Need advice on 18" Wheels & Tires Summer upgrade.

[DarkThinker]

So Summer is upon us and I decided on the next item on my upgrade list, 18" Wheels.

This is for an 07 CTS. I really wanted the CTS-V Wheels, but A they are expensive and B to install on the CTS they would be twice as expensive due to many incompatabilities mainly 6 bolt vs 5 bolt pattern.

But for the first time, I finally came across a set of wheels that look like the CTS-V ones and the site claims is compatible apparently:

CTS-V Wheels which don't fit:



Behold aftermarket wheels which look almost the same and site claims fit:
http://www.wheelmax.com/product.asp?ProdId=301732


Similar set but with less spokes and site also claims fit the CTS:
http://www.wheelmax.com/product.asp?ProdId=336754


The thing that sticks out here, is that the standard CTS bolt pattern is 5x115 while these wheels are 5x114.3, I am not an expert on wheels, but how is this compatible? Is additional hardware required or am I missing something?

Obviously with the wheels upgrade comes a tire upgrade, what does the wise collective of AT Garage recommend this car nut get for his Summer adventures? Something reasonably priced, readily available and will make me a happy Panda.

 

[Throckmorton]

Don't buy wheels based on looks alone. You need to look at the weight. For such a low price I bet these offbrand wheels are heavy as hell... Note that they don't give the weight. Try to stick to the same offset also.

I've never heard of a 5x115 bolt pattern. The standard is 5x114.3mm which is 5x4.5"

 

[fbrdphreak]

They would not fit exactly and most people will tell you not to install them, even if they "fit." I would tend to agree - wheels are not something to half-ass.

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoBoltPatterns.dos

You should also go to the wheel manufacturer's site to confirm specs. Many wheel vendor sites seem to have inaccurate information, in my experience.

 

[zerocool84]

Go here:

www.tirerack.com


Look for wheels you like there then go look for cheaper prices elsewhere. Don't buy no name wheels if you actually care about your car. You can tell how cheap they are by the price. No way a decent quality 18" x 7.5" wheel will cost ~$100 each.

 

[Imported]

Wow.. Tirerack lists 5x115 too. I've never heard of the size before.

 

[angry hampster]

Do NOT get multilug-pattern wheels like those you posted. They look so damn cheap.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

At least you can get wheels OP. 5x108s with an appropriate offset are hard as hell to get for my LS >:|

 

[angry hampster]

At least you can get wheels OP. 5x108s with an appropriate offset are hard as hell to get for my LS >:|

Oh hey there another Iowa member. We are indeed few and far between.

 

[Howard]

The CTS does indeed use 5x115 and it may be a safety issue to switch over to the close 5x114.3.

I ended up with these wheels:

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Whee...odel=CTS&autoYear=2005&autoModClar=Base+Model

EDIT: Multi-pattern wheels do look cheap (unless there's a cap), and so do one-piece wheels with bolts around the periphery of the spokes.

 

[NutBucket]

That Elbrus looks like a Mercedes wheel....just sayin.

Personally, I like 3-piece wheels. Like this:

Of course, this is only one example. For every nice one, there's probably 50 that suck.

 

[Howard]

Bitch to keep clean. Also, HREs are probably not in his price range.

 

[Hyperlite]

That Elbrus looks like a Mercedes wheel....just sayin.

Personally, I like 3-piece wheels. Like this:

Of course, this is only one example. For every nice one, there's probably 50 that suck.

those wheels are like $1k a piece 😀

 

[NutBucket]

Lol, more thank $1k each IIRC😉 Just saying that some 3-piece wheels just work.

 

[CraigRT]

Too bad the CTS-V wheels don't work, those cars look effing awesome

 

[Throckmorton]

Why in the hell is GM using 5x115?? And why 6 lug on the V? The Viper is the only other car AFAIK with 6 lug wheels... all it does is make it impossible to get aftermarket ones. Or maybe that's exactly why they did it?

 

[T2urtle]

that CTS-V design if VERY common... however your bolt-pattern might not be... has the CTS always been that way? I've seen a LOT of older CTS in my area with aftermarket wheels.

 

[Howard]

that CTS-V design if VERY common... however your bolt-pattern might not be... has the CTS always been that way? I've seen a LOT of older CTS in my area with aftermarket wheels.

Always has been 5x115, but many people use 5x114.3 with an aluminum centering ring. Still, the studs need to bend.

 

[The-Noid]

OZ and BBS have always done me fine. I scratched a wheel hitting a piece of metal on the road with one of my OZ and they sent me a new inside piece (I want to call it a hub, but obviously it is not) of the 3-piece wheel. Local dealer was able to rivet it back together as a token of "customer appreciation" not sure many companies would do that in this day and age.