I have a 2010 Malibu 2LT on order (white diamond tri-coat, sunroof, body side mouldings). When I originally ordered, I had requested the optional 18" wheels. GM has since removed the 18" wheel option on the LT's, so I am stuck with the 17's.
That being said, I am looking at either 19's or 20's aftermarket wheels and tires. I am looking for feedback on either size. My thoughts:

19's - probably a better ride over the 20's, but tires on average are more expensive
20's - ride harsher, but are slightly less expensive (go figure).

Any insight is greatly appreciated.

No more 18's on the 2LT? I saw a few on my local lot with the 18's this past week....part of the V6 package has always been 18's.

As for the wheels, I had the same 19/20 issue. It came down to wheel selection. As you will see the 5x110 bolt pattern is rare and not to many choices are out there unless you want super chrome "ghetto" wheels, which are not my cup of tea. Also as you said, you can get 20" tires cheaper due to a much larger selection. The ride off the 20's (at least with my tires) honestly is not to much different from stock. A little stiffer, but I like that. And the steering response and handling is much improved. I have had mine for about two months and love them....


http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q118/SSINISTR_SS/Picture012.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q118/SSINISTR_SS/Picture008-1.jpg

hey silver, i noticed that you removed your chevy badges, how did you do it? is it just stuck on?

hey silver, i noticed that you removed your chevy badges, how did you do it? is it just stuck on?

Chevy badges? The bowties are still there, do you mean the GM badges behind the front wheels? If so, yes I removed them with a hair dryer....

ohhhhhhhhh, in your first pic it looks like your bowtie is gone lol

ohhhhhhhhh, in your first pic it looks like your bowtie is gone lol

Just the refection LOL, I wish they could easily be removed. I am debating painting them silver though.

18'' wheels are still available but you must ordered the V6 package. Not available with the 4 cyl.

Recently, I saw many times OEM Malibu 18'' wheels set on eBay for around $400. and you can get Chrome LTZ wheels for around $650 with exchange at www.uswheelexchange.com


http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6291/malibu18.jpg (http://img515.imageshack.us/i/malibu18.jpg/)http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/malibu18.jpg/1/w484.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img515/malibu18.jpg/1/)

Nice! i'm sticking with 18's on mine, don't care for the look of 20/22's, look like wagon wheels on the Mali :D this place would plate mine for $500.
http://www.calchrome.com/

Brossard,

I did think about the factory wheels. But my thought was I would likely be spending $1k (wheels and tires) on the same wheels and tires that all LTZ's have or spend $1300-$1500 (wheels and tires) for aftermarket larger wheels (19,20's). I want the car to stand out a little from the rest.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

Brossard,

I did think about the factory wheels. But my thought was I would likely be spending $1k (wheels and tires) on the same wheels and tires that all LTZ's have or spend $1300-$1500 (wheels and tires) for aftermarket larger wheels (19,20's). I want the car to stand out a little from the rest.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.
Totally agree, and chrome looks horrible and cheapens the car. The 18's are too small for the wheel wells on the Malibu. Even Bob Lutz says he would have liked to have had 19's on the LTZ to fill up the wheel wells more. Not to mention I think the LTZ wheels are pretty ugly, and I wanted those horrible LS2's off the car.

Best of both worlds :D
http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/7943/imageipz.jpg
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/3272/80662178q.jpg[/IMG
[IMG]http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/5981/imagescaqzbuc1.jpg

Best of both worlds :D
http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/7943/imageipz.jpg
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/3272/80662178q.jpg[/IMG
[IMG]http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/5981/imagescaqzbuc1.jpg

Poor car, my first car was actually a '86 Cutlass 442. Looking at those make me sick....:eek:

Gotta agree with you Silver :(

what size tires are on those 20s? fixin to get me some. thanks!

Does anyone know where on this site we can ask for photoshop requests? Many sites have experts that can chop in wheels on cars to see how they look.

I want to chop these wheels (19") onto a white diamond (or white) 2008+ malibu.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y264/tygriff/ADRpropulsion-silver.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y264/tygriff/ADRpropulsion-hyperblack.jpg

Thanks,

I guess I'm crazy but I like my 17's with the "chrome" wheel covers, everybody thinks they are wheels, even I did, a bought the car and took it home, the next day when I was cleaning the "wheels" they moved all the sudden and I was like wtf? and then realized they were covers!!!!! lol I know, I'm retarded. I was totally new to the new malibus so I had no idea

Does anyone know where on this site we can ask for photoshop requests? Many sites have experts that can chop in wheels on cars to see how they look.

I want to chop these wheels (19") onto a white diamond (or white) 2008+ malibu.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y264/tygriff/ADRpropulsion-silver.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y264/tygriff/ADRpropulsion-hyperblack.jpg

Thanks,

I can help you out with that request, but I would need you to get me a pic of the car (high res if possible) and better pics of the wheel (maybe mounted on a car and similar in position as the car you want it chopped on). Let me know.

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/9810/malibusig.gif

El,

Thanks. Since I don't have the car yet, I searched for the largest pic I could find. See below and see if you can work with this:

Thanks,

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y264/tygriff/ADRpropulsion-silverlarge.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y264/tygriff/Malibuleftside-cream.jpg

Here you go.
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss190/elcompalaline/Malibuleftside-cream.jpg

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/9810/malibusig.gif

Thank you very much sir!!!

I like!!!

No more 18's on the 2LT? I saw a few on my local lot with the 18's this past week....part of the V6 package has always been 18's.

As for the wheels, I had the same 19/20 issue. It came down to wheel selection. As you will see the 5x110 bolt pattern is rare and not to many choices are out there unless you want super chrome "ghetto" wheels, which are not my cup of tea. Also as you said, you can get 20" tires cheaper due to a much larger selection. The ride off the 20's (at least with my tires) honestly is not to much different from stock. A little stiffer, but I like that. And the steering response and handling is much improved. I have had mine for about two months and love them....


http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q118/SSINISTR_SS/Picture012.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q118/SSINISTR_SS/Picture008-1.jpg

I was reviewing this thread and read how you said steering response and handling is quicker and stiffer. Would you say you feel more comfortable taking faster turns because it grips better because the tires are wider as opposed to the stock rimes and tires? I ask this because there are roads around me that are windy and it would interesting and fun to have a little better handle and not have to brake as much when going in to them.
Thanks

I was reviewing this thread and read how you said steering response and handling is quicker and stiffer. Would you say you feel more comfortable taking faster turns because it grips better because the tires are wider as opposed to the stock rimes and tires? I ask this because there are roads around me that are windy and it would interesting and fun to have a little better handle and not have to brake as much when going in to them.
Thanks

The difference is handling and steering feel was huge. The Malibu has horrible steering feel to begin with, but the 20's helped a lot. It wasn't so much the wheel upgrade that made the difference, it was the high performance tires that made the biggest difference. Once I got the Speed3 and gave the Malibu to the wife I sold the 20's and put the stock wheels and tires back on. When I drive the car now it feels so mushy and unresponsive compared to how it was. The fact that I drive a Speed3 and Camaro SS I'm sure amplifies this though.

Does anyone know where on this site we can ask for photoshop requests? Many sites have experts that can chop in wheels on cars to see how they look.

I want to chop these wheels (19") onto a white diamond (or white) 2008+ malibu.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y264/tygriff/ADRpropulsion-silver.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y264/tygriff/ADRpropulsion-hyperblack.jpg

Thanks,

I have wondered what these wheels would look like on a Malibu for so long!! You can get 19" black ones for around $500 shipped brand new on eBay!!

Here you go.
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss190/elcompalaline/Malibuleftside-cream.jpg


Oh NO!! I can't see :(

Any chance you still have the picture??