Preparing for winter!

[Elliryx]

Hi,
Im getting my Frs ready for the winter. If i get a blizzak ws80 would i better if i have that put on the stock rims and then comes spring just get a new set of rims that i'll use for spring to fall I live in Ohio. thanks in advanced!

[Foobar]

Originally Posted by Elliryx

Hi,

Im getting my Frs ready for the winter. If i get a blizzak ws80 would i better if i have that put on the stock rims and then comes spring just get a new set of rims that i'll use for spring to fall I live in Ohio. thanks in advanced!

Unless you plan on swapping tires on your wheels twice a year, either put hem on your stocks and buy aftermarket ones for your summers or keep your summers on your stocks and get cheap steelies for your winters.

I went with the former for the last 3 years. This year I'm just keeping the summers on and driving my Jeep for the winter.

[Elliryx]

Originally Posted by Foobar

Unless you plan on swapping tires on your wheels twice a year, either put hem on your stocks and buy aftermarket ones for your summers or keep your summers on your stocks and get cheap steelies for your winters.

I went with the former for the last 3 years. This year I'm just keeping the summers on and driving my Jeep for the winter.

Ok thanks, I might just put the blizzak on my stock rims and get an aftermarket ones for the summer.

[churchx]

It's good to rebalance tyres from time to time. Hence imho nothing wrong also with having just one wheel set with seasonal rubber that gets changed twice a year and rebalanced at same time.

[phobos512]

Discount Tire in the US is having a sale this weekend so I ordered up sets (first in my life) of winter tires for both my and my girlfriend's car today. Got her Cooper Weather-Master S/T-2s and me Yokohama IceGuard IG52cs, both on 16" steelies. 205/65s for her and 205/60s for me. I pricematched the wheels with Summit and saved myself $100, plus since the guy I worked with wrote them up as separate orders I get double rebates After rebates it's $950 mounted, balanced and shipped total for both cars. Can't beat that.

[Mr_Hann]

I like having the ability to swap rims when the seasons change.

Weather has become even more predictable over the last 20 years sometimes you end up switching rims earlier/later than you expect. You don't want to be caught off guard and/or reliant on the availability of tire shops.

[cjd]

I just put winters on a new set of wheels - I'd have gone on the stock wheels except I anticipate not driving in the winter, and will only be installing them just-in-case, so needed something that would clear the BBK. I probably should have stocked up on crush washers and just swap the brakes instead, but...

Regardless, at least two sets of wheels is the way to go. Or 4 or 5, as the case may be...

[venturaII]

If you get steelies you can drop down to 16" wheels, which gives you a lot more sidewall, which is vital in the winter. They're cheaper than the cheapest aftermarket wheels and they take abuse better than any aluminum wheel, and if you bend them, 10 minutes with a 3lb mallet will get all but the worst smile out of a rim and back into serviceable shape.

[phobos512]

Well, both sets showed up today. Now it just needs to get cold. Mine are the bottom four; girlfriend's (different car) are the top four.

[venturaII]

Originally Posted by phobos512

Got her Cooper Weather-Master S/T-2s and me Yokohama IceGuard IG52cs, both on 16" steelies. 205/65s for her and 205/60s for me.

Why did you go with that size? Stock diameter tire with 16's would be a 205/55...

[phobos512]

Originally Posted by venturaII

Why did you go with that size? Stock diameter tire with 16's would be a 205/55...

Because I read all over taller is better and did the research and found a number of folks running the slightly taller size. Also it appealed to my cheap side as the tires in /60 were 10% cheaper than in /55.

I'm not worried about the speedo being slightly off for a few months and (horrors) I'm also not running TPMS in my winters

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by venturaII

If you get steelies you can drop down to 16" wheels, which gives you a lot more sidewall, which is vital in the winter. They're cheaper than the cheapest aftermarket wheels and they take abuse better than any aluminum wheel, and if you bend them, 10 minutes with a 3lb mallet will get all but the worst smile out of a rim and back into serviceable shape.

This^^
I went with the 16 steelies and that extra sidewall may explain why some guys with snows on stock 17" rims had problems and I did not.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by phobos512

Because I read all over taller is better and did the research and found a number of folks running the slightly taller size. Also it appealed to my cheap side as the tires in /60 were 10% cheaper than in /55.

I'm not worried about the speedo being slightly off for a few months and (horrors) I'm also not running TPMS in my winters

That is exactly the same sizes I went with and it rocked the snow. Your rational was exactly the same as mine right down too not worrying about the sensors. After one day I didn't even notice the light any more. Speedo should be pretty damn close. Since I was worried about how far off it would be I went hands fee cell and by pacing my wife in her car it showed no difference that I could tell.

[venturaII]

As long as all 4 are the same, I don't see how the TMPS or anything else would be affected. Your gearing will be slightly taller, but it's not like these cars are geared too tall to begin with. My winters are 205/55-16 and the ride quality was noticeably better; you'll certainly have a plush ride with a 205/60.