I noticed on the 2008 Cobalt it had 5 lug wheels instead of the 4 lugs it started with. Why the change? The same thing happened with the Venture minivan, from 5 to 6! The Cadillac SRX did the same thing. Is it for safety? Parts commonality? Just for the Hell of it? What gives?

I think 5-lug wheels are still only available on Cobalt 2LT and Sports, the lesser models still have 4-lug wheels.

Not sure, but it really annoys me how GM are replacing alloys with "fascia spoke" steels.

'07 HHR LT1

'08 HHR LT1

http://www.imagehostplus.com/v2/is.php?i=1405324

Those '07 and '08 wheels look pretty much the same..they changed the spokes slightly?

At least they look better than the old steelies....

At least they look better than the old steelies....

+1

I'm happy and not happy at the same time about these new fascia spoke wheels. This is because I have two problems with hubcaps.

1. They're ugly because typically it's obvious that they're two sets of wheels hiding one another

2. They stick out past the tire and so you scrape them on the curb if you get too close when parking (vs. rims where the tire sticks out further to protect the rim)

Fascia spoke wheels address #1 but not #2.

True about #2 but I guess that part of the idea is that if you scratch them up they are cheaper to replace than alloys and better looking than nasty hubcaps.

vs. rims where the tire sticks out further to protect the rim

not always... and I have the scratches to prove it.

Not sure, but it really annoys me how GM are replacing alloys with "fascia spoke" steels.

I don't think their intention is to replace alloys with steel wheels, but to add some syyle to base model steel wheels by making them look like alloys.

True about #2 but I guess that part of the idea is that if you scratch them up they are cheaper to replace than alloys and better looking than nasty hubcaps.

+1

not always... and I have the scratches to prove it.

true, I see a G6 once a week or so with the 17inch or 18 inch chrome wheels looking like it absolutely hit a curb, or the like, it's scraped on one spoke about 3-4 inches arcoss the whole spoke.