2013 Chevrolet Impala New rims and tires

IMPALAWYATT

MEMBER
2013 CHEVROLET IMPALA
3.6L
V6
2WD
AUTOMATIC
20,000 MILES

I have a 2013 chevy impala LT and I would like to put 20 to 22 inch rims on it. Flashy yes I know, but I was told that I need to reset the computer for the speedomiter to read the larger tires. Now keep. In mind that I would also like to put it on low profile tires. I live in the north so they would only be on during the summer. I was also told that I would need to adjust the suspension to be taller, just need a good opinion on all of this. I also want to put a cold air intake on it and whatnot but I need help with the tires and rims explination.

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,737 POSTS

What are you trying to accomplish with a cold air intake system? The purpose, other than putting money in the pockets of the people who sell them, is to condense the air so more can be packed into the cylinders, then the Engine Computer adds more fuel. The rest of us do that by pushing further on the accelerator pedal. The only time there's an advantage with this system is at wide-open-throttle. How often will you be driving on a racetrack?

Also, liquid fuel doesn't burn. It goes out the tail pipe, wasted. The purpose of the intake manifold is to warm the air so the fuel will vaporize. It has to be a vapor to burn. Why do you want to defeat that?

As for the wheels and tires, I have a really long reply about why that's a very bad idea, and it could get you involved in a court case when the other guy is at fault for a crash. I'm on a different computer right now due to a major house fire, so my replies are going to be sporadic. Let me know if you want me to paste a copy of that information, but for now, I think those large wheels look really stupid. You have a nice car. Don't screw it up.

Ask the wheel and tire salesmen about ride height and how it affects the suspension geometry, alignment, tire wear, braking, handling, and "scrub radius". If they give you a dumb look and don't know how those things will affect you, find a different store. As a suspension and alignment specialist, I would never alter those things.