2008 Cobalt SS Brembo brakes - Min. 17" Wheels
10-21-2009, 01:16 PM
#151
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10-21-2009, 01:47 PM
#152
10-24-2009, 10:53 PM
#155
10-27-2009, 08:13 PM
#156
How much are those LV5 wheels? I'm trying to look them up on tirerack, but I can't get them to display for the Cobalt SS. It doesn't want to show 17" wheels.
*edit* looked them up for the '08 Sport. $154 each? Not bad...they look good.
*edit* looked them up for the '08 Sport. $154 each? Not bad...they look good.
11-06-2009, 07:00 AM
#159
I have a set of 17" SS/NA rims for sale with the TPMS (tire pressure monitoring systems) and basically brand new tires, included in sale is a set of 3mm spacers
https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/parts-66/carbon-fiber-hood-ss-style-ss-na-17s-ss-tc-guys-look-194613/
https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/parts-66/carbon-fiber-hood-ss-style-ss-na-17s-ss-tc-guys-look-194613/
11-07-2009, 02:52 PM
#161
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I'm confused or maybe I missed something in the past threads, I know our brakes are huge and all but do any of you just use your factories for winter and get aftermarkets for summer(pending fitment issues)? Why 17's...cheaper?? I think they look good though I'm considering on this issue since snow fall is days away.
11-07-2009, 06:57 PM
#163
I'm confused or maybe I missed something in the past threads, I know our brakes are huge and all but do any of you just use your factories for winter and get aftermarkets for summer(pending fitment issues)? Why 17's...cheaper?? I think they look good though I'm considering on this issue since snow fall is days away.
Since snow tires wear out really quickly when there's no snow on the ground, it's not a good idea to drive on them all year long. Therefore you either have one set of wheels and are swapping tires twice a year between winter and summer tires (the mounting fees add up), or you have two sets of wheels and have one set of tires mounted on each, so you can just swap wheels. Or...you have one set of wheels with all seasons.
And yes, 17" wheels are cheaper than 18", and 17" tires are cheaper than 18".
11-07-2009, 09:31 PM
#164
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Most go 17" because it's way cheaper to find ugly-ass 17s for winter than nice-looking 18s for the summer, particularly with our fitment issues. I'd have loved to get a set of OZ Ultraleggeras or something for the summer and used my factory alloys as winters, but there's nothing wrong with our factory forged wheels.
11-08-2009, 02:42 AM
#165
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Sorry about the confusion, I did mean the rims. High performance summer tires suck in winter, there a lovely slip and slide, haha. It sucks that we have limited after market rims that fit over the brembos. I was considering the Enkei AKP rims for the summer but not sure if I can trust tireracks recommendations. I've been reading up on offsets and backspacings but still not sure.
11-08-2009, 07:42 AM
#166
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Snow tires are horrible on wet and dry roads. If you go with a performance winter tire, it's a compromise between deep snow handling and dry/wet roads, but it performs better on dry/wet roads than studless snow tires. I used to run studless snow tires in the winter and the tires sucked on dry roads or in the rain.
The best all-purpose tire would be an all-season like the Goodyear TripleTred or Michelin Hydroedge. The only reason to get snow tires is if you drive on snow all the time and never have any dry/wet roads.
Car and Driver just did a test on 4 different tires and confirmed what I already knew. If you like longer braking distances on dry or wet roads, buy snow tires. Out of the 6 months of winter in SE MI, we get maybe 7-10 days max of snow. The rest is just dry and wet/rainy/cold days. And no, snow tires don't really do jack on dry/wet roads even when it is cold. They're soft like Jell-O.
The best all-purpose tire would be an all-season like the Goodyear TripleTred or Michelin Hydroedge. The only reason to get snow tires is if you drive on snow all the time and never have any dry/wet roads.
Car and Driver just did a test on 4 different tires and confirmed what I already knew. If you like longer braking distances on dry or wet roads, buy snow tires. Out of the 6 months of winter in SE MI, we get maybe 7-10 days max of snow. The rest is just dry and wet/rainy/cold days. And no, snow tires don't really do jack on dry/wet roads even when it is cold. They're soft like Jell-O.
11-08-2009, 10:37 AM
#167
Sorry about the confusion, I did mean the rims. High performance summer tires suck in winter, there a lovely slip and slide, haha. It sucks that we have limited after market rims that fit over the brembos. I was considering the Enkei AKP rims for the summer but not sure if I can trust tireracks recommendations. I've been reading up on offsets and backspacings but still not sure.
11-08-2009, 10:46 AM
#168
Senior Member
Snow tires are horrible on wet and dry roads. If you go with a performance winter tire, it's a compromise between deep snow handling and dry/wet roads, but it performs better on dry/wet roads than studless snow tires. I used to run studless snow tires in the winter and the tires sucked on dry roads or in the rain.
The best all-purpose tire would be an all-season like the Goodyear TripleTred or Michelin Hydroedge. The only reason to get snow tires is if you drive on snow all the time and never have any dry/wet roads.
Car and Driver just did a test on 4 different tires and confirmed what I already knew. If you like longer braking distances on dry or wet roads, buy snow tires. Out of the 6 months of winter in SE MI, we get maybe 7-10 days max of snow. The rest is just dry and wet/rainy/cold days. And no, snow tires don't really do jack on dry/wet roads even when it is cold. They're soft like Jell-O.
The best all-purpose tire would be an all-season like the Goodyear TripleTred or Michelin Hydroedge. The only reason to get snow tires is if you drive on snow all the time and never have any dry/wet roads.
Car and Driver just did a test on 4 different tires and confirmed what I already knew. If you like longer braking distances on dry or wet roads, buy snow tires. Out of the 6 months of winter in SE MI, we get maybe 7-10 days max of snow. The rest is just dry and wet/rainy/cold days. And no, snow tires don't really do jack on dry/wet roads even when it is cold. They're soft like Jell-O.
Thing is, as Car and Driver noted, a very limited set of circumstances can sometimes dictate what tires you need. 95% of the time (especially now that I live in Toronto), I'd be better off on winter high-performance tires than my snow-and-ice Gizlaveds. Problem is, when I go visit my parents in Northern Ontario, I'd never make it down my road or even out of my driveway without the heavy-duty snows. I'd also be at risk during the odd snowstorm when plow crews are way too over-taxed to clear sidestreets for days.
Unfortunately, it's that 5% of the time that makes the full snow tires necessary. I'd rather take extra precautions and use bigger following distances for the 95% of the time than be stranded, stuck, or crashed into a snowbank for the other 5%.
11-08-2009, 11:19 AM
#169
Senior Member
I started off with snow tires and summer tires about 6 years ago for my other car. I found that the snow tires only last for about 3-4 seasons at most, and that's with my paltry annual mileage. If the snow gets bad enough that I NEED snow tires, I can just stay home. I'd rather do that than spend 99% of my time in the winter with poor handling, crappy braking, and excessive road noise on the highway.
The C&D test just quantified what I already knew, and it was clear to me that the all-season tires were the best compromise. Worst case scenario is that I go with performance winter tires and deal with the logistical nightmare of hauling around an extra 4 set of wheels for every car that I drive in the winter (12+ wheels, nowhere to put them), or even just hauling around 4 extra wheels for 1 daily driver. Been there, done that - give me all-season tires.
The C&D test just quantified what I already knew, and it was clear to me that the all-season tires were the best compromise. Worst case scenario is that I go with performance winter tires and deal with the logistical nightmare of hauling around an extra 4 set of wheels for every car that I drive in the winter (12+ wheels, nowhere to put them), or even just hauling around 4 extra wheels for 1 daily driver. Been there, done that - give me all-season tires.
11-08-2009, 11:25 AM
#170
Senior Member
I started off with snow tires and summer tires about 6 years ago for my other car. I found that the snow tires only last for about 3-4 seasons at most, and that's with my paltry annual mileage. If the snow gets bad enough that I NEED snow tires, I can just stay home. I'd rather do that than spend 99% of my time in the winter with poor handling, crappy braking, and excessive road noise on the highway.
The C&D test just quantified what I already knew, and it was clear to me that the all-season tires were the best compromise. Worst case scenario is that I go with performance winter tires and deal with the logistical nightmare of hauling around an extra 4 set of wheels for every car that I drive in the winter (12+ wheels, nowhere to put them), or even just hauling around 4 extra wheels for 1 daily driver. Been there, done that - give me all-season tires.
The C&D test just quantified what I already knew, and it was clear to me that the all-season tires were the best compromise. Worst case scenario is that I go with performance winter tires and deal with the logistical nightmare of hauling around an extra 4 set of wheels for every car that I drive in the winter (12+ wheels, nowhere to put them), or even just hauling around 4 extra wheels for 1 daily driver. Been there, done that - give me all-season tires.
11-08-2009, 12:46 PM
#171
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I have to get the softer winter tires since we now in the past 2 years have got dumped on with snow, last year we set a new record for the season 109"+. 60" came from the first week of december. I usually don't put on the winter tires till the first snow, but untill my factory tires bald down I will get all weathers for the summer and high performance winter for the snow season. The funny thing right now is almost everyone and there grandmother is driving around with there studs on and we still don't have any snow yet. They are tearing up the freshly repaved freeway!!!
Thats good to hear tirerack stands behind their recomendations, cause I have been saving for Stage 1 and new tires and rims.
Thats good to hear tirerack stands behind their recomendations, cause I have been saving for Stage 1 and new tires and rims.
11-08-2009, 01:27 PM
#172
Senior Member
I've been itching to try the Dunlop Winter Sport 3D / M3 since they seem to come highly recommended. I've used studless snow tires in the past and they're way too noisy and soft. The performance winter tires seem to be better.
I've also heard about Discount Tire cutting sipes into tires for $11/tire. I might try that out in the future just to give old snow tires a longer usable lifespan.
I've also heard about Discount Tire cutting sipes into tires for $11/tire. I might try that out in the future just to give old snow tires a longer usable lifespan.
11-13-2009, 06:06 PM
#173
Drag DR-34s fit fine and dandy. These are 17x7.5" wheels, and they clear the brake calipers just fine. Look pretty good too. Oh yeah, and they're only $110 each from discount tire!
Last edited by Koz; 11-13-2009 at 06:44 PM.
