Deep in your heart... are the 18" rims the way to go on the GT?

[RLittle]

So why not buy 19s with more sidewall, if higher sidewalls is what you want?

That is what I am doing.
245/40-19

 

[MerlintheMad]

That is what I am doing.
245/40-19

Changing the outside diameter will mess with the speedometer and might have other more negative effects on the electronic tech. Kia warns not to change the size of the tires/wheels, i.e. the od.

 

[Metalmania82]

Kia says the limit on the A/S 18" wheeled set up is 130, not 137.

My digital display read 134 when it maxed out

 

[MerlintheMad]

My digital display read 134 when it maxed out

And @Salman said he got his up to 170, so the limiter is apparently on the generous side; which only makes sense; Kia can't claim a top speed and have the limiter prevent a car from quite reaching it.

 

[POS VETT]

Changing the outside diameter will mess with the speedometer and might have other more negative effects on the electronic tech. Kia warns not to change the size of the tires/wheels, i.e. the od.

I believe another reason is the collision avoidance system needs the transceiver in the same spot. I know that Toyota warned against fitting their pickup trucks with a lift kit and oversized wheels and tires due to changing the position of the transceiver; even so far as warning against installing TRD PRO grille on a non TRD PRO truck.

 

[Metalmania82]

Anyone interested a straight trade, my 18's for someone's 19's?

 

[Billy M]

20”s or bust

 

[CaliSting]

18s are best performance wheels, lighter rotating weight. Also slightly shorter diameter tire if chosen will make car faster off the line too.

 

[Bauser]

I agree 18's are a great fit for the car. Yes there is still snow on the ground but this is my summer setup.

Fastco FC04 Wheels
Continental Extremecontact DWS 06 Tires
Front:
18x8 +30 with 235/45r18's
Rear:
18x9 +40 with 265/40r18's

 

[Kamauxx]

Yes... the 19" rims look cooler. Yes... they have better performing tires for summer use. I've seen several threads about pothole damage and 19" rims... likely because of the thinner profile rubber. When you add it all up... are the 18" rims with the all season tires the way to go? Year round use... I'm assuming that they also have a nicer ride too due to the thicker sidewall size. Weigh in... what do you think?

No.

Because you can change the size of the sidewall with tires that better suit your needs. I have 20" wheels with nearly the same sidewall as the stock 19s. Thicker sidewall also hides a bit of wheel gap too.

If you want the 19s but are worried about damage just sell the stock tires and replace them with something that has more sidewall.

Edit: just noticed it's been mentioned already. Just bypass this.

 

[Kamauxx]

That would throw off the speedo.

You're talking a 1 to 2 mph difference at 80mph.

The difference won't get you any speeding tickets that you didn't already have coming.

 

[GRStinger]

Updating since my last post on this thread @ end of Jan. Closing out the winter (finally!) with my set of winter wheels & tires. I've had 'em on since mid-Nov and I've been really pleased with my setup - the TireRack recommendation - Michelin X-Ice with a 'lower-end' set of Sport Edition steel wheels (in black for a winter wardrobe change). A tough winter, even for us. I D/D on a mix of country, suburban and urban roads. All kinds of winter this year: deep snow, snow-after-ice, ice-after-snow - you name it. The Stinger has been a champ. I pull past a lot of 4x4's all the time with total confidence. Besides all the other stuff I like about it, this might be the best passenger-car I've ever had in winter. That said, it finally looks like snow-tire season is done. No snow in the 10-day forecast, and if it holds I'll be putting the A/S's back on next weekend. Those OEm Bridgestone's are just OK tires, so I'm sort-off looking forward to replacing them with a more performance-oriented tire. As many miles as I drive, that might be by late summer.

 

[MerlintheMad]

it finally looks like snow-tire season is done.

Same here. I think that tomorrow I'll make an appointment to get my Michelins and "summer rims" put back on.

 

[Socalstinga]

I ended up picking up a set of 20s but because of the width of the tires I ended up having the same sidewall height as the 19 oem. I have already hit a few potholes w/ my 19s and they’ve held up well. As for the joints and bearings, that’s going to end up an issue later, no different from any of my other cars. Shit roads, what can you do...

 

[SavageVariant]

You're talking a 1 to 2 mph difference at 80mph.

The difference won't get you any speeding tickets that you didn't already have coming.

I've done the math. But that sort of thing still bothers me.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I've done the math. But that sort of thing still bothers me.

Yes. It's one thing to take possession of a brand new car and expect the speedometer to be off by less than 1 mph. But to knowingly bump inaccuracy to 2 mph because you modified the OD of the wheels and tires says something about what you will compromise in the name of "fashion".