I am hoping to get an LTZ next week, but I had a couple of questions on snow tires. I just bought a set of steelies & winter tires for my Mazda 3. The tire size is 205/55/16. Does anyone know if I would be able to get a set of Steelies that would work on the Malibu, or will I have to buy a new set of steelies/tires? Thanks.

The LTZ runs 225/50-18 tires so I think your rolling diameter is going to be off a bit if you try to run the 16's.

the 3 is lug pattern 5x114.3 and the malibu is 5x110 so they will not fit

The LTZ runs 225/50-18 tires so I think your rolling diameter is going to be off a bit if you try to run the 16's.

Thanks, I was hoping I could just get another set of steelies with the correct bolt pattern and be good. Oh well. Is the car really that bad in the winter time?

Thanks, I was hoping I could just get another set of steelies with the correct bolt pattern and be good. Oh well. Is the car really that bad in the winter time?

no i don't think so. we didn't have issues getting around in teh snow and ice. as long as you have dealt with traction control before

My 4 cylinder Malibu came with 17 inch rims and you can get steel rims from Tire Rack to replace them for the winter time. I usually drive an All Wheel Drive (not 4 wheel drive) Tahoe with snow tires in the winter and the Malibu leaves a little to be desired. I will probably go with a set of steel rims and higher profile tires next winter. I have driven front wheel drive cars since 1973 and until I started going with all wheel drive vehicles in 91 I always ran snow tires on them. Snow tires make them king of the mountain in slippery weather. At speed (60 to 70 mph) in deep or slushy snow they can be more stable than all or 4 wheel drive as the back end isn't being driven.

Bill

The rolling diameter is going to be off a bit if you try to run on the 16's as because LTZ rund 225/50-18. More over comparing it with Madza 3 is lug pattern 5x114.3 and the malibu is 5x110 so they will not fit

http://www.iautobodyparts.com

There are lots of used SAAB 16" alloy rims on Craig's List. 215 60 16" snows are the same as OEM tires on the LS. The 110mm X 5 lug pattern is a perfect fit. No offset problems that I could observe in a winter of driving. Snow performance with four snows exceeded my expectations and was very good.

Well I decided to go ahead and buy a new set of Steelies/Snow tires. The pro's outweigh the cons, plus I probably will not need to change the tires for the life of the vehicle now. lol

Anyway I bout a set of 16" steelies with Firestone Winterforce tires. I can't wait for the first snow. :) $504 mounted & balanced, plus shipping.

Well I decided to go ahead and buy a new set of Steelies/Snow tires. The pro's outweigh the cons, plus I probably will not need to change the tires for the life of the vehicle now. lol

Anyway I bout a set of 16" steelies with Firestone Winterforce tires. I can't wait for the first snow. :) $504 mounted & balanced, plus shipping.

That looks like the tirerack.com price, but without TPMS sensors.

Does that price include TPMS sensors?

That looks like the tirerack.com price, but without TPMS sensors.

Does that price include TPMS sensors?

Yes, I got them from tirerack.com. I did not get the TPMS for 2 reasons. 1) I don't have the money and 2) They'll only be on for 4-5 months out of the year. I will check the pressure once or twice in that period and fill accordingly. I've never relied on the TPMS to begin with so I'll live with the warning light.

Yes, I got them from tirerack.com. I did not get the TPMS for 2 reasons. 1) I don't have the money and 2) They'll only be on for 4-5 months out of the year. I will check the pressure once or twice in that period and fill accordingly. I've never relied on the TPMS to begin with so I'll live with the warning light.

That is a good way to look at things. The TPMS isn't really necessary since these cars don't have run flat tires on them.

Bill

That is a good way to look at things. The TPMS isn't really necessary since these cars don't have run flat tires on them.

Bill


Exactly! TPMS are a convenience factor for people who would rather rely on technology than get off their lazy asses and check their tire pressure once a month.

To replace my OEM 17 inch wheels with 225-50-17 tires, I just bought 2007 Malibu 16 inch aluminium wheels as winter wheels with 215-60-16 Toyo Observe GO-2 Plus winter tires and new TPMS I bought on eBay. Here are before/after pictures

Before

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/1975/rouest2s.jpg (http://img22.imageshack.us/i/rouest2s.jpg/)http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/rouest2s.jpg/1/w640.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img22/rouest2s.jpg/1/)

After

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/5153/roueshiver2.jpg (http://img22.imageshack.us/i/roueshiver2.jpg/)http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/roueshiver2.jpg/1/w640.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img22/roueshiver2.jpg/1/)