20 Inch Wheels on a Grand Prix??

I ran into a kid the other day at the speed shop. He was intent on putting aftermarket 20 inch wheels on his '98 GP GT and going a tire height (aspect ratio) of 35 or less?

Any rhyme or reason to this madness? Anyone care to weigh in on this issue?

It'll look pretty good, but it would be a bumpy a$$ ride. Another thing to consider is the tread life...it would be almost non-existing on that small of a tire.

My :2cents: .

It'll look pretty good, but it would be a bumpy a$$ ride. Another thing to consider is the tread life...it would be almost non-existing on that small of a tire.

My :2cents: .


I agree. What I'm wondering is can you get them to fit without any fender, suspension or hub modifications such as a spacer, etc. Although I haven't seen one personally with 20" inch wheels, I've heard of it being done. Of course, there are other considerations like trying to get as close to the original diameter and circumference to mininize speedo error and not drastically altering the final overall gearing to a disadvantage.
But I do realize that anything is possible but at what cost and benefit to include safety. Looks is one thing but whats the functional benefit.

For example what about this tire/wheel combination:

20" wheels with 8.5" width & P245/35R20 tires, V rated

I have heard of rubbing issues on anything above 18" but I guess anything is possible.

Personally, I think 20's would look rediculous on a GP.

I agree.........bigger is not always better. Not sure when or why this fad became popular. I've seen one GP on 20's and it looked pretty goofy.

Personally, I think 20's would look rediculous on a GP.

i agree too. I think 17 maybe 18 are perfect

18 would be the limit for me.

18 would be the limit for me.

Great feedback guys. Keep it coming. I agree that it must be some kind of fad probably started by the ricers. I'd consider 18" wheels with maybe ZR235/45R18 rubber as long no other mods are required. The diameter and circumference would be within 1 inch of original and the speedo error less than 1 mph. Plus there's still over 4 inches of sidewall meat.

there is a green GP GT here in town with 20" spinners and he goes thru tires like i change my underwear. but i was told that 19" would fit perfect with no problem by this rim and tire business here in my town! and yes u guys are right, those 20s on the prix are ungodly ugly! 20s=SUV's

I can tell you personally that 20s, even with a 30 or 35 MM profile are very dangerous to the struts and suspension of the car. Of course a tire shop may tell you they can put your 20s on... that is $$$ for them... I personally have 18 inch Enkei rims with 50mm profile tires and every tire shop i went to said that they would not recomend i put these on unless i were to ride a profile of 40 or less, which in my opinion looks dumb because you have so much open space in the wheel well. I had 1 inch of free space when the wheels were turned all the way in. There is no way 20s would be any good on a grand prix.... 18s max... and i can tell you.. if you do go to an 18 inch rim, make sure you get atleast a 45mm profile or less... my 50 is a bit to big.

I can tell you personally that 20s, even with a 30 or 35 MM profile are very dangerous to the struts and suspension of the car. Of course a tire shop may tell you they can put your 20s on... that is $$$ for them... .


If they dont want people complaining to them and giving them a bad rep, they will tell u if it will fit/if it dont! but im sure you can modify the suspension a lil bit to make the 20s fit good, but why would u want to do all that when u can just go down a size on the rim! If you have 20's on a Prix, you need to be slapped!

If they dont want people complaining to them and giving them a bad rep, they will tell u if it will fit/if it dont! but im sure you can modify the suspension a lil bit to make the 20s fit good, but why would u want to do all that when u can just go down a size on the rim! If you have 20's on a Prix, you need to be slapped!

:grinyes:lol. The idiot that sold them to 'em should be the one slapped. "Stupid is as stupid does".

:grinyes:lol. The idiot that sold them to 'em should be the one slapped. "Stupid is as stupid does".

I down sized mine to a 13"

Now my friend has some nice chrome 20s on his new model Monte Carlo..... they look so badass.... definatly a looker

i like 20s!

I think the fad started with Porsche and Ferrari putting 18" and larger wheels on production vehicles. I can hear people saying to themselves, "If the exotic builders do it, it must be cool." Never mind that the exotics have suspension that's designed to work with those wheels and have a very harsh ride.

20's were not designed for sport cars. Nothing larger than 18's
i rock these beautiful 17's! thats my 2cents

can not gat mey 97 to run need to locate key pass wire can not find was not on the new stering colum

help my 97 gp

I just bought 20 inch Rims and Spinners for my GT...no problems with them at all, looks beautiful!!! and by the way use 255/35/20 tires, work out much better....But i do understand everyone has their own taste in appearance...

bunkx9, just keep an eye on ur suspension later on, with 20s might cause faster wear and tear!

Finally, I've seen a Grand Prix GT in town sporting 20" wheels with super low profile tires. It really looks weird. I have no words to describe it other than that. :shakehead

Well here's 18" on a 1998 2 door GTP.
Not too bad.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/kustomkid54/18in_rims.gif

Well here's 18" on a 1998 2 door GTP.
Not too bad.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/kustomkid54/18in_rims.gif

Now that's cool! I can live with that. How about those Dunlops you mentioned in one of those other threads or Nittos and 18" inch wheels. Sounds like a winner to me. :bigthumb:

Plus looks like it might have an Eibach (Pro-Kit) lowering kit. I understand that it will all fit without any other mods to fenders, etc. to boot.

I own a 98 gtp, I have 20 inch rims and it handles and looks really nice, the thread 245/35/20 toyo tires and zinik sabini rim,fits perfect on car, no rub, no other hardware and gives a 1.5 lip. LOOKS HOT many compliments,and for those who say 18" inch under is better thats cuz they cant afford them "CHEAP HATERS". Oh and by the way i've had the tires for about a year and a half and they still have good thread and I even race once in a while, so if you aint got them, don't give your opinions!

I own a 98 gtp, I have 20 inch rims and it handles and looks really nice, the thread 245/35/20 toyo tires and zinik sabini rim,fits perfect on car, no rub, no other hardware and gives a 1.5 lip. LOOKS HOT many compliments,and for those who say 18" inch under is better thats cuz they cant afford them "CHEAP HATERS". Oh and by the way i've had the tires for about a year and a half and they still have good thread and I even race once in a while, so if you aint got them, don't give your opinions!

Have the money had them set up infront of my stock and hated the way they looked "Ghetto" But hey if it works for you good on ya but not for me and not for other members on this site. Everyone is intitle to an opinion and for you to call them "cheap Haters" As far as you still haveing tread left and you even race once in a while? I still run my stock 16 and between racing once in a while and all the stupid stuff I do like trying to break free the front tires with the trac control on I burn through tread pretty quick so Try to race something more then hopes and dreams.

I too have 98 GTP

I agree with GTPWarrior. Whether you go for 20" wheels has nothing to do about being cheap. For me I'd rather dump the money into real performance mods that give horsepower and improves ET. All I've gotten so far out of the thread is they look good or hot. But no one has explained the practical benefits. If I were a ricer I'd probably get 20" wheels and tires to go along with my new Tommy Hilfiger outfit.



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/lizzywiz/gtp.jpg
Thrasher CAI, DHP v1.0 PCM, SLP Headers,
3.25 SC pulley, CAIT GMAF, 2.5 DP/Hi-Flow CAT,
u-bend delete, 160 TS, ZZP Stage 1 72mm TB,
TB spacer, MSD 8.5mm wires, Autolite 103,
Goodyear Gatorback Serp. & SC Belt,
Nitto NT555R Drag Radials
1/4 ET: 13.210 sec. @ 104.490 mph
0 - 60 ft: 1.945 sec.

Well here's 18" on a 1998 2 door GTP.
Not too bad.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/kustomkid54/18in_rims.gif

i think you mentioned once "covered wagon" to this issue before..I stick with that. But hey, to each his own..

when i'm rich i'm going to buy a tractor with 40" rims so they'll be bigger than yours =p

i think you mentioned once "covered wagon" to this issue before..I stick with that. But hey, to each his own..

when i'm rich i'm going to buy a tractor with 40" rims so they'll be bigger than yours =p

lol. :lol2: This is what I got out of other forums on the 20" wheel issue.

Looks like a Fred Flintstone mobile....ya ba da ba doo!

The "SUV" look.

The "Choo Choo" train look.

The "pimp your GP" look.

Any other other analogies out there?



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/lizzywiz/gtp.jpg
Thrasher CAI, DHP v1.0 PCM, SLP Headers,
3.25 SC pulley, CAIT GMAF, 2.5 DP/Hi-Flow CAT,
u-bend delete, 160 TS, ZZP Stage 1 72mm TB,
TB spacer, MSD 8.5mm wires, Autolite 103,
Goodyear Gatorback Serp. & SC Belt,
Nitto NT555R Drag Radials
1/4 ET: 13.210 sec. @ 104.490 mph
0 - 60 ft: 1.945 sec.

You Know You Cant Afford Em. You Know You Dream About Them, So Stop Hattin With That Stock Look, And You Say Upgraded Engine, I Doubt You Can Even Afford That! And Dont Post A Picture Of Your Best Friends Upgraded Engine Either, By The Way Hillbilly Brothers Bnaylor,gtpwarrior,and Blurr87 Who Cares What I Dress Up In "trust Me It Aint That Sorry Tommy Wear"

The Zinik Sabinis look great on this Mercedes but I don't think they were intended for a Hillbilly driving a white trash Grand Prix. :lol2:

http://www.wheelstudio.com/gallery_popup.php?make=Mercedes&wheel_make=Zinik&wheel_model=Sabini&image=zinik_sabinibenz

He must be suffering from the thin air at high altitudes or jet fumes from Denver International.



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/lizzywiz/gtp.jpg
Thrasher CAI, DHP v1.0 PCM, SLP Headers,
3.25 SC pulley, CAIT GMAF, 2.5 DP/Hi-Flow CAT,
u-bend delete, 160 TS, ZZP Stage 1 72mm TB,
TB spacer, MSD 8.5mm wires, Autolite 103,
Goodyear Gatorback Serp. & SC Belt,
Nitto NT555R Drag Radials
1/4 ET: 13.210 sec. @ 104.490 mph
0 - 60 ft: 1.945 sec.

Yeah if you only knew how close to white I am, im MEXICAN/AMERICAN STUPID A@#! BY THE WAY IF YOUR GONNA CALL SOMEONE A NAME SAY SOMETHING ORIGINAL, BRAINLESS RED NECK! TALKING ABOUT BUYING A TRACTOR TO DUMP 40'S ON IT. THATS ONLY SOMETHING A FARMER BOY WOULD SAY. LAST I KNEW I WAS IN A CAR WEBSITE, SO STOP POSTING THE PICTURE OF THE CAR YOU WISH YOU COULD BUY! TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR COWS AND POST EM' ON YOUR REDNECK WEBSITE!ANYWAY STILL ROLLIN HARD, GTP ON 20'S! BALLER STYLE!

Noel380. You've made your point. Now move on with life. As long as you are happy with your 20" wheels/tires that's all that matters. Just keep in mind everyone is entitled to an opinion as long as its in satisfactory taste. No need for name calling or personal attacks and it violates forum rules. And just because you have them doesn't mean everyones poor or a redneck. I am a degreed engineer and can afford 4 cars in my household, one car belongs to my Mexican-American wife and another to my Mexican-American (Hispanic) son. Now just how redneck or hillbilly am I again???? Plus you should keep race out of any discussion.

If you are ever down El Paso way you are welcome to come out to the dragstrip and see my GTP perform. I get up to Denver to see relatives once a year. Its only an 8 hour drive. So, por favor, let's be cool.


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/lizzywiz/gtp.jpg
Thrasher CAI, DHP v1.0 PCM, SLP Headers,
3.25 SC pulley, CAIT GMAF, 2.5 DP/Hi-Flow CAT,
u-bend delete, 160 TS, ZZP Stage 1 72mm TB,
TB spacer, MSD 8.5mm wires, Autolite 103,
Goodyear Gatorback Serp. & SC Belt,
Nitto NT555R Drag Radials
1/4 ET: 13.210 sec. @ 104.490 mph
0 - 60 ft: 1.945 sec.

hahahahah thats funny