are 20" rims dangerous?

[busta9]

Hello,

I am looking to buy 20" rims for my 1996 Oldsmobile Aurora.
From what I have read on all the forums I need 20"x8.5" with a Z rated tire 245/35R20

On all the websites that sell rims and tires they only go up to 18"x7.5" wheels for the aurora.
Are 20" rims dangerous? Will these 20" wheels cause any damage to my car or risk while I am driving?

[Letitroll98]

Although a 245/35R20 would be ok with an overall diameter of 26.75 in, a better choice would be 255/35R20 with a 27.02 in overall diameter, much closer to the stock height of 27.10 in. The 255 will fit just fine on the Aurora, and as long as you properly match overall height, there will be no problems with the TC sensors.

Try this web site for comparisons on tire sizes. Just plug in the stock size on the top boxes, and compare any size for compatability. www.1010tires.com/tiresizecalculator.asp

Edit: Make sure you get the proper size lug spread of 115x5. The proper offset will vary with wheel width, but you don't get much more of a choice than FWD vs RWD anyway. 8" or 8.5" width will be fine for 255 tires.

[busta9]

Thanks for the response and the link. I will go with the 255/35R20

[betonthis1]

no they are not dangerous. i have a 96 with 20's with 245/35 20's. the only reason why they dont list it higher is they use the plus size calculation where they try to equal the tire size of the stock wheels and tires. so the bigger size wheel, the smaller the tire. it also affects the speedometor i believe but i had a friend drive next to me and have him read off the speeds and mine matched.

[busta9]

thanks for the info. I was hoping the speedo didn't go off too much. Sweet ride. My Aurora is the same colour as yours.

[JimW]

Maintaining overall tire height of 27" is quite important, staying within 10% of that number +/- will not greatly affect the vehicle over the long term.

Its not so much the tire height, but the rolling distance, the transmission is calibrated based on that linear rolling distance, any major increase or decrease of said distance will impact not only the speedometer (which is digitally tied into the tranny) but the gearing as well.

Which leads me to believe there is a big difference between the programming between the Autobahn and non Autobahn equipped Auroras.

[Mr. Javi]

You'll be perfleclty fine doing 20's, they fit on the Classic Aurora like a glove, also good choice with the 255/35's that's what I had on my Aurora.

[Snoman002]

Just remember that the bigger wheels will slow your car down some, give a harsher ride and increase stopping distance. A good tire will help out with the ride and the stopping some, but rolling acceleration will still suffer some. I seriously doubt that the difference in acceleration will that noticable though.

I'm not at huge fan of 20's, thats just my opinion, but if you go with them I serously doubt that they will be "unsafe".

[Mr. Javi]

[Snoman002]

javidogg said:

[Mr. Javi]

snoman002 said:

javidogg said:

[busta9]

thanks for the help. I will be getting 20's for sure now. I just thought it is weird the online sellers do not straight out advertise the 20" wheels for Auroras. I will post some pics when I get them. Thanks

[Mr. Javi]

Well this place has them listed for the Aurora's
[ftp]http://superbuytires.com/[/ftp]

You can see this link for the Aurora years.
superbuytires.com/v/Oldsmobile/Aurora/

[busta9]

Thanks for the link javi. They have a huge selection.

[20inchaurora]

20 inch rims are definately safe. definately go with the 255's for tires, that was my mistake. all the wheel shops in my area were scared to mount the 20's on my ride, everyone didnt think it would fit, so they made me go with one of the smallest tires at the time, 245/35/20. it seems that everyone else with 20's in here went with the 255s, and i really wish i did! would fill up my wheel wells a bit better, and would also give it a smoother ride. One word of caution....watch out for potholes!!! very dangerous...i know from experience

[busta9]

what happens if you hit potholes? Do the low profile tires get damaged easily?

[20inchaurora]

with extremely low profile tires (like with a 20 inch wheel), you are going to have nearly no tire at all in between the wheel itself and the road...maybe about an inch and a half at best where the tire touches the road. The problem with these low pros is that, you have nearly no tire to cushion the ride of the car. it gives you a harsher ride, and also, there is less tire to protect the wheel itself, which leads to the fact that it is mch easier to bend a wheel

[scottydl]

20inchaurora said:

with extremely low profile tires (like with a 20 inch wheel), you are going to have nearly no tire at all in between the wheel itself and the road...maybe about an inch and a half at best where the tire touches the road. The problem with these low pros is that, you have nearly no tire to cushion the ride of the car. it gives you a harsher ride, and also, there is less tire to protect the wheel itself, which leads to the fact that it is mch easier to bend a wheel

That's a good explanation of the risks of have 20's... so to answer the original question, the rims won't be unsafe to the car's traction control and handling, but they might be unsafe to themselves (more prone to damage due to the low-pro tires)!

[busta9]

Thanks for all the help guys. You have hepled a lot.

[johnj1277]

I have 22inch rims on my 2001 Aurora and I dont have any problems. So I know u can do 20's

[johnj1277]

The pics aint the greatest. But heres 22's on a 2001 aurora

[betonthis1]

wow, nice.

[Letitroll98]

I really like the look of all that plate on John's car, but I'm afraid 22" would just be way too much wheel for me. Lighter weight and more cushin in the pushin for me. Maybe 18" tops.

[scottydl]

letitroll98 said:

I really like the look of all that plate on John's car, but I'm afraid 22" would just be way too much wheel for me. Lighter weight and more cushin in the pushin for me. Maybe 18" tops.

Agreed... I'd maybe look into 20's on a full-size truck or SUV, but not a sedan or smaller. But hey, to each his/her own; variety is what makes the world interesting! ;D

[Mr. Javi]

johnj1277 said:

The pics aint the greatest. But heres 22's on a 2001 aurora

That's looks nice, nice job on that. I know you can do 22's on the Classic as well.

Very nice choice on the wheels by the way, I see that wheel design is becoming quite popular.

Zenetti Heir
DUB Moab
Lowenhart LDR
Dolce C+12
Drag DC1

But if you were to ask me which one I like best it would have to be the Lowenhart's,
that name is well known, especially for their BMW accessories.

[betonthis1]

javidogg said:

johnj1277 said:

The pics aint the greatest. But heres 22's on a 2001 aurora

That's looks nice, nice job on that. I know you can do 22's on the Classic as well.

Very nice choice on the wheels by the way, I see that wheel design is becoming quite popular.

Zenetti Heir
DUB Moab
Lowenhart LDR
Dolce C+12
Drag DC1

But if you were to ask me which one I like best it would have to be the Lowenhart's,
that name is well known, especially for their BMW accessories.

Yeah I love Lowenharts. expensive as hell but really classy. i havent seen any classic's with 22's. i would of went to 22's if i known that.

[Rora99]

do your rims stick out at all with those dub dueces?

[eweath]

javidogg said:

johnj1277 said:

The pics aint the greatest. But heres 22's on a 2001 aurora

That's looks nice, nice job on that. I know you can do 22's on the Classic as well.







your positive 22sa fit classics with no rubbin if so i will get some i want 22" spoke chromes maybe somethin else oh i hope they fit with no rubbin thanks, eric
Very nice choice on the wheels by the way, I see that wheel design is becoming quite popular.

Zenetti Heir
DUB Moab
Lowenhart LDR
Dolce C+12
Drag DC1

But if you were to ask me which one I like best it would have to be the Lowenhart's,
that name is well known, especially for their BMW accessories.

[eweath]

sorry my ? went in the middle of the post i was wonderin if 22 fit classics with no rubbing

[Mr. Javi]

eweath said:

your positive 22sa fit classics with no rubbin if so i will get some i want 22" spoke chromes maybe somethin else oh i hope they fit with no rubbin thanks, eric

Yup, they will fit, just have then test fit them for you and you'll see that they fit,
just don't think about having 3 persons in the rear seat with the 22's.