Hi, new XT5 owner here. I have a 2017 premium luxury with the 20” tires. Wondering if I would void the warranty or cause any problems by going with an 18” tire like the basic and luxury trims have? I called Cadillac and got the expected canned response. Any info would be appreciated along with brand recommendations for winter tires. Thanks in advance.
XT5 Winter tire size
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
As long as the new wheels have the correct offset and bolt diameter - plus correct brake caliper clearance - and the new tires have the same outside diameter as your existing/original tires there should be no problems at all.
Engine/speedo/transmission calibrations depend on staying close - within 0.25" - to the original tire outside diameter.
Compare tire specs in www.tirerack.com.
A smaller OD tire rolls more revolutions per mile - higher speedo readings.
A larger OD tire rolls less revolutions per mile - lower speedo readings.
Engine/speedo/transmission calibrations depend on staying close - within 0.25" - to the original tire outside diameter.
Compare tire specs in www.tirerack.com.
A smaller OD tire rolls more revolutions per mile - higher speedo readings.
A larger OD tire rolls less revolutions per mile - lower speedo readings.
Get some 18" Cad wheels and 235/65R18 tires and you should be just fine. The key to maintaining speedometer accuracy is matching turns per mile as shown on the tire specs. They match. Think the Magnuson Moss Act puts the burden of proof on the manufacturer if it claims your modification somehow caused a warranted defect.
2020 XT5, AWD Platinum, Garnet Metallic, 20" Ultra-Bright
Joined
·
2,761 Posts
Do you have FWD or AWD? If AWD, be sure to buy all four at the same time to avoid any concern about additional wear on drive-line components because tires differ in tread depth or outside diameter. Keep track of the position of tires on the car when making the seasonal changes so you can rotate positions the following season using the recommended rotation pattern. If FWD, you may want to consider buying four so as not to create unequal wear on half of your Summer tires.
My question would center around, where you live that you think the stockers with AWD can't handle. If you are up in the Rockies that's probably prudent to get some dedicated snow and ice tires like Blizzaks - that are very good purpose built tires for extreme winter conditions.
However, we get pretty rough winters in Chicago, with single storms dropping up to 2 foot of snow each year, and I've never encountered any situation that the GM AWD SUV platforms cannot handle very well.
Getting a dedicated set of tires is a costly expense that might not be needed. Also, you have to deal with finding the room in the garage to store these over the remaining 3 seasons. And lastly, they wear very fast on dry pavement as the temps moderate.
However, we get pretty rough winters in Chicago, with single storms dropping up to 2 foot of snow each year, and I've never encountered any situation that the GM AWD SUV platforms cannot handle very well.
Getting a dedicated set of tires is a costly expense that might not be needed. Also, you have to deal with finding the room in the garage to store these over the remaining 3 seasons. And lastly, they wear very fast on dry pavement as the temps moderate.
I agree. My AWD goes through these Michigan winters without a hitch. Once the bottom starts dragging due to the depth a different tire wouldn’t matter without a lift kit.
Michelin Defender LTXs on the Mercedes 4WD platform took me over the Cascade passes many a ski season. Had to have chains just in case the Highway Patrol ordered or even checked. These were smaller rims. By repute, the wider rims like the 20"s are lousy in the snow and the Patrol even said they don't belong in the mountains after a BMW spun out with consequences. I'd get the 18" rims, put on the M & S rated all season tires and sell the 20"s on Craigslist.
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
