I have searched around, and all I found was a bit of speculation on what size is a good upgrade for a lowered SS/SC... I need new tires now, and I am lowered on Zenn Springs. The car is pretty low, and if there are passengers in the back, the rear is pretty slammed... I need a size that will perform but not rub or cause problems.

Soo... 235/40-18 or 225/40-18 for an upgraded size? Or other suggestions? I would like to go with the 235/40-18 just because it is closer in size to the stock tires, and I am thinking that the wider size will help with handling. It is just about the stock height (actually about .25" smaller), but it is wider. Any advice...?

What are the pros and cons of running a little wider tire?

Thanks a million!!!

 

Are you still going all-seasons?

Wider generally gives you a better contact patch for dry-road handling but last you had posted you were going with something that could handle in the snow. If that's the case, go narrower with the 225.

 

Yes, I am probably going to go with an Ultra High Performance All Season style tire.

I was seriously considering the Goodyear Eagle F1 AS's or the Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position's for a higher end tire...

For a lower, more budget friendly tire that is still decent, I was considering the Falken ZIEX 912's or the Kumho Ecsta ASX's...

The Potenza's got good reviews and recommendations, but I am not sure if I feel like paying the premium price... The Eagle F1's got very nice reviews also, and are a good bit cheaper, and the Falken ZIEX's got real decent reviews too, and are muuuch cheaper... I do believe in buying quality, but if a set of tires isn't $200+ better than another set, then I can't justify it. And reading a ton of reviews tells me that the tires that I mentioned are all pretty close, close enough that I probably wouldn't notice...

Alicia, why do you recommend a narrower tire such as a 225 if I'm gonna do an UPH All Season..? And also as far as the snow thing, I will NOT be driving the car in the snow, unless by some chance I get caught out in a small storm. Anything else with ANY snow laying on the ground, I will drive a 4X4 truck. I just want a tire that is M+S rated, so that it doesn't suck in the cold weather (which here in PA we will see for quite some time), and it will go in LIGHT snow...

 

Neither the Ziex or the ASX is a tire that I would trust my life with even in the tiniest bit of snow.

I'd say narrow just because if you want to get the most out of them in poor weather conditions, narrower is better. I know you said they won't see deep snow, but still narrower is better.

Narrower will also help you avoid hydroplaning which a) GM small cars have always been bad for, Cobalt is no exception and b) is a HUGE problem on western PA roads. 225 is plenty wide enough, 235 is really excessive IMO. If it were me I'd even be willing to stick with the stock 215s.

You're trying to balance a lot of things - wet traction, cold/light snow traction, and dry handling. I think 225 is really your best option of the two.

 

Thanks for the info... The 225 size is fine, I was just thinking 235 since it is a little closer to stock diameter (about .25" closer). I am really looking at the Eagle F1's as being a nice mix of performance in an all season...

 

If tire size bothers you, get the computer recalibrated at the dealer. Most places will only charge you about $50 to do it.

 

Yea, the size doesn't bother too much as the speedo will only by 1 or 2 mph over. HP Tuners can fix that...

Why do you say you don't trust the Falken's or Kumho's? Any personal experience? I have been reading a ton of reviews, and most everyone said the Ziex 912's are a really nice tire that goes suprisingly quite well in light to moderate snow. I found the Ziex's for $81 a piece online... Reallllllly good value as long as dry traction and handling doesn't suck... Which reviews said were real decent...

Might as well have PM'ed you if your the only one to respond, lol

 

I drive a 2007 SS/SC lowered on Eibach Sportlnes and I roll on 225/40 18's.

I have BFG KDW 2's and for the price I didnt go wrong.

 

Thanks for the info on sizing. I would def try some KDW2's but the Pennsylvania weather says otherwise unless you have dedicated snow tires...

Any other opinions..? I'm thinking of trying some Falken ZIEX 912's in 225/40-18's...

I narrowed the cheap-but-good segment of tires down to the Falken Ziex ZE-912 or Kumho Ecsta ASX... Anyone have any experience with either tire? I am leaning towards the Falken's although some reviews say that the handling on the Kumho's is a little better with less sidewall flex. Overall I can't be certain, as every other review tends to say something different...

 

Get the 235/40/18 if you can. Looks way better. I've run KDWs in both sizes, was much happier with the wider ones, and they are almost the same diameter as stock. I am lowered on Sportlines and never had any rub issues.

 

Thanks for the input! Does the extra width help out with handling? Also are you on stock SS/SC wheels? That size fits the rims OK? Are the KDW's going to have a more narrow shoulder on the top allowing the bigger width to fit better? I am just Falken 912's fitting good in the 235/40-18 sizing, but that is what I would like to get...

 

Car handled really good with either size, that small of a difference doesn't make too much difference on a mostly stock suspension car. Did help with straight-line a little, where it matters for me. Stock SS/SC wheels. Fit perfectly, a little meaty looking, tires had a slight bulge to them, just looked like serious tires. I got compliments on them all the time actually.

KDWs are kinda on the big side, shoulder wise. Falkens are probably narrower, but I can't say for sure.

 

^^^^Thanks a bunch. I had read a lot of your previous posts about tires, and noticed you ran the 235's lowered. I would def like to go that route, but I am still a little worried that that wide of a tire might rub a bit. Considering I have cheap springs (Zenn), I'm not sure if I would have problems or not.

Did the wider tires help out with handling any, or was it mostly straight line acceleration?

 

Bump for some more suggestions, please!

 

I'm lowered on Sportlines with the Falken ZE-912s and I love them. They have great grip and considering the stock width was 195, I felt a huge difference in cornering. There is really no rubbing that I worry about. This is a little tiny spot in the front fender that gets rubbed a little bit, but I have never heard it. It seems like it's only when that side bottoms out only when my wheels are turned all the way in that direction, so it's not a big deal.

The best part it that it fills in the fender gap really well.



BTW...I know my rim's are 7.5" wide...I think the SS rims are the same but I'm not positive.

 

I don't have any suggestions about size, but if you are looking at some good all seasons, you might want to check this out...looks like the F1s might not be the best bet.

I think I'm going to get a set of the Bridgestone Potenzas.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...jsp?type=UHPAS

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...perfType=UHPAS

 

Thanks for the input guys! I will likely get the 235/40-18's and hope that they fit well. Other members have used them on the stock wheels just fine. The stock SS/SC wheels are only 7" wide however, and the 235 does bulge a bit because the wheels is a little thin for the size...

I would really like to try the potenza pole positions, but they extra price is a lot! The Falken 912's can be had for $80 a tire, while the polo positions can be had for $162 in a 225/40-18. That is twice as much, and too much for me...

I will give the Falken Ziex Ze-912's a try in 235/40-18 and see how they fair. They are about $96 each shipped, soo we will see how they go over... Comments or advice is always appreciated!

 

You'll be happy with em man. Me and Fallen33 have the same exact setup on the tires and we both never had any bad remarks about them. I can understand a $180 tire being a lot better, but for the price, you can't go wrong with the 912's.

And honestly....rubbing won't be an issue.

 

Thanks for the info on size and fitment. I am just concerned that anything wider than 225 will rub, as my tires almost rub now in the back... If I have two adults in the back seat, the rear tire is damn near dragging on the fender lip.

The lowering springs I have are cheap, and they might sag a lot more than a quality spring like Sportlines...

Is if "safe" to run a 235 if it will stick out a little bit from the fender and can rub on the underside of the wheelwell in hard turns or acceleration?..

 

Just go with the 225/40's ...Hell even GM decided to go with that size on the 08 and 09 Turbo Balts.

 

Ohh I know that GM is now using the 225/40-18 for it's newer SS's, but I was going with the bigger is better methodology... Anything for a little bit more traction in this car... Also the 225/40 is a bit smaller diameter than the stock tire, and will throw the speedo off more than the 235/40...

 

can you roll with 225 45 18 if the suspension is stock?

 

Post up when you decide on what your getting. I too am looking at skins and have been debating on 225/45/18's and 235/40/18's. Im lowered on sportlines right now but not sure if Im keeping them.

 

Yes, the 225 width fits, but I would advise against running that 45 sidewall as it will make the tire taller than stock... Will it fit, most likely... But it will throw off your speedo and worsen your acceleration slighty. Go with a 225/40-18!

I have made the decision to go with Falken Ziex Ze-912's in 225/40-18 from Discount Tire Direct. The 225/40 size put the tires about 1/2 inch smaller diameter than stock with a tiny bit smaller sidewall, but with a bit more width. Overall it is a nice compromise, and a much cheaper tire than going to a 235 which might rub on a lowered car. It will also effectively, yet very small, change the final drive ratio of the car, and ever soo slightly help acceleration... I will be ordering tomorrow morning...

When I get the tires in later in the week I'll let everyone know how they go... They seem like awesome performace for the money!

 

Here is some good info- Oh and you will see 225/45/18's size wise are closer to stock than the 225/40's and dont throw off the speedo as much.
http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCal...bmit&reset=yes

The 225/45's are 1.39% taller and the 225/40's are 2.07% smaller. Side wall on the 225/40's are .180 thousands taller and 225/40's .260 thousands shorter in side wall height
The 45's are shy of a 1/8" taller and the 40's are a little more than a 1/4" smaller.
Keep in mind that depending on what brand and compound tire the 40's might be a little rough of a ride and the 45's might give some comfort.
Oh and the 45's speed reading will only be 1.39% slow but the 40's will be 2.12% fast. So all in all the 225/45/18 is closer to stock. Now you want even closer then yes as you said once before 235/40/18's are even closer.