BRZ Winter Tire/Wheels Setup?

[ZDan]

FWIW, Tire Rack gives 16" steelies as a Winter wheel/tire option only for non-PP '17 BRZ. For Performance Package it only gives 17" and 18" options.

https://www.tirerack.com/snow/Winter...odClar=Limited

I'm 90% about to buy a '17 PP BRZ, if I do probably get 17x7 wheels and 205/50-17 Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3s for it.

[Jordanwolf]

Originally Posted by churchx

Jordanwolf: it's not just higher sidewall (of more flex). It's also about winter tires having softer rubber compound and those many extra small thread grooves, which while providing that extra grip on ice/snow, also move around much more, resulting in that non-sharp steering with lag. Grip is there, but car's direction change reactions are dulled. Given importance of grip in winter, while it may be less pleasant to feel, but in my eyes reasonable compromise/trade.

I hate it . The difference in driving is so apparent to me I have reverted to grandma driving, but it is a worth compromise so I don't kill myself when I have to head to cottage country.

[Spawn_Of_Creation]

I'm running 17x6.5+50 steelies with Altimax Artic tires. They sit in the fender a little far for my tastes so i run them with 25mm spacers.

[venturaII]

Originally Posted by Jordanwolf

I hate it . The difference in driving is so apparent to me I have reverted to grandma driving, but it is a worth compromise so I don't kill myself when I have to head to cottage country.

I think it can be somewhat entertaining, depending on how you look at it. The car behaves much the same as with higher grip tires, just at a far lower threshold. Can make driving closer to the speed limit a little more fun...lol. It's kind of like hopping into an older sportscar from the 60's/70's with tall, skinny tires.

[JazzleSAURUS]

Originally Posted by ZDan

FWIW, Tire Rack gives 16" steelies as a Winter wheel/tire option only for non-PP '17 BRZ. For Performance Package it only gives 17" and 18" options.

https://www.tirerack.com/snow/Winter...odClar=Limited

I'm 90% about to buy a '17 PP BRZ, if I do probably get 17x7 wheels and 205/50-17 Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3s for it.

Pirelli's are usually a bit pricey for what you get IMO. What are you looking for out your winters?

The arctics dig better, the Xice3 does better in nasty icy stuff, and they both cost less. My top three winter tires right now are the new Altimax Arctic 12's, Nokian Hakka R2, or Michelin XIce3, in that order from most dig-happy tire, to best balance, to best ice tire. (Sans studs.)

[Jordanwolf]

Originally Posted by venturaII

I think it can be somewhat entertaining, depending on how you look at it. The car behaves much the same as with higher grip tires, just at a far lower threshold. Can make driving closer to the speed limit a little more fun...lol. It's kind of like hopping into an older sportscar from the 60's/70's with tall, skinny tires.

I feel so much more like I am one with the car with the smaller side wall and summer rubber, that stiff feeling you know. I have even been contemplating going 35% or 40% (depending on width of course) regardless of the ride quality, because it's not like it will be exponentially worse.... I hope

[JazzleSAURUS]

Originally Posted by Jordanwolf

I feel so much more like I am one with the car with the smaller side wall and summer rubber, that stiff feeling you know. I have even been contemplating going 35% or 40% (depending on width of course) regardless of the ride quality, because it's not like it will be exponentially worse.... I hope

My opinion, in the winter I'll give some of that up to get my bumper and under carriage a bit higher and out of harms way. During winter I'm less concerned about feeling one with the car, and more concerned about trying to avoid becoming one with all the potholes everywhere...

[Jordanwolf]

Originally Posted by JazzleSAURUS

My opinion, in the winter I'll give some of that up to get my bumper and under carriage a bit higher and out of harms way. During winter I'm less concerned about feeling one with the car, and more concerned about trying to avoid becoming one with all the potholes everywhere...

Well of course, I meant for summer to reduce the side wall to either 35 or 40 on my next set of rubber, which will be paired with some new wheels as well.

I'm just trying to stay alive in winter lol

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by JazzleSAURUS

Pirelli's are usually a bit pricey for what you get IMO. What are you looking for out your winters?

To be able to drive on plowed roads in RI/Mass through the Winter, while maintaining some handling precision. I was only looking at the "Performance Winter/Snow" category tires.

[churchx]

Jordanwolf: you can get slight/some of that stiffness back with extra air pressure, lowering sidewall, slight stretching .. but don't. Imho 2/3rds of that squirming/moving around is from tire's rubber type/thread pattern. So you won't get much out of your tries, except compromising grip, pricier tires, worse bad roads compliance. Just grit the teeths and get as given that (good) winter tires will feel different . Also imho ability to drive with ease on iced/unplown snow roads/steep driveways/uphills, overtaking crawling with spinning tires and out of control AWD SUVs (simply because they are still on summers or on some worse all seasons) is fun in itself. So is some drift fun on ice/snow. Just give up and live with that for 4-3 months till spring. Tries to get back specific feel will compromise what's more important.

[Jordanwolf]

Originally Posted by churchx

Jordanwolf: you can get slight/some of that stiffness back with extra air pressure, lowering sidewall, slight stretching .. but don't. Imho 2/3rds of that squirming/moving around is from tire's rubber type/thread pattern. So you won't get much out of your tries, except compromising grip, pricier tires, worse bad roads compliance. Just grit the teeths and get as given that (good) winter tires will feel different . Also imho ability to drive with ease on iced/unplown snow roads/steep driveways/uphills, overtaking crawling with spinning tires and out of control AWD SUVs (simply because they are still on summers or on some worse all seasons) is fun in itself. So is some drift fun on ice/snow. Just give up and live with that for 4-3 months till spring. Tries to get back specific feel will compromise what's more important.

I am eagerly waiting for a decent snowfall for some parking lot hooning lol

[Lynxis]

Will any 16 inch wheels fit over the PP brakes? I was of the impression they require 17 inch at least...

[JSube]

Originally Posted by Lynxis

Will any 16 inch wheels fit over the PP brakes? I was of the impression they require 17 inch at least...

FWIW, tirerack.com doesn't list anything narrower than 17s. Doesn't mean you can't find anything, tho, I guess

[JazzleSAURUS]

Originally Posted by ZDan

To be able to drive on plowed roads in RI/Mass through the Winter, while maintaining some handling precision. I was only looking at the "Performance Winter/Snow" category tires.

If you're going for plowed roads and aren't worried about going out if it's bad, the XIce3 is a champ.