Those damn 20" wheels again.

19120 Views 37 Replies 16 Participants Last post by tforkner, 11 mo ago

jonjonbear

Discussion Starter · Aug 20, 2017 (Edited)

Hello all and happy Sunday!
Thought I would pop back in to see if there has been any activity about the noisy rough tires. Factory 20" wheel package with the stock Bridgestones. I am at a dilemma trying to decide whether I want to risk spending a lot of money for the same size tire I in a different brand, or putting smaller rims and new tires. Seems like this car comes with 17s, 18s and the 20s. My BIL has a Charger with 245/45/20 tires(mine are 245/40/20). Parked side by side it's obvious he has more rubber between the rim and tread. I physically measured his tires against my wheel wells and I'm afraid it might be a problem with clearance. Was wondering if anyone has tried this size or any other? I know a fella here changed his to Pirelli and liked them better. Been thinking also of ditching these wheels and tires and buying a refurbished set of LTZ wheels in a smaller size. I love the midnight edition wheels but they are over double the price. I'm just tired of the rough ride and noise. Less concerned about the handling. Figure I should be able to Craigslist these 20s just turned 28k mostly Highway miles. Any suggestions or stories most appreciated.
Cheers,
John
PS, anyone know how much of a big deal it is to have the car re-progammed to a different tire size?

21 - 38 of 38 Posts

impaler

· #21 · Sep 13, 2017

Post pics up of the wheels when you get them installed please.

jonjonbear

Discussion Starter · #22 · Sep 13, 2017

impaler said:
Post pics up of the wheels when you get them installed please.

Are yours chromed factory wheels? If so, did you have them done or did you buy them like I'm doing? They look great!

impaler

· #23 · Sep 13, 2017

No they are wheel skins. They fit the factory wheels like a glove. I've had them almost a year now and they have held up great, still like new.

More info here http://www.impalaforums.com/chevy-impala-9th-gen-discussion/1466313-drool-drool-3.html#post3040169

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jonjonbear

Discussion Starter · #24 · Sep 13, 2017

impaler said:
No they are wheel skins. They fit the factory wheels like a glove. I've had them almost a year now and they have held up great, still like new.

More info here http://www.impalaforums.com/chevy-impala-9th-gen-discussion/1466313-drool-drool-3.html#post3040169

Oh I saw those somewhere online. I was really pissed they didn't have them to fit the 20" wheels. Indeed they look just like chrome wheels, at a fraction of the price i'm sure. Great look on that car. Hope our car looks that good with the new wheels.

jonjonbear

Discussion Starter · #25 · Sep 13, 2017 (Edited)

Here's the stock photo of the wheel and tire.
I'll take pictures of the car before and after once they get here and I get them on. I think I'll take it for an alignment and they can program the new TPMS sensors at the same time.

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jonjonbear

Discussion Starter · #26 · Sep 22, 2017

Here's a teaser..Got the wheels in, they are beautiful. Put them on last night and drove the car to Austin this morning and it's like a completely different car. I think I traded it for a LaCrosse! Here's a picture of the wheels next to the car. I'll post a picture later of them on the car. The only thing I don't really care for is the center caps. They are chrome, but the Impala emblem is a decal. Good quality, but still a decal. I suppose it's the only way they can get chrome caps, since chrome was not an option so they had to do something. Got almost all the way to work before the car realized it had different tires on it and the light came on. Have to take it to Discount to buy the road hazard warranty and get them to zap the TPMS sensors.

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jtrosky

· #27 · Sep 22, 2017

Very nice - I also like the wheel style much better that your stock wheels (not a fan of those stock wheels at all). And the chrome just makes them that much nicer. It's a shame they don't make wheel skins for those wheels - would have given you the same result for MUCH less $$$ - plus some other benefits... But "it is what it is"

Sent from my Hi10 pro using Tapatalk

impaler

· #28 · Sep 23, 2017 (Edited)

Wheels look beautiful!
Yea the stickers on those centercaps do kinda stick out. Try putting the stock centercaps on and see how it looks. I know the stock ones ain't chrome but they still look good against chrome I think.
I'd actually like to paint my bowtie black. I can't find any chrome ones with black bowties.

jtrosky

· #29 · Sep 23, 2017

You can buy "blank" chrome center caps (they aren't cheap - about $50 for a set of 4) and then buy and apply vinyl bowtie emblems to the blank chrome center caps. I did exactly that with the charger wheels on my 8th gen (instead of having "Dodge" chome center caps!). There is a company (can't remember the name off-hand) that makes blank chrome center caps for a bunch of different wheels.

If interested, let me know and I'll look up the details and take pictures of mine so you can see what the end result looks like. I went with black 'outline' bowtiw emblems, but you can also get solid black bowtie emblems.

Sent from my Hi10 pro using Tapatalk

impaler

· #30 · Sep 23, 2017

I'd rather have the molded in bowties myself. The stickers just don't look as good to me.

jonjonbear

Discussion Starter · #31 · Sep 27, 2017

jtrosky said:
You can buy "blank" chrome center caps (they aren't cheap - about $50 for a set of 4) and then buy and apply vinyl bowtie emblems to the blank chrome center caps. I did exactly that with the charger wheels on my 8th gen (instead of having "Dodge" chome center caps!). There is a company (can't remember the name off-hand) that makes blank chrome center caps for a bunch of different wheels.

If interested, let me know and I'll look up the details and take pictures of mine so you can see what the end result looks like. I went with black 'outline' bowtiw emblems, but you can also get solid black bowtie emblems.

Sent from my Hi10 pro using Tapatalk

These are blank chrome caps with vinyl bowties, but are the bowties you are talking about nicer? They really do look better in person, you can't really tell they are decals unless you're down there cleaning them. I'll post some pix on the car.

jonjonbear

Discussion Starter · #32 · Sep 27, 2017

3

Here's the car with the wheels installed.

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Reactions: 5

StImpala00

· #33 · Oct 11, 2021

jonjonbear said:
Hello all and happy Sunday!
Thought I would pop back in to see if there has been any activity about the noisy rough tires. Factory 20" wheel package with the stock Bridgestones. I am at a dilemma trying to decide whether I want to risk spending a lot of money for the same size tire I in a different brand, or putting smaller rims and new tires. Seems like this car comes with 17s, 18s and the 20s. My BIL has a Charger with 245/45/20 tires(mine are 245/40/20). Parked side by side it's obvious he has more rubber between the rim and tread. I physically measured his tires against my wheel wells and I'm afraid it might be a problem with clearance. Was wondering if anyone has tried this size or any other? I know a fella here changed his to Pirelli and liked them better. Been thinking also of ditching these wheels and tires and buying a refurbished set of LTZ wheels in a smaller size. I love the midnight edition wheels but they are over double the price. I'm just tired of the rough ride and noise. Less concerned about the handling. Figure I should be able to Craigslist these 20s just turned 28k mostly Highway miles. Any suggestions or stories most appreciated.
Cheers,
John
PS, anyone know how much of a big deal it is to have the car re-progammed to a different tire size?

I have the same car except its a 2015, I get vibration on the highway. I figured I had a bent wheel but after reading this thread I'm wondering if it's because of the bigger wheels?

salter

· #34 · 11 mo ago

I realize this is an old thread, but has anyone found a 20" A/S or Summer tire that gives you a quiet ride. My 2019 Impala Premier with the 20" Bridgestone Potenza's is starting to roar from tire noise at 20K. I am considering Michelin Primacy A/S tires when they are back in stock, but would like to hear from any other options folks have found. TIA.

KeithB

· #35 · 11 mo ago

Yes. I use Pirelli P7 all season Plus II. Very quiet and great handling.

BobD

· #36 · 11 mo ago

Try the General G-Max AS05 tires. I have only 1,000+/- miles on them, but am very happy with the Generals vs. those noisy OEM Bridgestone Potenzas which had only 18,000 miles.

hisstory32

· #37 · 11 mo ago

Hate the 20" wheels and rims.. I live in the Midwest, the land of snow and potholes. Never had a car with so much rim rash. I want to put 18" on. I like Michelins. We put a set on my wife's XTS...
Problem is finding a nice looking set of 18" rims.
I found a set online, company said they would fit.
I talked to a distributor say no.. looking for machined black...lol

tforkner

· #38 · 11 mo ago

I bought these and shod them with 235-55/r18 tires. Thay work out to the same circumference as the 245/40/r20s and about 3/4 of an inch narrower. They work great, much nicer ride. It seems they're out of stock now. They were for a while before I bought mine, though.
2014-2020 Chevy Impala Wheels | 2014-2020 Chevy Impala Rims (wheelership.com)

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