[L-T-Z]

Will these tires fit my stock '08 LTZ?

BF Goodrich g-Force Super Sport A/S 245/45ZR-18 96W BSW

 

[Silver LTZ]

Will these tires fit my stock '08 LTZ?

BF Goodrich g-Force Super Sport A/S 245/45ZR-18 96W BSW

Specification Diameter Revs/Mile
225/50-18 26.9in 0.0%
245/45-18 26.7in -0.7%

Pretty close overall diameter, your speedo will only be off a tad. At the boarder for width for the OEM wheels though.

 

[RaineMan]

What on earth do you need Z rated tires for? This isn't a sports car.

 

[Silver LTZ]

What on earth do you need Z rated tires for? This isn't a sports car.

I have Z rated tires too. The OEM Goodyear LS2's tires are total junk, and a speed rated tire will help with the handling and they are made better due to being able to maintain higher speeds and the heat that comes with it. Nothing wrong with upgrading tires if he wants to. I changed the tires on my old G6 GTP to Z-rated tires when the time came, in the OEM size, and it made a nice improvement in handling. Not to mention they usually look better.

 

[RaineMan]

What's wrong with the OEM tires? I've got close to 5000 miles on mine now, including a 2200mi trip... they seem to be holding up just fine.

Absolutely nothing wrong with changing the tires... but he is going to pay big bucks for Z-rated ones when the car and the type of driving it is intended for don't require them at all.

I see a lot of things like this on the board. People, if you wanted a sports car you should have bought a sports car. Malibu is a family sedan. Sure, the V6 model is relatively quick, but no amount of bolt ons or modifications are going to change the fact that you are driving a car made for quiet freeway cruising and not for slicing through the twisties or ripping up the quarter mile.

Dress it up for show all you want, but money put towards improving performance might as well be flushed down the drain.

 

[Silver LTZ]

What's wrong with the OEM tires? I've got close to 5000 miles on mine now, including a 2200mi trip... they seem to be holding up just fine.

Absolutely nothing wrong with changing the tires... but he is going to pay big bucks for Z-rated ones when the car and the type of driving it is intended for don't require them at all.

I see a lot of things like this on the board. People, if you wanted a sports car you should have bought a sports car. Malibu is a family sedan. Sure, the V6 model is relatively quick, but no amount of bolt ons or modifications are going to change the fact that you are driving a car made for quiet freeway cruising and not for slicing through the twisties or ripping up the quarter mile.

Dress it up for show all you want, but money put towards improving performance might as well be flushed down the drain.

The Eagle LS2's are far well liked or good tires. Try a search on here or Google especially. They have many, many issues. This was my second car with them, both were removed in less then a year. ZR rated tires are not much more then "regular" tires either, if you shop around they can be the same or less. And even if you plan on driving your Malibu as intended the ZR tires will offer better handling, which anyone would want, and they are made better as well. Not to mention many are made for rain performance too, which adds safety. Adding my 20" performance tires made a HUGE difference in the way the car handles, and steers. Making it more fun AND safer to drive. While I agree the Malibu is far from a performance car, and I have a near 500 HP Camaro to take care of that, I like to mod my cars and improve their performance. So do some others on here. Furthermore, the guy asked if they will fit, not if you think he should get ZR tires or not. If you disagree, that is fine, just try not to be so negative about it. It gets old.

 

[ChicagoMalibu2009]

What's wrong with the OEM tires? I've got close to 5000 miles on mine now, including a 2200mi trip... they seem to be holding up just fine.

Absolutely nothing wrong with changing the tires... but he is going to pay big bucks for Z-rated ones when the car and the type of driving it is intended for don't require them at all.

I see a lot of things like this on the board. People, if you wanted a sports car you should have bought a sports car. Malibu is a family sedan. Sure, the V6 model is relatively quick, but no amount of bolt ons or modifications are going to change the fact that you are driving a car made for quiet freeway cruising and not for slicing through the twisties or ripping up the quarter mile.

Dress it up for show all you want, but money put towards improving performance might as well be flushed down the drain.

He may not be buying them specifically for the speed rating. Now that car max speeds across the board (not chevy) are getting higher and higher, the speed rating is going up tire mfg wise and the prices aren't being hit that much. In our stock size you'd be pressed to find something lower rated that a H in our size that is a decent tire. A good tire from a ride perspective would likely be a V. His W Max Z's that he is proposing are only 2 steps higher than an H.

I wasn't at all concerned about the speed rating because I don't go near 130, much less near 110, and 90 is pretty much my comfy max, but it can't hurt when you'r driving 75 all day to know that your tire can handle that much more... and I wound up with a V. One step off the tire he is proposing. And they are nice, my stock tires were too as they were the hankook but I am using winter steelies with my stock for now(eventually winter tires) and bought the V humho tires with my current "summer" wheels.

 

[L-T-Z]

Ok guys.... here is the deal. I live in Germany. We are cruising at 120 mph on the Autobahn on a daily basis. That is normal over here. I say 120 because thats as fast as it will go. I do know that my car is a family sedan. That is irrelevant. We still get passed like we are standing still by European spec station wagons. More times than not, the road conditions are wet and in the winter there can be a little snow on them. I have done loads of homework on tires. I am looking for a good all-season tire that will perform well for me at 120 mph. These fit the ticket nicely. I am aware that other speed rated tires will work also, but Z rated all-season tires will give me absolute confidence for our driving style. Not to mention they look good. While I do appreciate all of the input, I know what I want. I am simply concerned with fitment.

 

[RaineMan]

Ok guys.... here is the deal. I live in Germany. We are cruising at 120 mph on the Autobahn on a daily basis. That is normal over here.

Now see... you should have said so in the first place. That puts a whole different spin on things. Z-rated tires are a must for those kinds of speeds.

 

[DrivenDaily]

And fatter tires mean a larger contact patch which means better grip in any condition at those speeds. (OK, remember you guys, I qualified that with "at those speeds". If he's in drifing snow he won't be doing 120, right?)

I priced some Michelin uni-directional tires at Costco a couple of weeks ago. Right around $800. (Sorry, forget the model name.) What brand are the ones you're considering, and are you willing to share the cost?

 

[L-T-Z]

BF Goodrich g-Force Super Sport A/S

$660 from Discount Tire Direct

 

[Silver LTZ]

I priced some Michelin uni-directional tires at Costco a couple of weeks ago. Right around $800. (Sorry, forget the model name.) What brand are the ones you're considering, and are you willing to share the cost?

That's alot. If you shop around you can do better, heck I got my 245/35-ZR20's from Discount Tire Direct for about $500 shipped. And they are high rated Falkens.