Hey guys, i'm looking to get rims for my cavalier, which still has the '01 stock 14" on them. Would it cause my car any problems in ANY area if I were to upsize my wheels to 16"? I have heard "things" that it can mess up "stuff", so I have no idea. Thanks for your help. Oh, and the bolt pattern is 5x100, correct?
You should have no problems at all. You could fit 20" Rims (yes, it has been done) if you wanted to. My only suggestion is to find some good tires that have a good thickness to it.
Yes, bolt pattern is 5x100
Also, I see you are new...you should check this sticky out, it would help you out without even posting some questions and having to wait for an answer:
The Ultimate Newbie FAQ
www.kronosperformance.com / 732-742-8837
Everything will be fine as long as you use a shorter profile tire - check the FAQ in the wheel and tire faq for sizing - but going larger than 17" I would recommend upgrading the brakes to compensate for the increased rotational mass.
"Silly cluth, glazing is for donuts!"
If you go with 16s use a 205/55/16 tire, it is the factory size for the Sunfire GT, Cavalier Z24, and Cavalier LS Sport. You may have to go to the dealership to re-flash your computer, so the the ABS sensors, Speedometer and Odometer read correctly, I don't know if Chevy does it, I've been dealing with Mopars for the past 2 years, but it would be a good idea to find out. It shouldn't be a big deal since you're not going to change the overall diameter of the tires that much. it's really only a big deal for someone like me that's going from a 30 inch tall tire to a 35, but it'd be nice to check out.
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Saint wrote:If you go with 16s use a 205/55/16 tire, it is the factory size for the Sunfire GT, Cavalier Z24, and Cavalier LS Sport. You may have to go to the dealership to re-flash your computer, so the the ABS sensors, Speedometer and Odometer read correctly, I don't know if Chevy does it, I've been dealing with Mopars for the past 2 years, but it would be a good idea to find out. It shouldn't be a big deal since you're not going to change the overall diameter of the tires that much. it's really only a big deal for someone like me that's going from a 30 inch tall tire to a 35, but it'd be nice to check out.
Yeah if he keeps the same OD he wouldnt need to check anything. Unless he goes with a wide rim then he would need to check the clearance turning.
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Madjack wrote:Like I said before, building an engine like ours (2.2 or 2200) is a painstaking chore , since there is so few custom made parts. It's frustrating to me too, but that's what I like about doing this engine, it's the challenge.
Cool... thanks for the info guys
Sticking to stockish wheels (ie alloy 15-16inch) rims would be fine. The problems that some people find, are when they put on really larger sized tires, which changes the performance and gas milage. The added weight can effect performance, and gas millage too. It also puts aditional wear and tear on the vehicle.
This is extreamly miminal, but does increase the effects the heavier the wheel, and larger(or smaller) the tires.
Alot of people have larger rims (17-20 inch) and no problems... so I wouldn't worry about it. This is just some small possiblities that might occur.
Seems everyone forgot to mention that those big wheels cause a rougher ride. I have 18's and I feel EVERY crack in the road. BUT they look sooo damn good!! You won't even care. Oh and the handleing improves as well. Less side wall, less tire flex, better handleing.
Enjoy.
Semper Fi SAINT. May you rest in peace.
Thats cause with low profile tires they require a little bit more PSI I know mine require 44 PSI. Its like rolling on stones.
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Madjack wrote:Like I said before, building an engine like ours (2.2 or 2200) is a painstaking chore , since there is so few custom made parts. It's frustrating to me too, but that's what I like about doing this engine, it's the challenge.
For clarity, it's important to consider thinking about it as a physics lesson.
Larger wheels require low-profile tires. That inevitably means that there is more HARD metal area, with less rubber to absorb the shock of imperfections in the road. Impacts and vibrations may be amplified. THIS CAUSES DRIVETRAIN AND CHASSIS COMPONENTS TO FAIL QUICKER. Expecially under heavy accelleration.
Performance in the way of handling can be increased. Low-profile tires mean there's gonna be less "slop" or shifting in the tires during hard cornering. Having a little more rim there makes the whole process a little more rigid and solid. Probably gonna feel a little more "sure-footed" on dry roads, but as soon as the conditions get less than great, many people with the large rim / low profile tire combination say things get squirrelly real fast.
Performance can also be hurt with larger rims also. Be aware of how much the rims weight. Adding more weight puts more stress on the drivetrain, and needs more power fron the powertrain. So lighter can often be better. REALLY light rims can actually reduce traction somewhat, but that also depends heavily on what kind of tires you've got.
Remember that just because a rim is lightweight doesn't mean everything. if you have a 23-lb 16" rim and replace them with a 20-lb 18" rim just because they're lighter doesn't mean you will see a benefit in straight-liine accelleration. The 18" may WEIGH less, but the rim is bigger in diameter, so more weight and MASS is being placed farther away from the axle. Picture swinging a 1-foot stick that weighs 5-lbs - Easy. Now picture swinging a 5-foot stick of the same weight - That's a lot harder. THIS IS WHERE PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY OF DRIVETRAIN AND CHASSIS COMPONENTS GO STRAIGHT TO HELL.
In summary, if you want awesome accelleration, don't be rediculous on what size rim you pick. and if you get heavy rims, don't expect stellar performance either. Ask someone who's in to AUTOCROSS if you want to know about superb andling, because I'm more into DRAG. If you're into the whole rim thing just for looks, then do whatever you want because there are certainly MANY MANY possibilities.
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No matter what you want to accomplish, there are many possibilities
