I can't get an answer to this question. Do bigger wheels on your car blow your struts? I have a cobalt SS 2.4L with stock 17'' wheels. I went up a size and put 18'' stern ST-2 wheels with 225/40ZR18 tires on the car. The wheels seem a lot wider (fatter) than what was originally on there. Within 5 months bam 2 blown front struts. Is there a connection?

 

no way their is no connection. Your antenna has a better chance of blowing out a strut .

 

actually yes bigger wheels will blow out a strut.












































haha just kidding

 

shorter sidewalls equal a thicker harder side wall, tires will not absorb shock as good as a bigger softer sidewall

 

not the wheels though, its the tires

 

so your saying it is possible?


heres a pic of them.. I don't think you could put a smaller tire on them

 

first off how do u even know if they are blown.....how many miles are on ur car... is ur struts leaking in the front ?did u get ur car worked on somewhere and they recommended that u had blown struts?? also do u have lowering springs.. depends on wat drop u did on stock suspension it will blow out..because the factory struts cant handle the specific drop from the springs.....and cause a more bounce 2 the strut... also thats why people say once u lower ur car,make sure 2 do it the right way lol .... also how many pot holes do u hit ? from the rims being bigger and also ur car being lowered a hard hit on a pot hole can also blow it out:P

 

Just because you get bigger rims doesnt mean you have to get smaller sidewalls, stock I have 195/65-15, my summer tires are 245/45-17, sidewalls are almost the same.

 

Car is not lowered. I have 40k on my car. Both front struts were leaking fluid and making a loud knocking sound on every bump. I took into the dealership. They replaced both struts under warranty (after i put my stock wheels back on the car). See my post below it has a pic of the strut.
https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/problems-service-maintenance-69/does-my-strut-look-blown-out-172628/

Only conclusion i have is the wheels did it. Has anyone else heard of this?

 

what is your tire size?

 

what is your tire size?

 

225/40zr18

 

what are you stockers?(I was gonna compare the sidewalls but I doubt they will be much difference because those are about the size of stock ss/sc's).

 

These things are twice as wide as my stock wheels. My stock wheels are 17'' i'm not sure of the tire size but there pretty small

 

sooo any relationship?

 

i would say no.

 

Do you have aftermarket springs?

 

I have no aftermarket springs

 

There is a bit more stress put on the suspension whenever you reduce the sidewall thickness. 60 Series tires will absorb more of the impact than a 35 Series tire may.

That being said, that should not cause a catostrophic failure of the struts though unless you drive your car into one of those infamous vehicle eating potholes (Yay Pennsylvania...). If Columbus is anything like western Ohio, then blame your DOT for having shitty roads.

 

*2 on the massive pothole situation. Or if you're my brother, you just hit stuff on the highway, split two wheels down the middle, and push the whole strut mount up while killing the strut.

 

I have a 2005 cobalt and were actually getting ready to replace the struts for the third time! No one can seem to figure it out. Everytime we take it to the dealership they think were crazy and that we don't know what were talking about. Then they take a look and realize they really are leaking. If you find out whats causing it let me know!! Thanks.