BIG news here is that Commodore SS now runs on 18-inch wheels and tyres as standard, raising its grip and turn-in capability at the expense of some ride comfort.

VY SS sedan joins Monaro and most HSVs by wearing 18-inch alloy wheels as standard, in this case new-design five-spoke 18 x 8.0-inch alloys with directional Bridgestone Potenza RE040 235/40 ZR18 tyres.

While S sedan and SS ute models continue with 17-inch alloys, and the new SV8 model also gets new-design 17-inch items (but with inferior B530 Bridgestone rubber), SS now betters its opposite numbers at Ford with XR6 Turbo and the forthcoming XR8 both employing 17-inch wheels as standard.