Has anyone had an issues with using OEM rims during winter (in cold-weather regions)?

[redwing634]

Just wondering whether it's safe to use all-season tires on stock rims year round or if I need to swap out to steel rims during winter... Salt/snow/etc; would it be an issue with OEM rims?

[Cole]

I'd certainly recommend using a snow tire if you're going to be driving on snow and ice in sub 40 degree weather.

[arxm]

snow tires are ideal but the stock rims will be fine

[why?]

the wheels will be fine unless you decide to run them into curbs or the like. All seasons can work if where you live doesn't see much snow or ice, but winter tires are better and lets you get real summer tires for the good warm time.

[StraightOuttaCanadaEh]

I would never use the heavy steelies. Plus they're ugly. I use stock wheels with my winter tires and my incoming rims will be equipped with summers

[JPRodney]

Living in Ontario and doing a lot of suburb and highway commuting, I had no problem using the stock rims with dedicated winter tires. Just make sure that if you're going to be sliding the car around that you remove all the snow after as it will upset the balance of the car. I got a nice surprise driving to work and having the whole car vibrating after a night of drifting.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by JPRodney

Living in Ontario and doing a lot of suburb and highway commuting, I had no problem using the stock rims with dedicated winter tires. Just make sure that if you're going to be sliding the car around that you remove all the snow after as it will upset the balance of the car. I got a nice surprise driving to work and having the whole car vibrating after a night of drifting.

This ^ is exactly why I went with steel rims for my winter tires. Don't even need to be sliding around just driving through loads of slush for it to gather and freeze in the spokes. Makes for an interesting drive if it freezes in there.
I also went with a 16" wheel so it gives me a bit more sidewall to protect from raised ice and help cut through deeper snow.

[JPRodney]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

This ^ is exactly why I went with steel rims for my winter tires. Don't even need to be sliding around just driving through loads of slush for it to gather and freeze in the spokes. Makes for an interesting drive if it freezes in there.
I also went with a 16" wheel so it gives me a bit more sidewall to protect from raised ice and help cut through deeper snow.

Surprisingly I didn't have a problem with the snow gathering in my rims. It only gathered between the spokes when I decided to purposely go out and have a drift session with my car club. If I was doing my usual work commute I had no problems at all.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by JPRodney

Surprisingly I didn't have a problem with the snow gathering in my rims. It only gathered between the spokes when I decided to purposely go out and have a drift session with my car club.

I just made sure to have remove the snow that night and my car is always garage kept through the nights during the winters.

This year was sort of unusual for snow (or lack there of) though. I spend 14 hours a week on the 401 and it can build up like made in there. Since I don't have a garage it then freezes solid and really messes with things.

[daiheadjai]

Second the steelies. Or if you don't like how the steelies look, hunt down a set of rally wheels.
I had balance issues with snow freezing in the wheels just parking outside.

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[Scrappydoo]

Two seasons in a heavily salted area with zero problems.

Calibres are a different story mind you.

[churchx]

Stock rims will work. But i'd get set of 16" wheels anyway. At least my choice of tires costed 150eur less for set of 16" tires vs 17" ones.
As i didn't tracked this winter, just daily driven it, there wasn't much problems with ice/snow getting between spokes/causing imbalance. Funnily, i got that effect when already changed to R17 wheels/summer wheels, on 2nd trackday day of this spring. Car spun out of track, left rear wheel got thrown in lot of earth/dirt inside. After driving further seemed that's it, something broke in suspension .. nah, just dirt debalancing wheel causing it to vibrate when driving. Quick brushing off and track day could be continued .
BTW - while lesser count of spokes makes easier for dirt (/snow/ice) to get in .. it also makes it easier to clean out with all that open space between spokes (6 in my wheels). Have some doubt on ease of cleaning steelies, with all the closed space with many very small openings at best.
Also it was interesting to find out, that local rally drivers often make/use some inside wheel ice-scrapers, & attach those to brake calipers (or rear arms?), to clean up wheel inside when driving. Will see, maybe worth ordering such. IF issue of snow/ice inside wheel appears often enough to care.

[ichitaka05]

Stock wheels w winter tires for... 3yrs (2nd winter now) w not single problem.