Pay installation or get steelies
 

Okay guys, so I know it's summer now and no one wants to think about winter right now, but I want to have this figured out beforehand so there's no hassle later on. Right now I have stock sized winter tires that I had mounted on the stock wheels last winter. It worked just fine, but the problem was paying to have tires mounted twice. Depending on the outcome of this thread, I might be doing that again this winter. So the options are as follows:

Mount winters to stock wheels again.

Buy stock sized steelies, mount and keep mounted.

Sell winters, buy smaller steelies and tires. (Keeping stock because keeping all stock parts).

To shed a little more light on my problem, the original plan was to use the stock wheels as my winter wheels and buy some aftermarket wheels for everything else, but that hasn't panned out with my finances. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get the aftermarket wheels so option 1 looks to be pretty expensive. It all comes down to money really.

Why don't you try buy another set of stock rims? It probably goes around for 300-400 w/ and w/o tires used depending on whom you buy it from. You can even get WRX (prior to 2015) wheels for around the same price I think.

^^ This, you can probably find a set of used stock wheels with tires for a really good price.

I actually found a set of stock wheels/tires locally for $200 specifically for this purpose. I think that would be the way to go.

That wasn't really the plan, but looking at steelies and tires on tirerack reveals they cost a bit more than I'd hope. If I could find stock wheels that haven't had the sensors cannibalized for $200 or so that would be best. I don't need stock wheels with tires since I already have tires.

I have been researching this as well since my current snow tires are toast after two years. My finances are currently strained as well. I really want to go with the 16" option if I can possibly safe up enough money. Tire Rack sells 16x6.5 steelies for $60. I found these yesterday:

http://www.treaddepot.com/wheel/83-66527.html

Only a few $ cheaper, and do not have the correct bore size. I don't know how hub-centric rings would work with steelies.

On the same site, I found these, which I think is a better option:

http://www.treaddepot.com/wheel/si67t0440s.html

Real cheap, and about half the weight of the steelies. Also, being aluminum and winter use, you could use some cheap plastic hub-centric rings.

craigslist.

it works phenomenal if you are willing to do your due diligence.

Craigslist would be my vote as well, just do your research and don't be afraid to say no if the deal is not to your liking. In hindsight though you may have wanted to go down to a 16 inch wheel and 195 tire for snow, the narrower width really helps cut through the white stuff compared to a stock size 17. We had one of the worst winters ever in the Chicago area last year and it was a riot to glide right over the snow in my little FRS while trucks and SUVs were stuck left and right. The looks you get from other people are priceless haha. The other benefit of a downsized rim is they are stupid cheap, I found a nice set of knockoff "Sport" wheels on tire track in the right size for my Michelin X-ice IIIs for only $60/rim, which is actually cheaper than most private sale 17s in my area.