[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.