Insight on winter wheel/tires?
 

I'm looking at getting a second pair of wheels for winter. I don't mind paying a bit extra for nicer wheels since I'll have them on for about 6 months out of the year. (I sold my OEM wheels already)

I live in the Seattle area, I don't plan on driving in snow or ice, but it will be a very cold winter so I don't want to use my Hankook V12 summer tires and jeopardize my/others safety.

My questions are:

Is the fitment below proper, based on my research it is, but I've also learned to ask questions before dropping $.

Is there a better setup? (I refuse to do steelies)

Is there a better deal? Through Tirerack, $1672

The planned setup:

OZ Ultraleggera 17x8et48 (black)
Dunlop SP Wintersport 3D 235/45R17
No TPMS (they're in my summer wheels)

For the winter you actually want to go narrower. It cuts through snow better. I'm using 205/50/17 on stock wheels. I run 225 Dunlop Star Specs for summer/spring/fall.

Are you using the OZ year round?

I'm using TSW 18" for warmer months.

I would just stick with the stock size on 17x7's. That's what I ended up doing with my OEM rims, putting my OEM tires on some 17x8's in the spring until I wear them out, then switching to 235's.

Best bet for snowy areas is probably to do a 16 inch winter set up with 205's, but I'm not a fan of the look. Also, historically my area hasn't gotten a whole lot of snow in the winter, so I'm mostly going for winter tires for continued performance grip. Went with the Blizzak LM-60's. It was between that or the Alpin PA3's. If I had to deal with a lot of snow, I'd probably have gone with the Blizzak WS-70's.

If it snows heavy, I will definitely not be driving the BRZ since I have other vehicles for those rare occurrences.

By the way, if you do go with 235's on those 17's, you'll want to go with 235/40 not 235/45 as you listed above. 40 would keep you closer to the stock circumference so your speedo/gearing stays close to spec.

Thanks guys.

What do you think about this instead:
17x8 wheels
225x45r17 Blizzaks LM-60 (this the closest size to OEM in winter tires)

The wheel recommends a 235x40 however, but those tires are primarily summer tires. In worried the 225x45 will be too narrow for the rims.

You can fit 225's on a 8 inch width. You could even go 215/45-17 on that 8 inch width if you want to keep a completely stock footprint. That's what I have on the LM60's, but I have them mounted on the stock 17x7's.

I think I will go with the 225x45 then. I don't think I'm going to install TPMS on these though as I don't want to pay for the extra TPMS or swap and reprogramming every tme I switch wheels. I guess I'll have to put up with the tpms light during winters, though I guess I should put TPMS in the winters vs summers.

I plan on using winter 17" for about 6-7mo and the summer 18" for the 50 degrees and above.

Hmm... Slightly off topic, the OZ ultraleggera also come in 35 offset, which I would like for appearance. Otherwise Tirerack automatically selects 48 offset when selecting the vehicle.

Other model Subaru stock 16" wheels fit. Get a tall and narrow 16" winter tire; this will be cheaper and better performing than a low profile 17" tire that's wider than your stock summers. If I didn't already have 17" winter tires left over from my WRX I'd have bought a semi-cheap 16" alloy and 16" tires.

I'll definitely consider that, I'll start looking online for some 16"

I guess since I'll have the winters on half the year, I'm inclined to get nice looking wheels that are also functional.

Winter in Seattle isn't too harsh, this year is supposed to be very cold and dry. If it was a more snowy region, I'd easily get 16" steelies with snow tires. Luckily we have a Forester which killed in the snow:)

TireRack already has a 16" winter wheel/tire package with a recommended tire size (stock size for 16" equipped vehicles; 205/55/16) and your choice of wheels.

The 215/45/17 is tough to find in a winter tire. Especially a modern "Performance Winter". Nokian makes the WR G2 in 215/45/17 and the actual specs match the stock Michelins almost exactly. I just bought a set of stock wheels and am going to go with those. Total cost should be around $1,500, and thats with TPMS sensors (paid $600 for a set of take-off wheels/tires/sensors).

After some more thought and research, I am not sure Seattle / PNW really qualifies for winter tires unless driving through snow or passes.

For winters, I'll be looking at getting 16" steelies... With a narrow footprint.

But for now, I am considering going to ultra high performance All Season that will be good for cold weather and really light snow on a 17x8 wheels in 225/45 which will be appropriate for most Seattle winter weather. Any suggestions on a good A/S tire for PNW?

Probably goin to get the Continental ExremeContact DWS A/S tires. Looks to suit the mild winters. With these, I can wear these for the colder 6 months and use summers for the warm 6 months.

Also going to buy the set of 16" narrow snow tires for a colder winter as a spare. Nice having two Subarus with the same bolt pattern!

What about the sparco assetta wheels? They are made by oz for sparco and the bronze would look nice on the black. Just throwing another wheel option out there. DWS are excellent tires ive put a few sets on customers cars and they have been very happy with them.

DWS are crap in the snow/ice.
In Seattle, personally, I'd get Alpin PA3 or Dunlop M3s in stock size.

I'm in the south we get very little snow I know nothing about real winter tires.

Not hard to find. Discount Tire has a few. I personally got the Hankook Icept Evo W310.

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...sw=true&cs=215

As you can expect, here in Ottawa, we have really cold winters with lots of ice and snow. For the summer, I have Hankook V12s for which I keep on the car for 8 months of the year, until the snow comes. They are quite soft are very good down to ~35 degrees. For winters, I use Blizzak WS-70s.

Even in your climate, I would go with winters (WS-70, or something more performance-oriented like the LM-60). Even with just a little bit on snow or slush on the ground, I find all seasons pale in comparison to winters (jack of all trades, master of none).

Across the range of temperatures and road conditions we have, I don't think there's any window where I would prefer all season tires over the V12s (when dry and above 35) or Blizzaks (with snow/slush or below 35).

Thanks everyone, just placed my order. I was between getting a cheaper 16" vs 17" wheel, but I figured down the road, I can probably sell the 17" easier or repurpose them for track use.

I decided not to get A/S tires, instead getting Winter Performance. I plan on using my Hankook V12 summers for the majority of the year and using the winters for 45 degrees and below (4-5mo)

Ended up with getting:

Sparco Assetto Gara - matte grey silver 17x7.5et48 $148ea, I chose these because they are designed by OZ, they look nice, and fairly light.
Blizzak LM60 225/45, I went this size so it will fit my Forester also (still a bit short).

On another note, I plan on getting a 10mm rear spacer to clean up the rear fitment, close to flush, but still conservative fitment.

I'll post pics of the new wheels on my journal and this page.

Nice choices on wheels and tires ;)

Just picked up a set of 225 45 17's for my stock wheels. Hankook studded tires off a Subaru with 95% tread. I got them off craigslist for $175. :w00t:

I'd get longer studs if I were you.

Will do I think the ones I'm looking at come with.

Posted pictures in my journal. Tires still need to be broken in as they are really slippery on wet roads.

Also I may forgo the spacers, wheel gap isn't atrocious like I thought it would have been.

Winter in Central Europe
 

I am facing similar dilemma in Central Europe... My car is arriving end of November, and winter setup is must (actually its a law).

After lot of thinking, I ended up with 16 inch wheels and 205/55/R16 94V tires (91 V are simply not available).

In the end round are following candidates:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-G...p-k/kolesa.jpg

As for tires, I am between these two:

• Continental TS850 205/55 R16 94V
• Pirelli WINTER 240 SOTTOZERO SERIE II 205/55 R16 94V

(I was looking through the forums, but most of the presented brands are simply not easily available here. So I would like to share the local research, which in my opinion is also applicable for Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, etc.)

So, 205/55/R16 will be as close to stock geometry as possible?

2 words. Bridgestone Blizzak.

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I have a question about tire rack!

If I order a winter package from them with 16" steel wheels, how can I be sure the offset and everything will actually fit on my FR-S? I don't want to end up with wheels that don't actually work :( Any thoughts guys? I don't know anything about it, and have never bought any aftermarket wheels...

Thank you.

there are a couple guys running 16in. winter packages from tire rack on the site. I'd do a search and see if you can find their setups.

I personally am going to run 16x6.5 +55 legacy gt wheels from a 99 legacy as winter wheels, running the same spec tires. I don't care how flush they are, as long as they still fit and there's no rubbing.

I, too, am interested in the tire rack 16" winter package.

Never had a car with aftermarket wheels so I don't quite understand how a narrower wheel/tire is going to fit on the car..

Starting to think it might be better to just get a set of winter tires in stock size and throw em on the stock wheels...

I'm having my 16" tires mounted today. If I'm not too lazy, I might do a test-fit tonight and see if I can program my TPMS sensors too.

i'm planning on putting on 15X6 subaru stelies with a 205 tire

65 aspect ratio will put me at same diameter as OEM, a 60 aspect ratio will make my wheels a bit smaller.


if it was snowing more i'd even go down to a 195 but i predict i'll see heavy snow for a small portion of this coming winter.



to the dudes putting on 225s with low aspect ratio for winter, you're crazy and might as well stay with your allseasons.

you'll retain your dry weather stability but for such a light car you'll get less traction starting and stopping if there is snow on the road.

two words: contact patch

Because the tirerack guys are SMART. When I placed my order they said they had a BRZ or two in the shop they were test fitting on and already knew the steelies would work well with the car.

Just followed up with them about torque spec info and the gentleman (Luke) rattled off the torque spec range and stud size and told me all about why our 1.25 thread pitch is sensitive to over tightening. All off the top of his head. Tirerack doesn't hire idiots.


Here's my hurricane/winter rescue vehicle

http://i.imgur.com/eSXwu.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/E7j8e.jpg

So Laika, did you wheels fit without any modifications (as in straight swap)?

Sorry for the questions guys, I'm a colossal noob..

You'd need offset of ~40 for them not to rub on tie-rod ball joint.

Yup just put them on the way they arrived at my door (1 day shipping time thanks to their multitude of distributors). I replaced my OEM lug nuts with the nickle plated ones tirerack gave me and that was it. If there's a chance things won't fit, tirerack will contact you first. Like I said, they're brilliant with this stuff, it's all they do. The perks of going to a specialist instead of pep boys...