Just bought this and have been reading lots about dealing with the snowy tundra of michigan

Sooo, I'm wondering what the smallest wheel and tire size is I should be able to put on this safely to get through these horrible months!

I should've just moved to where the car was...


joe

[IMG]local://upfiles/20197/18A8AB25BCF344E2940AC85652D53E9F.jpg[/IMG]

 

the lowest you can go with that model is 16"s, you could do 17"s but wont be as effective. smaller is better

 

Stock wheel size is of course 17"x 6.5" w/a 205/50-17" tire.But when it comes to driving in snow or on ice a thinner treaded tire is usually best. The contact patch is longer and more pronounced vs. a wider, more square patch. Add to that a thinner tire willoffer more pressure per sq in than a wider one. Plus the OE wheel's will not liable to take a lot of snowy, icy and especially salty roads.
As Jaimie said, with the brakes on your car a 16" wheel is a small as you can go.
Your best bet imo, would be some 16"x5.5" steel wheels w/a 185/65-16 snow tire. that will get you close in circumference to the OE spec (78.76" vs. 80.01") while giving you a thinner thread width and a taller sidewall. Or a 185/60 will take you the other way. (78.76" vs. 77.72".)
Just my .02.

 

That was exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks. Been reading lots of the other threads and I think I'll try to save my nicer wheels and tires for the clean, dry pavement months here in Michigan.

Okay, the MONTH.


joe

p.s. once the transformation takes place, I'll post pics and costs, unless it's too ugly and embarrassing!

 

Keep in mind your stock wheels have a +52.5mm offset. As ANYONE who"s been on this forum can tell you, I am a bigproponent of keeping that spec as close to OE as possible too. +48 - +55 = best. +45"s will work. When you start getting down to +42"s you are asking for trouble, imo.
Good luck, and please, let us know how it works out for you.

 

I run snow tires on 17x7 wheels & 205/50R17 tires and they do great. (also in Michigan.)