17" steel wheels on a 2009 vibe?

[vibedrivermatt]

Hello genvibers, I'm interested in acquiring some 17" steel wheels for my 2009 vibe. The internet searches I've been doing have turned up some results but I'm hoping to get some feedback from the wheel experts on this.Why would I want 17" steel wheels you may ask? Well, to put it simply, I kinda prefer the way my car handles with 17" inch wheels over 16". I have a set of 17" alloys that I use in the summer as well as OEM steel wheels which get put on the car in the winter. I miss the handling confidence I feel with the 17" alloy wheels. The 17" wheels have less sidewall and are also a half inch wider @ 17"x7. To put a long story short I'd love to get a set of 17" steel wheels (hopefully cheaply) so that they could be fitted with winter tires for my vibe. I think the Toyota Rav4- 17" steel wheel will work according to wheel specs from a person on siennachat.com. specs17"6.5"rim profile: J bolt pattern: 5x4.5"/114.3mmcentre bore diameter: 60.1 mmI think this wheel will work. Id sure like to know that offset tho. Call me out if Im being lazy and not doing enough homework . What do you guys think?

[star_deceiver]

Don't see why that wheel wouldn't work. You'll probably want to get spacers for the center bore.I find that it's not so much the extra sidewall that contributes to the sloppier handling but rather that (on mine anyways) soft rubber, excess sipes, open tread blocks, studs, all contribute to a 'less tight' grip in cornering on dry roads. Even at 40psi. Not to mention, of course, that aggressive cornering will quickly wear that soft rubber!

[vibenvy]

Ugh... my 16" steelies weigh a ton... I can't even imagine how much 17" steelies would weigh .

[vibedrivermatt]

Ah thanks. I can see how all of those contributing factors would give 16" wheels poorer performance. Quote, originally posted by J_TO_ENVY »Ugh... my 16" steelies weigh a ton... I can't even imagine how much 17" steelies would weigh .oh tell me about it. One time I weighed my 17" alloy enkie wheels w/tires and found out they were heavier than my 16" steelies w/tires. about that hub bore and spacers, I had thought the 09 vibe had the same hub bore as the rav4 at 60.1mm. I just ran outside and tried to put a ruler up against my steel wheel to measure. It looked to be right around 60mm. Maybe I can find this information in the vibe service manuals. Does anybody happen to know the hub bore of the wheels for the 09 vibe?

[vibenvy]

According to this auction on eBay, the 2009-2010 Vibe hub bore is indeed 60.1mm. The offset on the 18" GT wheel is +39. And it appears that it too has a "J" rim profile...

[vibedrivermatt]

Quote, originally posted by J_TO_ENVY »According to this auction on eBay, the 2009-2010 Vibe hub bore is indeed 60.1mm. The offset on the 18" GT wheel is +39. And it appears that it too has a "J" rim profile...ah, thanks your awesome! I was just flipping through my vibe manuals looking for the hub bore for thw wheels to no avail. Its gotta be in there somewhere tho anyways, I think. I dunno what "J" rim profile is tho.

[vibenvy]

You're very welcome ! Glad I could be of help. If you go with the 17" steelies, be sure to keep us posted and of course post pictures !