Anyone use 18" wheels w/ snow tires?
03-29-2008, 10:38 PM
#1
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Anyone use 18" wheels w/ snow tires?
Any major draw backs besides the obvious? ( taller sidewall/thinner contact patch is better) I currently use the stock 17's with winter tires and 18's for summer. Considering letting my f/inlaw use the 17's w/ winter snow tires and getting snow tires for a spare set of 18" wheels I have. I swap 18 to 18 w/ spacers each season, and he swaps 17's without spacers each season. Make sense?
03-29-2008, 11:09 PM
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With Pirelli SottoZero 18s were "squirely" (is that a word?).....
Dunlop LM-25 on 18s held better on dry and snow, less shoulder twich I guess. Currently running 17s with Dunlop M3s after 17s with Blizzak WS-50s. The 17s with M3s seem to be a good balance of dry/WET performance and winter traction
03-30-2008, 04:11 AM
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Well you have the one major draw back, another would be chance of tire damage...
obviously the smaller the sidewall the more chance of both tire and wheel damage in the event of a traumatic impact, which are far more likely in the winter as a result of increased potholes and curbs and other objects hidden by snow and increased darkness. Also if they are a nice set of rims you will have to worry about salt, sand, and other winter debris damaging them, but thats not really size specific.
03-30-2008, 04:38 AM
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Depends where you reside..over here in NJ a 18" with Pirelli Snow Sport will do the trick, anywhere
else in the Northern part where you get tons of snow, I'd prefer the smallest diameter with the a narrow snow tire and flexible high side wall.
03-30-2008, 05:06 AM
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IMHO, the risk of damage seems over rated...........
More important is the load index of the tire. My nineteens just went through a Minnesota winter with no ill effects. The chrome finish is fine. The load index on my Yoko's is 100. Handles & rides very nicely. The ST3 wheel seems made for the weight of the ar. I keep reading how so many ar owners wear tires out in less than 25K. Mine look like new after 23K. Handling in snow is comprimised by the wider 255 tire, that is the only drawback.
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03-30-2008, 09:26 AM
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I'm in the SF bay area, and only deal with snow when I go up to ski on weekends.
Not concerned with damaging the wheels from hidden items etc. I swap the wheels right before the first trip, and leave them on until right after the last trip of the season. Most of their use is not in the snow.
03-30-2008, 09:47 AM
#9
I did, with no problems....
Had s set of the ATItalia 5S 18x7.5 et20 wheels that didn'r need spacers. Ran 245/45-18 Icebears. The sidewalls of the snows were softer than the summer tires and did a pretty good job of soaking up winter ruts. I'd run 17's in previous winters and frankly I don't know that I noticed much difference in ride quality, but handling was crisper.
03-30-2008, 11:52 AM
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I have them with Michelin Pilot Alpins - great thus far and I didn't have to put on
smaller rotors. I lost one on a 4 inch deep pothole but that would have messed up any tire that came across it. No regrets other than a slightly higher tire cost.