New Owner of a 09 Vibe GT

[GMRedline]

I am picking it up tomorrow. I have to admit that I am pretty excited about it. One of my co-workers has an 03 Vibe and loves it. I have been eying up the Gen 2 since the day it came out. I need to figure out what to do about tires. The car for my fiance. She used to drive a 99 Olds Bravada AWD and like having the extra traction during these WI winters. My goal is to soften up the ride a little and improve winter driving. I basically have two options. 1. Get taller and better tires for the stock 18s2. Get a separate set of wheels and tires for winter. I was wondering what is the tallest tire that I can fit on the 18" rim and not have problems? I would prefer to keep the stock wheels and just replace the tires. How do you guys like the stock goodyears that come on the car? What do you guys think?

[09vGT]

Can't help with the tires.. but welcome!.. Nice choice on a GT. The wheels are one of my favorite parts of the car.

[KITT222]

Welcome to Genvibe! To address you questions:-Nobody on here likes Goodyear tires (they are often referred to as badyear)-I would suggest finding a set of steel rims to put winter tires on. 16" tires are cheaper than 18" tires, and you wont corrode your 18" rims. J_TO_ENVY has done that to both her and her mothers' GTs, and she likes it. Enjoy your stay!

[jake75]

Amazing - looking at that site that dealer group had 18 2009 GT's. Now 17 I assume unless he's been back at the auction.

[09vGT]

I've got Goodyear Eagle GT's on mine.. I took my factory wheels to the edge. I think I replaced tem at like 50K miles. I don't think the Eagles rae all that bad.. I mean.. they aren't quiet.. but I doubt thats all the tires fault.I don't have to worry about winter tires. It maybe snows 3-4 times a year here. So the ones on the car a sufficient.

[808 Vibes]

Welcome and congrats Sorry, I can't help with tires or rims...I still have my stock RSA's...not by choice...

[BLargal]

Welcome to the club i'm happy to see another 09 pontiac vibe GT around now . I myself for tires am going to save up to get these http://www.discounttire.com/dt...falseyes I know its a long link lol.

[themrfreeze]

Just bought an '09 GT myself, and had the same issue with you regarding snow tires. Ended up ordering a set of 16" General Altimax Arctic snow tires from TireRack mounted on some cheap MSW alloy rims. Originally ordered them on steel rims, but TireRack was sold out for the season, so they gave me a bit of a discount on the alloys. Not particularly cheap, but they came ready to put on the car, with all necessary lug nuts and hub adapters.One thing to keep in mind is that the GT use a different bolt pattern than some other Vibes (GT is 5x114 vs. 5x100), so used rims from another Vibe may not be compatible.

[kostby]

Welcome to GenVibe!

[enfield577]

Welcome!!! Nice to see another GT!I've had no problems with the stock Goodyears myself, except the previous owner had the back tires on the wrong sides (directional tread reversed). I don't know how long they were on this way - the car had about 8400 miles on it when I bought it. Now it has 21,000 and I've had no tire problems.We don't get enough snow here to need snow tires. The Goodyears work fine in the rain (we do get a lot of that here).Your GT will thank you for a K&N intake.

[vibenvy]

Quote, originally posted by GMRedline »I am picking it up tomorrow. I have to admit that I am pretty excited about it. One of my co-workers has an 03 Vibe and loves it. I have been eying up the Gen 2 since the day it came out. I need to figure out what to do about tires. The car for my fiance. She used to drive a 99 Olds Bravada AWD and like having the extra traction during these WI winters. My goal is to soften up the ride a little and improve winter driving. I basically have two options. 1. Get taller and better tires for the stock 18s2. Get a separate set of wheels and tires for winter. I was wondering what is the tallest tire that I can fit on the 18" rim and not have problems? I would prefer to keep the stock wheels and just replace the tires. How do you guys like the stock goodyears that come on the car? What do you guys think?Quote, originally posted by KITT222 »J_TO_ENVY has done that to both her and her mothers' GTs, and she likes it.Welcome to GenVibe! Always great to see another '09 GT owner join !I live in Illinois and my mom and I both have '09 GTs. The first fall after we purchased our Vibes, we got 16" steel wheels and tires for winter. In total, we paid about $500.00 total for four '07 Toyota Camry 16" steel wheel takeoffs (less than 2000 miles), four 205/55/16 Kelly Explorer all season tires and mounting and balancing. To me it is better to have an extra set of wheels and tires to put on during the winter. This will extend the life of your 18" tires, which can be rather expensive and it will also protect the gorgeous factory 18s which are also very expensive and hard to find in good condition. It will also mean when looking for tires to replace the factory Goodyears, you can get summer tires which will be cheaper than all season tires. Also, the extra wheels and tires come in handy. I ran over something in the road last April and whatever it was went straight through the tire and wheel (18s). Rather then having to drive around with the spare until the insurance came through with a new wheel and tire, I just tossed one of the winter wheels on and was good to go. I didn't have to worry about the speed and distance I was driving like I would have with the spare. If you don't do a whole lot of driving, a set of decent all season or winter tires will last you quite a few winters. I just rotated ours for the first time last month. We only put about 2000 miles on them last winter. You should be able to find some used Toyota steel wheels for a good price. Check Craig's List, eBay and car-part.com for starters.Personally, I don't have a problem with the factory Goodyear tires. They handle fine in the rain and on dry pavement. I have never driven with them in any amount of snow though so I can't comment on that.Quote, originally posted by themrfreeze »One thing to keep in mind is that the GT use a different bolt pattern than some other Vibes (GT is 5x114 vs. 5x100), so used rims from another Vibe may not be compatible.Yep. Easiest way to remember is this:2009 - 2010 2.4L = 5 x 114.3 (AWD, GT & 2.4L Base)2009 - 2010 1.8L = 5 x 100 (1.8L Base; same as all '03-'08 Vibes)Quite a few members on here, including myself, have gotten steel wheels from Toyota Camrys. Quote, originally posted by enfield577 »Your GT will thank you for a K&N intake. x2!

[GMRedline]

Thanks for all the warm welcomes. Right now I am leaning toward replacing the tires with a set of Hankook Optimo H727 215/55/18s.They seem to have very good reviews on Tire Rack.http://www.tirerack.com/tires/...+H727The increase in profile will increase the diameter by almost 2". I checked the clearance between the stock tire and the bottom of the strut plate and there appears to be over an inch of clearance. So I "think" they are going to fit. I really love the wheels that are on the car. But I got one of the famous 09 rentals and almost every wheels has a little bit of curb rash... Nothing horrible so I know I could repair them. Since this is going to be my finance's daily driver I probably won't be doing much modding to it. I already have my toy.

[tpollauf]

Quote, originally posted by GMRedline »2. Get a separate set of wheels and tires for winter. Definitely the way to go Welcome, and as I've said many times on this forum, ANOTHER 3rd Gen GT You'll have no regrets with this purchase As Carrie mentioned (J_TO_ENVY), several of us purchased Toyota Camry "take off" steel rims and then had a winter set of tires mounted on them. This will spare the original 18" alloys from the elements of winter driving AND give you a softer ride on the 16" steelies Again Welcome

[GMRedline]

The 09 is considered a Gen 3?

[lovemyraffe]

Quote, originally posted by GMRedline »The 09 is considered a Gen 3?Welcome to GenVibe!Yes, '09-'10 are a 3rd gen Vibe.1st gen = '03-'042nd gen = '05-'08

[Kincaid]

Is that official? Who decides these things? I never felt the very minor body changes from 2004 to 2005 were sufficient to call the 2005 a generation two vehicle. All the body architecture/structure is the same.But, I don't get to decide these things.

[Kincaid]

Oh! And welcome to GenVibe! Nice looking ride you got! I'd have had a black GT if the dealer had been willing to come down a bit more on the price.

[ponta2147]

Quote, originally posted by Kincaid »Is that official? Who decides these things? I never felt the very minor body changes from 2004 to 2005 were sufficient to call the 2005 a generation two vehicle. All the body architecture/structure is the same.But, I don't get to decide these things.I thought there was some difference in some of the drive mechanisms too...

[Kincaid]

Actually, I googled "second generation Vibe" and all the references were to the 2009 and 2010 models.So I will declare that there is no 3rd generation Vibe.First Generation - 2003-08Second Generation - 2009-10

[09vGT]

Quote, originally posted by Kincaid »Actually, I googled "second generation Vibe" and all the references were to the 2009 and 2010 models.So I will declare that there is no 3rd generation Vibe.First Generation - 2003-08Second Generation - 2009-10This is what I think too. The only major difference that I ever notice on the 1st gen Vibes would be the front fascia change. Before I bought one and surfed on here, I never noticed before. Just like my previous 'stang. They had made changed from the '99-'00 to the '01-'04 models.. Mainly headlamps, spoiler, wheels, radio, and instrument color changes. They don't consider this an addition generation either. Just updates.

[GMRedline]

Thanks.Gen 2 it is. I am 99% sure that I am going with the 215/55/18s. There is at least 1 1/4" between the tire and the bottom of the strut plate. Plenty of room. I found a thread on here with a guy who ran the same size on the Gen 1 but he did not have any pics. So I guess that means I will be the first to run that size on a Gen 2. I am going to sell the tires that are on the car to my cousin. They still have 7/32s left. In case anyone was wondering, the 215/55/18 is a stock size for a version of the Dodge Caliper. I think it will help fill the wheel well better too. I will make sure to post before and after pics.

[Kincaid]

The only caveat I'll give you is that if you go over 3% larger or smaller on a tire you start getting warnings about problems with brake failure. I believe it is related to the ABS and how the computer reads slipping.That said, I am currently running 3.1% larger on my daughter's Civic. She's not had any problems and others have reported using larger tires w/no problems, but then I'm not sure anyone has had to do any panic stops with these larger tires. I was a bit afraid the tire shop would refuse to mount the Civic tires because they were over 3% larger overall than stock, but they only warned about clearance issues.In fact, I'm planning on going myself from the stock 215/45-17 to 225/50-17 when the time comes. This is an increase by 4.8% in overall diameter (and it throws a warning on tire calculating websites like the one below).http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculatorThe above website is good because it will show up to four selections side by side w/the stock tire.Something interesting to note:The stock wheel on the GT is 215/45-18The stock wheel on the 2.4L is 215/45-17The GT wheel is 3.91% larger in overall diameter compared to the 2.4L. Which means if I put GT wheels onto my 2.4L the speedo would read about 2.5 mph lower. I am not sure if the GT (with its IRS) is lower, or if the speedo is calibrated differently. If not, this could explain why my car is about 3 mph slower than indicated at 60 mph.Anyway, just a word of caution for you on changing the tire size as you suggest. The stock GT tire has a sidewall height of about 96.52mm.If you go to the 215/55-18 you will increase the sidewall height to 118.11mm. Not a bad thing on its own but that is a huge difference. That should certainly give you a cushier ride. However, this is 6.23% larger overall diameter compared to stock, so those brake warnings might mean a little more. Also, when your speedo says 60 mph you'll actually be doing closer to 56.2 mph.If you went to a wider tire w/out such a large increase of the profile, say 225/50-18, you'd still increase the sidewall profile to 112.26mm, the overall diameter would go to 4.62% larger and the vehicle speed would be about 57.2 mph at an indicated 60 mph.

[GMRedline]

Thanks for the advise. We just got back from a 200 mile round trip and the ride quality is not as bad as I first thought. So there might not be such an immediate need to replace the tires. I would got with a wider tire and smaller profile but I would rather go with a skinner one for better traction during the winter. But there are no tires available from 205 / 45-65 / 18. And those skinny tires might look weird on the 18" rims.I am pretty sure I am going to stick with the 215/55/18s. If they do not work out I will probably sell the tires and try something else. I am also thinking about powder coating the wheels. The scratches are too much for me to look at everyday even though I am not the one driving the car. I really like the way the wheels are finished now. I really don't want to change it...

[TONY TAT2]

Hi BTW,I still have the org GY'S on mine,went thru the winter with em,some major snow storms etc,no problem.

[GMRedline]

I am just throwing this in this thread so I don't forget.http://www.weathertech.com/sto...=2009

[Kincaid]

lol, I do that sometimes myself - makes it easier to find sometimes.

[vibolista]

Nice looking ride! GT always looks great in black. Save your 18s for Summer and let the Winter salt and sand eat some other lesser set of wheels. Winter will really beat up your alloy rims. Curb rash is nothing compared to what they will end up looking like after a couple of tough Winters.I'm a snow tire fan. Currently running as set of 215/55 16 Blizzaks. They measure out very close to a 205 width and give me a little extra ground clearance. If I did it again, I would get a 215/60 16 to add another inch of road clearance to the car. Summer's are 215/50 17s... the ones you see on my sig. I changed them out that day. I just wanted a Winter pictures with my summers on... in my driveway. I drive quite a few miles on snow during Winter... to ski and work, too. No comparison in performance. Summer and "all Season" tires do a great job in Summer and most of them are usually pretty quiet. Winter tires are generally a little noisier, but they grip a lot more when it gets dangerously slick. Way safer.After a few years, it comes out OK on price, too. My summers are not getting chewed up right now and the alloys stay in excellent shape. They're taking it easy hanging around in the garage, not getting sand blasted and rock pitted every day. Next month they get to go back on the car and it's the Winters turn to get a break for several months. With those breaks, each set only does about a half a year's worth of driving, so you wont need new tires quite as often. Having 2 sets of wheels also allows you to change the wheels and tires anytime you need to. Mother nature can be pretty quirky sometimes. It takes me about an hour make the change, including clean-up. It can also be done much faster if needed. The good thing right now is we are at the end of Winter (Spring actually starts Monday 21 March) so take it easy if the snow falls again. You might squeak by without snow tires 'till next Winter! Show us what you end up doing to repair your wife's 18" alloys. Welcome to the Vibe forum.

[GMRedline]

WeatherTech Protection Package - Plus with DigitalFit floor mats, Cargo Liner and Side Window Deflectors has been ordered. Also, 215/55/18 Hankook Optimo H727s ordered. I am looking at a OEM Roof Rack and Thule bike racks.

[GMRedline]

Here is my two year update.

The Vibe is still running great. Today I replaced the 215/55/18 Hankook tires with 225/40 Goodyear Eagle F1 All seasons. I bought the Eagles for my ION Redline but then decided to put them on the Vibe. The 215/55s were too tall. I don't recommend anyone run them. I installed 5mm spacers and kept the air pressure at 44psi but I was still not able to turn the wheel all the way to either side without the tire hitting some where in the fender. Got sick of dealing with... And the Hankook tires performed fairly well the first winter but really sucked this past winter. I guess that is what you get with a tire that has a 100k mile warrenty. The tires still have a ton of tread on them so I should be able to sell them pretty easy.

So we bought the car with just under 36,000 and it now has 69,800. The shop that changed my tires said I needed new brakes and rotors and they would gladly do it for $600. Yeah "okay", not. I pulled the wheels off and sure enough all the pads where pretty well worn. Rotors looked fine so I took them to O'Reilly's to get turned. The guy behind the counter said there was plenty of metal left. Brakes are a nice and easy job on this car. With new pads I won't have much more then $100 into the job.

On an unrelated note, the ABS light has been turning on and off for the last couple of months. A quick search indicated the problem is most likely a bad ABS sensor which might be covered by the powertrain warranty. I need to do a little more digging...

I installed a trailer package last summer which we use to hall wood and gas up to the lake.



Overall we have been very happy with the Vibe. I hope the next 30,000 miles are as enjoyable as the last!

[vibenvy]

Nice to see an update from you and hear that the Vibe continues to treat you well!

[Mazzy21]

Welcome! I just bought an '09 black GT myself. Is yours black or dark grey/charcoal?? It's hard to tell for sure in the pic. Mine too had just under 36,000 miles - weird. lol And I agree with the person who commented about the dealer not wanting to come down on the black. It was down right painful to haggle over the black!!

Anyway, sounds like you're still enjoying it so glad you are liking your move to a Vibe!!

PS - My car came with four new tires, Goodyears but honestly I will very likely just keep them through the winter. It would be nice to get snow tires but I feel like this GT, with the little bit of extra weight it has and the better handling than my 1st gen, will be okay for winter. Maybe I will regret that during the first snow storm but I'm holding out hope for now.

[GMRedline]

Welcome! I just bought an '09 black GT myself. Is yours black or dark grey/charcoal?? It's hard to tell for sure in the pic. Mine too had just under 36,000 miles - weird. lol And I agree with the person who commented about the dealer not wanting to come down on the black. It was down right painful to haggle over the black!! Anyway, sounds like you're still enjoying it so glad you are liking your move to a Vibe!!

Mine is black. Actually you should not be real surprised about the similarity of the miles on our vehicles. A large majority of these 2009 Pontiac Vibes started their life as fleet or rental vehicles. Esp these GTs. Mine was a rental and most likely yours is too.

We are enjoying it but it's not like we are in love with it. I also own a 2006 Saturn ION Redline Superchaged and a 2012 Buick Regal Turbo. The Saturn has a ton of power and the Buick is powerful and luxurious. Technology wise, the Vibe is dated similar to vehicles made in the early to mid 2000s.

The enjoyment we get from the Vibe is based on value and versatility. It gets good gas mileage, it has the cargo space of a small SUV, and drives pretty well. It is very average compared to other vehicles made in 2009.

PS - My car came with four new tires, Goodyears but honestly I will very likely just keep them through the winter. It would be nice to get snow tires but I feel like this GT, with the little bit of extra weight it has and the better handling than my 1st gen, will be okay for winter. Maybe I will regret that during the first snow storm but I'm holding out hope for now.

That is the way to go. I basically installed the factory tire back on the car so I know what to expect from it. I have a set of 17" winter wheels and tires I run on the Saturn. I think I am going to sell the wheels and get some 17" wheels for the Vibe since I don't drive the Saturn during winter that much anymore.