could get the 5 spoke GT alloys which have the same tire size. You will see a big jump in performance with the wider tires, and not so much flexing because they are not as tall.

Do you have FE1 suspension, i would imagine you do because of the 15's. I have FE2 cuz of the tire and suspenson package from the factory. I think the only difference is a thicker sway bar in the rear. And maybe some other minor changes...

Like i said just try out some 205/55/R16's and you might see a big jump in handling. Make sure you get a good tire though.