Winter Tire Shopping

[SHO1068]

Because summer seems like a reasonable time to start looking for winter tires, I just want to make sure I am not in the wrong here.

I am looking to pick up a spare set of wheels for winter tires and prefer to spend the money and buy OEM parts. I found a good deal on a clean set of 2015 Mustang GT rims, no tires that are 5x114.3 with 40mm offset. They are 18 inch rims, so I am looking at going with 225/60R18 tires to get as close to stock size for my 245/45R20 wheels so I don't have that big a difference in my speedometer calibration.

Can anyone who has downsized rims give me some insight on this? I know the offset is a little off (38mm on SHO) but I think this is the same bolt pattern from what I can find. I appreciate the help ladies and gentlemen.

PS I have a 2011 Non-PP SHO which probably would make a difference, as it did not come with the larger brakes. But the SE FWD cars came with 17 inch wheels, so I assume barrel size shouldn't be a problem with 18 inch wheels.

 

[Johnbigdog]

Their are aftermarket refinishing companies like Detroit wheel and tire that list wheel size and bolt pattern. You can the go to a tire size calculator to plus/minus size the tire and see what tire is the closest to factory size and be cost effective. Keep in mind speed ratings and weight ratings.

Pizza cutters cut through pizza because they are thin and sharp. Farm tractors have balloon tires to put less pressure on the ground to not compress/disturb the dirt. They ride on top and shouldn't sink as easily.

So K.I.S.S. is a thinner tire will slice through snow/slush, a wider tire will float on top. If this is wrong please enlighten me.


I am running police interceptor rims (18 inch) on a 2016 performance package. No rubbing whatsoever. There is about a finger or so between the rim and strut with Blizzak dm-v2 255/55/R18. I'm not really sure what your different offset will do.

You will notice a looser, softer ride. You know, like an old boat with 15 inch 80 series tires. Then when you go back to the 20 inch rubber bands you'll think there is something wrong because you can feel EVERYTHING on the road. I do it every year.... "is that my torque converter shuddering. Remembers Oh no it's the tires... Ok. Carry on"

 

[RonPorter]

You can go to Tire Rack, and their Specs for tires will show the diameter. Just look for winter tires that are close to the same diameter as your stock tires.

Actually, everybody starts loading up with winter tires after Labor Day, and you will start seeing deals around that time.

 

[365SHO]

I JUST BOUGHT 19'' GENERALS FROM TIRE RACK, IT HASN'T SNOWED YET BUT I AM READY. I'LL KEEP U UPDATED

 

[RonPorter]

I JUST BOUGHT 19'' GENERALS FROM TIRE RACK, IT HASN'T SNOWED YET BUT I AM READY. I'LL KEEP U UPDATED

They're winter tires, not necessarily snow tires. Even if it never snows they're beneficial. If you run Summer tires, they get pretty useless below 40F. Winter tires not only handle wet, slush, snow and ice, but just perform better in cold weather. Even on dry pavement.

Our weather here around Detroit was damn cold from mid October through November. I didn't put on the winters until Thanksgiving, and I had some interesting days on the summer tires in 20F temps. Like driving on ice!

 

[Christian]

They're winter tires, not necessarily snow tires. Even if it never snows they're beneficial.

They're the same thing. Perhaps what you meant was ALL SEASON Tires weren't the same as Winter/Snow Tires. Winter/snow tires will have a snoflake/mountain symbol. All weather tires will also have this symbol.

 

[RonPorter]

No, I didn't mean all-season, which are the most worthless tires made. Except for the Nokian WR, which are the only good a/s, and have the M&S snowflake. If there's any other a/s tire out there with a snowflake, I would be surprised.

The primary purpose of winter tires are cold weather traction, and snow is a minor part of that. The performance speed-rated winter tires will have the M&S rating, but I wouldn't count on them in any kind of snow depth. OTOH, probably a moot point, as cars that take the above-Z speed rated tires don't have enough ground clearance for heavy snow, anyway!

Although winter tires may have the snow rating, they aren't necessarily considered snow tires. There are still snow tires sold, many with stud provisions. Check out Nokian's website sometime. They have pure snow tires.

And they also carry the most awesome winter tire made, that will be my next set. The Hakkapeliitta R2 (now R3) was redesigned a coupla years ago, from a snow tire to a kickass winter tire. And it has these diamond-hard pieces imbedded in the tread for ice traction (where studs are illegal, like almost everywhere in the 48). And since slush and ice are more of an issue for me than snow, they fit the bill.

 

[SHO1068]

I bit the bullet and purchased a set of Enkei SVX wheels from a gentleman who was getting rid of his Explorer. The tires were basically new but unfortunately, too wide and were touching the strut on the front driver side. So I went with a set of Nokian Norman 7 SUV tires in 225/60R18. So far, pretty damn happy.

Thanks for all the advise.

View media item 365

 

[SHOdded]

No, I didn't mean all-season, which are the most worthless tires made. Except for the Nokian WR, which are the only good a/s, and have the M&S snowflake. If there's any other a/s tire out there with a snowflake, I would be surprised.

Options coming soon from what I hear. But Nokian is truly top tier.

 

[Johnbigdog]

I found out Nokian is a Finish company a few months back!

Why is that important, I'm (partially) finlander! SISU!

There does not appear to be a heavy finlander presence in lower Michigan as there is in northern MN or the U.P.

 

[SHOdded]

Brings back memories. Back in high school we had an exchange student from Finland studying with us. Pretty cool for that era (yes LONG ago).

 

[RonPorter]

I found out Nokian is a Finish company a few months back!

Why is that important, I'm (partially) finlander! SISU!

There does not appear to be a heavy finlander presence in lower Michigan as there is in northern MN or the U.P.

No, the U.P. ,and across Northern WI & MN seemed to attract the Scandinavian immigrants. Climate and terrain must have been more like home?

 

[Christian]

"Except for the Nokian WR"

That is an all weather tire. Check out the WRG3

https://www.nokiantires.com/all-weather-tires/nokian-wr-g3/

A Winter tire is just that....a Winter tire. We'll agree to disagree on the semantics. I've spent way too much time looking into the differences in these tires over the years. LOL. M+S stamped tires are arguably not ideal for snow....that we agree. However, they are permitted on our mountain passes here in BC which have laws requiring a Winter tire by law, ( or a tire with a Snowflake/peak symbol).

What used to be called a "snow tire" is now called a "Winter Tire".

https://info.kaltire.com/difference...VB9NkCh0YlAXCEAAYASAAEgK_WvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/glo...r-tires-differ-from-snow-tires/article558791/

On another note, these are what I put on. Check out the ridiculous amount of siping: https://www.wheelwiz.ca/tires/farroad/frd79/h7917

Yes...they're a Chinese tire...

 

[Johnbigdog]

No, the U.P. ,and across Northern WI & MN seemed to attract the Scandinavian immigrants. Climate and terrain must have been more like home?

I think it was the mines that attracted our four fathers, basically a garuntees job.

Still looking for three of them. I dunno.

 

[RonPorter]

The WR is a Scandinavian all-season tire so I guess for definition purposes, all-weather =all-season, but the a/s name is the common name in the US.

But, winter tire doesn't equal snow tire. There are still a few snow tires out there, with low speed ratings. Nokian even had a few. For most people in the States, we just don't get typical heavy snow on a regular basis. And main roads are cleared, so heavy snow utility just isn't a thing.

I got my 1st set of winter tires back in 05 on my 05 Legacy GT. It came with the crappy Bridgestone RE92s, which were an ancient tire then (my wife's new 85 Del Sol had them). And I haven't looked back. Ive been running dedicated dummer/winter tires ever since. A few years earlier, we went with the original WR on the Del Sol as the daily tire, as a number of SHO folks loved them.

 

[RonPorter]

"Except for the Nokian WR"

That is an all weather tire. Check out the WRG3

https://www.nokiantires.com/all-weather-tires/nokian-wr-g3/

A Winter tire is just that....a Winter tire. We'll agree to disagree on the semantics. I've spent way too much time looking into the differences in these tires over the years. LOL. M+S stamped tires are arguably not ideal for snow....that we agree. However, they are permitted on our mountain passes here in BC which have laws requiring a Winter tire by law, ( or a tire with a Snowflake/peak symbol).

What used to be called a "snow tire" is now called a "Winter Tire".

https://info.kaltire.com/difference...VB9NkCh0YlAXCEAAYASAAEgK_WvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/glo...r-tires-differ-from-snow-tires/article558791/

On another note, these are what I put on. Check out the ridiculous amount of siping: https://www.wheelwiz.ca/tires/farroad/frd79/h7917

Yes...they're a Chinese tire...

Never heard of Farroad before but there's been other Chinese tires hitting the market the last few years. If they work.....