Wheel fitment F.A.Q./Stock wheel F.A.Q./How to get wheels for your Cobalt. READ ME!!!
 

Ok, I (unfortunately, as of this writing) work for a wheel manufacturer and these posts about wheel fitment drive me insane........



The SS and SS/SC all have a 5-110 pattern, which they share with the new Malibu, HHR, Saturn Sky, L-Series, Pontiac Solstice, G5 and G6. Also the vehicles hub diameter (for the purposes of using hubcentric rings) is 65.1mm.


Other Cobalts have a 4-100 pattern, which is a typical Honda pattern, and widely available. The hub diameter is 57.1mm.




The 5-110 is a rather rare pattern, having only really been used recently by Saab and the mid-90's Cadillac Catera. Therefore, as of this writing, there aren't a lot of wheels available.

Regarding wheels being called "universal". There is no such thing as a "universal" 5-lug, 4-lug, 6-lug wheel. Most wheels are typically drilled with 2 bolt patterns, with some exposed lug wheels drilled with only one. The most common patterns drilled in 5 lug are 5-114.3 and 5-100.

Another possibility for wheels for your SS is to have wheels of a different pattern "inserted". What this means is, a pattern on a wheel is re-drilled and a high grade steel insert is pounded into the wheel. This isn't commonly done on open face (no center cap) wheels, as it might not look good. Also another concern is safety. I just had this done to some wheels, with positive results. I'm happy with the appearance, and I've tested them from 0-125mph, with no vibrations or any other problems. For a retail customer, depending on the company this service can range from $25 per wheel up. You also need to make sure that who you're dealing with, frankly, knows what they are doing. And always use hubcentric rings as well.




http://www.erod.com/temp/445cobalt3.JPG



edit: Thought of something else. This is a useful site to compare how much a different tire size will affect your speedometer, odometer, etc.

.http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp

For example, it tells me by switching from 215/40/18s to my current 225/40/18s my speedo is now 1.254% too slow, etc etc.

(Anything within 3% is typically considered acceptable)



edit number 2: All of the Cobalts use a 12x1.5mm thread pitch lugnut.


edit number 3: The ss/sc has a stock wheel width of 18x7 NOT 18x7.5. Not sure on the ss 17"s.

edit number 4: Here is a pict of the info on my OEM 18" ss/sc 2006 wheel.





.http://www.erod.com/temp/sssc18oemwheelspecs.jpg


edit number 5:

Here is a very easy to use site to find a cars bolt patterns/recommended tire sizes, etc.

http://www.bigwheels.net

edit 6: The stock wheels weigh 24 Lbs. (courtesy Chevypowered)

edit 7: Here is an explanation of wheel offset.
http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...eelOffsets.jsp

edit 8:
SS torque spec: 100 ft/lbs

http://www.eminemweb.com/board/images/smilies/ty.gif All the wheel posts are getting annoying.

I think we can all agree that 5x110 sucks.

The Grand Am Cup Cobalts switched out to a different bolt pattern from a ... Grand Am. I think all they had to do for that was the hub and bearing. How much do you think that would be? I bet it'd be easier to do a group buy on some Rota wheels ( If we get 10 people they will do the 5x110) I saw it on the redline forum.

Going to change hub assemblies on your new, still under warranty, car?

Wouldn't recommend that.

Moving to How-To

Except there are 10 cobalts with the same wheels out there :(

The changed the hubs on the GAC car because the grand am hubs/bears are more heavy duty.

When looking at wheels I see different offsets. What offsets can I use on the SS/SC

The changed hubs were also done because it would allow for a wider variety of racing wheels. <-- from the PDF about the GAC's

Really a few MM makes no difference. Anything +38 - +45 should be a-ok.

The winter 18"s I bought are..........+40.

5x110 is a bitch
 

Our bolt pattern blows ass but Im trying to help. Thread that I just keep building on, link below

SS S/C Wheels

does that offset all work for the base cobalt as well?

Yes....

is +38 more inward in the fender then +42?? cause i'm worried that if i get 18" rim with a 225/40/18 tire it might rub the strut tower if i buy the wrong offset.....

I have 225/40/18s on right now, with 18x7.5" rims with a +40 offset.

Plenty of clearance, and springs on order.


+42 would mean that overall, the rim would be sucked into the body of the car by 4mm from a +38 rim.

Consider as well that 4mm = 0.1574803 inch. A negligable difference.

so basically what you are saying is there will be no rubbing with a offset from +38 to +45.. thanx for ur help, by the way what kind of spring are you planning on getting?

Sure.

Eibach Sportlines. Should be here in a few days from Gravana.

News!
 

I believe the Solstice also has the 5x110 bolt pattern... Offset is a bit bigger, but it would be sweet on the SSsc with the Solstice stock 245/45/18 tires!

Also, it would push the demand for this bolt pattern!

http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/a...hp/t-2273.html

Ok, reading this... i dont understand... Im wanting to buy some Konig Trouble 18" wheels. They are pattern 4x114.3... will that fit my 06 Cobalt SS/SC?? Thanks.

um......4-114.3 is a 4 lug wheel. So no, you need 5-110.

Hey Folks.. just thought I'd post my 2 cents seeing that I just went in today to try to get winter tires, etc... at my local dealer.

They are quite nice in there and know me by name, so they brought my car in and we tried a few things with the steelies they had..

a) 16" 5x100.. (they weren't sure of the bolt pattern) so we put that on and it just simply didn't fit.

b) 15" 5x110.. fit perfectly as far as bolt pattern goes of course, but the calipers were in the way and it wouldn't go all the way back.. no dice.

c) 16" 5x110.. this was the last one they tried.. and success! they were only 59.99 too, sweet dealio.. I will have to purchase new nuts however for the wheels too, since in order to get the steels tight, I'd have to pop right through the ones for the stock wheels. (the stock wheels are thicker on the bolts).

When we went to look for tires, I think someone already mentioned it here, our complete radius stock tires is about 25.6", if you get 205/60/16 tires.. that would put you in the facinity of 25.7" which should be just fine.

So that's where I'm at now, spent $282 approx on the steel rims taxes in.. now to get some tires.

What I'm hoping to do is keep the steelies and throw some shitty grippy 16" tires on it next summer for some racing action :) while keeping my 18" Pirellis for the ole pleasure cruises and street.

Just my 2 cents.. hope I got all my facts straight ;-) :ca:

Cheers All!

The stock wheels weigh 24 Lbs just got them weighed, might be good info for someone looking for some light or lighters wheels.

GM Spelled Cobalt wrong, hmm?

Call me crazy, but as opposed to changing the bolt pattern on a new car, I would sooner work on getting a wheel that would just fit.

Not all Fords are 5-114 also......

Adapters are what I really don't recommend. Spacers, eh, I just feel a lot better with a wheel direct to the hub, simply enough. :) Let alone stock length studs+spacers+stock or equal length aftermarket lugs. eek.

Still sitting in my house, I haven't driven the car in about 4 weeks since I waxed it and was going to be out of town the last two weekends. I'm 100% sure there won't be any problems. ;)

wheels for cobalt ss
 

The 5x110 bolt pattern is identical to wheels for a Saturn L series.
The Saturn L series have wheels and brakes identical to Sab 9-3 & 9-5.
I have purchased some 15x6 Ronal LV aluminum wheels for my Saturn L. The Saturn uses 11.38 in diameter front rotors. These rotors should fit Cobalt SS-they are 0.22 smaller in diameter, but have never had them warp and i drive and brake really hard.
I know for a fact that Ronal makes 15,16,17,18 in wheels with the proper bolt pattern to fit Cobalt SS. I live near Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and purchesd my wheels from Tireworks http://www.tireworks.ca/

Check out Ronal USA http://www.ronalusa.com/wheels.html

My Saturn is soon to be traded in for Cobalt SS 2.4 5sp.