Winter tires size consensus?

[Boris3]

So winter is coming and while the ZHP will see limited duty during Wisconsin's worst snow days I'd still like to get the car out on the road when roads are plowed, things are reasonably dry though still pretty cold. The 03 Tundra gets used during the worst of it.

I've been reading through multiple threads here and see folks with all sorts of winter setup options. There is a set of mounted 205/50/17 on 17x7.5 et40 for sale local to me but that seems pretty narrow compared to the OEM size and since I won't be out in deep snow. So for those running 17s during the winter what is your preferred set up? 205/50/17, 225/45/17, other?

Thanks and apologies if I've missed the thread that covers the question.

[Oli77]

Generally, the narrower, the better in the snow. Smaller foot print is best. I run 215s for my winter setup (45R 17) and I have never been stuck. Don't see what would be wrong with 205s.

Greatest issue that stops me is the height of the snow, since my road out of the neighborhood never gets plowed.

[Newjack]

Generally, the narrower, the better in the snow. Smaller foot print is best. I run 215s for my winter setup (45R 17) and I have never been stuck. Don't see what would be wrong with 205s.

Greatest issue that stops me is the height of the snow, since my road out of the neighborhood never gets plowed.

If you don't plan on driving through heavy snow 225 is perfectly fine. I ran 225 square last season and didn't have any issues. It still performed alright for regular driving but comparing blizzaks to grippy pilot super sports isn't even remotely the same.

205 would be better for heavy snow but you may get frustrated daily driving without as much grip as you are used to. Like Oli said, the thinner the tire the better for snow. Wider tires spread the vehicles weight out across the snow too much and instead of cutting through the snow like a thin tire, the wide tire kinda floats across and glides more not actually getting good traction.

TL;DR 225 is fine.

[RUS_ZHP]

Last winter I was running 205 squares all winter and they were great. I did multiple trips to VT and NH and never had any problems. The only case where I found limited grip is when I was giving more than 3000rpm coming out from corners on a wet road surface. On dry it was fine.


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[Vas]

225 Section width here

[Boris3]

Thanks, going to look at the 205s tomorrow.

[Boris3]

Craigslist sellers... I was told et40 on the wheels and 9/32 tread left on the 205 snows. Turned out to be et32 and remaining tread depth on the snows at only 4-5/32. Passed.

[Oli77]

Yep, "if it's not one thing, it's always another".
Hope you didn't drive too far.

[Johnmadd]

Does anyone run 16's for winter, any reasons why or why not.

[san]

Does anyone run 16's for winter, any reasons why or why not.

I’ve heard that not all 16” wheels clear the front calipers. Also I guess if you get 16” wheels the side profile needs to be quite large to bring it up to stock size which probably will change how the car rides. But the wheels are tires are going to be much cheaper...


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[Johnmadd]

I’ve heard that not all 16” wheels clear the front calipers. Also I guess if you get 16” wheels the side profile needs to be quite large to bring it up to stock size which probably will change how the car rides. But the wheels are tires are going to be much cheaper...


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These are et35... super inexpensive and good looking imo for winter wheels. What do you think, I really need some help as I blew out my spare today after less than 60 miles of driving 45 mph due to a blowout from my wheels being bent due to neglect of the dot when repaving.

[san]

These are et35... super inexpensive and good looking imo for winter wheels. What do you think, I really need some help as I blew out my spare today after less than 60 miles of driving 45 mph due to a blowout from my wheels being bent due to neglect of the dot when repaving.

If I was in your spot I would get 17s. But seems like you are in a bind and need some wheels soon. I don’t know if et35 would work if you that was a question but if you are confident then go for it...


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[Johnmadd]

Not confident are all lol, I really don't know.

https://www.discounttire.com/buy-wheels/vision-cross/p/61253

[Boris3]

From reading threads here and e46 fanatics I think it was only some 16s that would work in clearing the brakes. Don't remember which.

The tire rack offsets for a 7.5 for the 330i tend to be et40-45 range.

Watch your local Craigslist. I just picked up a set of sport editions A7 17x7.5 et42 with 225/50 blizzaks in good shape at 9-11/32 tread for $400.

[holyc0w]

I run AT Italia M Contour replicas (16x7.5 ET38). They need the slim wheel weights to clear the brakes.

[Boris3]

Update: moral of latest CL story check all wheels, I was focusing so much on the condition of the Blizzaks I only checked some of the wheels in the set to confirm the offset. The two I looked at were 17x7.5 ET40, but the ones I didn't were 17x7.5 and ET28 (doh!). Tried mounting them anyway but with 225/50/17s the ET28 is way too much and rubs on hard turns/bumps.

[Oli77]

CL tires and wheels are a pain. Tough luck on that one. I remember buying a set of winter Pirellis (Sotozero; shitty tire if you ask me) and one of them had a bulge on the side.
Then there was the time I almost drove 1.5 hours to find out the bore size was wrong, everything else was perfect.
Can you get spacers to move the wheels out some?

[Boris3]

Oli77, thanks. Seems I've been having a bad CL run of late, though this one's on me for not checking closely enough when I picked them up.

Unfortunately spacers are not the solution this time around since the problem is the pair of +28 wheels combined with the 225/50/17s. Too wide and too tall. If mounted on rear the tires extend past the fender lip and are tall enough that any suspension compression rubs along the outside of the tread block. If mounted on the front, the tires are just inside the fender lip but the tread rubs on the fender liner with any compression. Tried it both ways just to see if it might work.

[Boris3]

The CL wheel turns. Watching ads last night for new listings and picked up a square set of Style 44s 17x8 ET+47 with 225/45/17 Blizzaks this morning. Much better fit. Now if I can sell the earlier mistake purchase all will be good.

[ELCID86]

The CL wheel turns. Watching ads last night for new listings and picked up a square set of Style 44s 17x8 ET+47 with 225/45/17 Blizzaks this morning. Much better fit. Now if I can sell the earlier mistake purchase all will be good.

You’ll love the Blizzaks #snowmonster

[JETSET303]

I drive my Jeep in the winter(well I will after the doctors give me the all clear from my back surgery last week) and Vader is locked up in the garage finally. My father, however, has driven various maxed out Camaros year round since the late seventies in Nebraska. He swears by Blizzaks. He’s had them on 3 different ones now and also on my mother’s G35 coupe. I’ve only personally driven 2 of them with those tires in bad weather and can say I was impressed. If I had to drive mine in the winter, I would go this route on 17s.


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[Boris3]

Thanks again for the advice.

Quiet winter so far and the 245/45/17 square set up Blizzaks have been fine in what little snow/cold we've had.

I did manage to sell the set of 225/50/17s with the pair of wheels with +28 offset that didn't fit. Got what I paid for them, so all good.