I will have my 2003 CTS in the next few days. I know I want to put some rims on it but I am not sure what to look for or where. I think that 20's will look good... so when shopping, what do i look for? I know that i need a 5 x 115 bolt pattern. Does it matter if the rims are FWD or RWD? And what is the offset all about? Can anyone give me some links to some good places to buy rims online? Sorry for all the questions, im new at this sorta thing.
(also thinking of a new grill, dash trim, Navigation/dvd if u have suggestions)

Thanx -- Sarah :o

I will have my 2003 CTS in the next few days. I know I want to put some rims on it but I am not sure what to look for or where. I think that 20's will look good... so when shopping, what do i look for? I know that i need a 5 x 115 bolt pattern. Does it matter if the rims are FWD or RWD? And what is the offset all about? Can anyone give me some links to some good places to buy rims online? Sorry for all the questions, im new at this sorta thing.
(also thinking of a new grill, dash trim, Navigation/dvd if u have suggestions)

Thanx -- Sarah :o
it doesn't matter whether the wheels were designed for fwd or rwd long as the offset matches

As long as you get 20x8.5 with 245/35/20 tires you will not rub. If you lower your car after that its a coin toss if you rub or not.

I will have my 2003 CTS in the next few days. I know I want to put some rims on it but I am not sure what to look for or where. I think that 20's will look good... so when shopping, what do i look for? I know that i need a 5 x 115 bolt pattern. Does it matter if the rims are FWD or RWD? And what is the offset all about? Can anyone give me some links to some good places to buy rims online? Sorry for all the questions, im new at this sorta thing.
(also thinking of a new grill, dash trim, Navigation/dvd if u have suggestions)

Thanx -- Sarah :o

HiYa Sarah, :welcome: to the Forum:D :yup:

Wheels to start with. First I'd go to www.thetrierack.com (http://www.thetrierack.com/) . They have a model of the CTS that you can change to your body color and see how all their rims look on your car.

If you're not car savy I'd stay away from the 20" wheels. Wheel clearance can present problems. To make the taller wheels look right you need to think about lowering the car which may also bring new issues.

What I elected to do was use the same size as on the CTS-V. I have 18" x 7.5 rims, 40mm offset and Pirelli 245x45x18" tires. My car is Raven Black so I picked black rims with polished lip and center. That's enough to get you started and maybe you'll have more questions.:p

HiYa Sarah, :welcome: to the Forum:D :yup:

Wheels to start with. First I'd go to www.thetrierack.com (http://www.thetrierack.com/) . They have a model of the CTS that you can change to your body color and see how all their rims look on your car.

If you're not car savy I'd stay away from the 20" wheels. Wheel clearance can present problems. To make the taller wheels look right you need to think about lowering the car which may also bring new issues.

What I elected to do was use the same size as on the CTS-V. I have 18" x 7.5 rims, 40mm offset and Pirelli 245x45x18" tires. My car is Raven Black so I picked black rims with polished lip and center. That's enough to get you started and maybe you'll have more questions.:p

Hey Rob does your wife know you are this nice to all the girls that come to the forum?

Going with 20's without lowering looks good to me go to http://www.cardomain.com/ride/799038 and look at the wheels I had on lower in the page. In those pictures the car was not lowered and I had no clearance or rubbing issues.

Hey Rob does your wife know you are this nice to all the girls that come to the forum?

Going with 20's without lowering looks good to me go to http://www.cardomain.com/ride/799038 and look at the wheels I had on lower in the page. In those pictures the car was not lowered and I had no clearance or rubbing issues.

Come on Marine, I'm nice to all the new comers.:yup:

You know Tomm had rubbing issues with 18" rims and 245x45x18". So I was trying to keep her out of trouble. And you know the stories about unuasual tire wear and the need of bigger brakes for 20" tires that Pete talks about. Hell, maybe Sarah knows more about cars than I do?:histeric:

Come on Marine, I'm nice to all the new comers.:yup:

You know Tomm had rubbing issues with 18" rims and 245x45x18". So I was trying to keep her out of trouble. And you know the stories about unuasual tire wear and the need of bigger brakes for 20" tires that Pete talks about. Hell, maybe Sarah knows more about cars than I do?:histeric:

Well he had 245's and I put 235's with the 20's. I think my breaking power is just fine. I honestly think Tomm's issue is a shock issue.

Well he had 245's and I put 235's with the 20's. I think my breaking power is just fine. I honestly think Tomm's issue is a shock issue.

Tomm's is only one tire rub. I think it's sheet metal issue. I don't want to confuse Sarah with weight and the dynamics of larger wheels. I was trying to keep it simple. You're a Marine and fearless!:D Almost as tough as the Green Berets.

Well I think im gonna go with 20's, I really like the larger rims. My car is going to be Black on Black with the luxary package. When you say 20 x 8.5 what is the 8.5 for? How do i know what the offset is and what should it be? Once i get all this finished ill put some pics up on cardomain. Im driving a 2001 Silverado right now and it has 22 inch spinners, but i just went to a local shop and told them what i wanted. Im looking to go cheaper though... so im trying to do it myself. Thanks for all your help guys, I know i will have a ton of questions in the next few weeks, Im really excited about it though!

Thanx
Sarah :thumbsup:

Well I think im gonna go with 20's, I really like the larger rims. My car is going to be Black on Black with the luxary package. When you say 20 x 8.5 what is the 8.5 for? How do i know what the offset is and what should it be? Once i get all this finished ill put some pics up on cardomain. Im driving a 2001 Silverado right now and it has 22 inch spinners, but i just went to a local shop and told them what i wanted. Im looking to go cheaper though... so im trying to do it myself. Thanks for all your help guys, I know i will have a ton of questions in the next few weeks, Im really excited about it though!

Thanx
Sarah :thumbsup:

8.5" is the width of the rim. An old rule of hand is an inch of rim for each inch of tread width.

Spinner huh? :bling:

Well I think im gonna go with 20's, I really like the larger rims. My car is going to be Black on Black with the luxary package. When you say 20 x 8.5 what is the 8.5 for? How do i know what the offset is and what should it be? Once i get all this finished ill put some pics up on cardomain. Im driving a 2001 Silverado right now and it has 22 inch spinners, but i just went to a local shop and told them what i wanted. Im looking to go cheaper though... so im trying to do it myself. Thanks for all your help guys, I know i will have a ton of questions in the next few weeks, Im really excited about it though!

Thanx
Sarah :thumbsup:
Go with the 20s. BTW Welcome to the forum and what city are you in?

Well he had 245's and I put 235's with the 20's. I think my breaking power is just fine. I honestly think Tomm's issue is a shock issue.

How can it be a shock issue if the tire does not fit in the wheel well? I only have 1 3/4" clearance from the tire to the lip on the well and hitting a bump should cause a dip of 2" or possibly more? What is the maximum that a shock is supposed to compress?

Go with the 20s. BTW Welcome to the forum and what city are you in?


Thanx.. im in Hattiesburg MS, u? What percent tint is that on your car? They just passed a law here, has to be factory or 35%. :bigroll:

As long as you get 20x8.5 with 245/35/20 tires you will not rub. If you lower your car after that its a coin toss if you rub or not.

Wait 245 or 235, u just told Sarah to get 245's and then u mentioned u mounted ur 20's with 235's?? I just want to clarify cauz I'm in the same boat has her. I dont know ish about rims, tires, offsets, etc...

I myself plan to go with 19x8.5" rims with 245/35/20 tires, think I may run into a problem???

The pic is of the rim's i'm currently considering...
1st is an Ace Trends rim (38mm offset), 2nd is Asanti 115's (not sure of the offset)..

Wait 245 or 235, u just told Sarah to get 245's and then u mentioned u mounted ur 20's with 235's?? I just want to clarify cauz I'm in the same boat has her. I dont know ish about rims, tires, offsets, etc...

I myself plan to go with 19x8.5" rims with 245/35/20 tires, think I may run into a problem???

The pic is of the rim's i'm currently considering...
1st is an Ace Trends rim, 2nd is Asanti 115's..

At one time I thought about 19" but was very disappointed at the tire selection.
I'm particular about the brand. You may want to look into that.

You didn't proof your post. You can't put 245x35x20" on a 19"x 8.5" rim. It won't hold air.:D

Oops, meant 245/35/19, lol...
I'm not so much worried about the brand of tire all that much because my rims and tires will only be on about 5 months out of the yr, maybe 6 depending. I plan to switch back to my stock rims and tires for the winter.
At Wheelmax.com this is the selection of tires they gave with the rim choice (ACE Trend rim) http://www.wheelmax.com/tire_list.asp

Wait 245 or 235, u just told Sarah to get 245's and then u mentioned u mounted ur 20's with 235's?? I just want to clarify cauz I'm in the same boat has her. I dont know ish about rims, tires, offsets, etc...

I myself plan to go with 19x8.5" rims with 245/35/20 tires, think I may run into a problem???

The pic is of the rim's i'm currently considering...
1st is an Ace Trends rim (38mm offset), 2nd is Asanti 115's (not sure of the offset)..

With a 38MM offset you might have a problem. The lower the offset the further out the wheel sits in your wheel well. I have learned alot between all of the problems I have run into with my own rims and my suggestion would be to find an offset around 42mm to 45mm. I have tried 51mm offset and the wheels were to close and I had issues. I now have rims with a 40mm offset and the rear wheels are too far out and rubbing. :annoyed:

what is the stock offset?? I have an 03 CTS with the base 16" rims...

Wait 245 or 235, u just told Sarah to get 245's and then u mentioned u mounted ur 20's with 235's?? I just want to clarify cauz I'm in the same boat has her. I dont know ish about rims, tires, offsets, etc...

I myself plan to go with 19x8.5" rims with 245/35/20 tires, think I may run into a problem???

The pic is of the rim's i'm currently considering...
1st is an Ace Trends rim (38mm offset), 2nd is Asanti 115's (not sure of the offset)..

I apologize it was a typo in my part go with 245-35-20 when I said 245 early I meant that tomm had 245-45-18 so get a 245 tire 35 series 20. also go with 40mm offset and you will be fine. Also tire brand is very important unless you want to end up with titties sticking out on your tire out of nowhere. Go with Nitto prefferably or pirellis is my second choice.

Just a quick observation but if Marine is fine runnin 20" with a 40mm offset but Tomm is having trouble with a 40mm offset could it be with the CTS.. Meaning maybe during manufacturing some componets came out a bit different, so some CTS's my have problems where others dont?? I'm surprise (& concerned) Tomm is having trouble with a 40mm offset.

Worring about the offset really can limit ur choice in rims..

what is the stock offset?? I have an 03 CTS with the base 16" rims...

Stock offset is 51mm but with a 7" Rim. When the rim gets wider for example a 8" rim with the same 51mm offset the wheel center stays the same but the rims now sticks out 1/2 more on each side. The lower the offset the further out the rim goes.

Just a quick observation but if Marine is fine runnin 20" with a 40mm offset but Tomm is having trouble with a 40mm offset could it be with the CTS.. Meaning maybe during manufacturing some componets came out a bit different, so some CTS's my have problems where others dont?? I'm surprise (& concerned) Tomm is having trouble with a 40mm offset.

Worring about the offset really can limit ur choice in rims..

Well he is running 45 series tires meaning they are thicker but I would guess since they are only 18's and not 20's that would make up for it. I think his fender lip is just wider than normal. Before I lowered my car I had a total of 4 different 20's all where 245-35-20 40mm offset. I had 3 Dvinci's and 1 set of Lexani's