Winter Tire Size?

[nchiarel]

Can I go with a 225/45/18 with stock suspension?

What about if I plan to do Euro Springs soon, will this work?

I'm thinking Michelin Pilot PA3's, I had Blizzacks before, any recommendations?

Thanks

[tbvr6]

I just picked up some 235/40's that are on Rial wheels. Were off a Mercedes but I'm picking up hub rings to fit. For the price I couldn't pass them up. I'll see how they fit in a couple months.

[goforit2007]

I'm going with 225 40 18s myself

[dajiggalo]

FYI: it's generally better to use narrower tires for snow. Less contact patch but it cuts through easier... Just watch those rally drivers in the snow

[Atl-Atl]

Assuming I can find some 17s to fit over my Brembo's I was going to run a 205-50-17 snow tire this coming winter.

[webcrawlr]

Can I go with a 225/45/18 with stock suspension?

What about if I plan to do Euro Springs soon, will this work?

I'm thinking Michelin Pilot PA3's, I had Blizzacks before, any recommendations?

Thanks

225/45/18 will be fine with euro springs.

Michelin released the PA4 this spring which was rated best performing 'performance winter' tire by TUV. It's numbers are also much better than the PA3 when it comes to snow traction, wet/dry stopping, and wet/dry skidpad. You can't get it in 225/45/18 but you can in 225/40/18. If you are looking for more sidewall they sell the PA4 in 235/45/17. That tire mounted to a 7.5" width rim should have the same section width as a 225/40/18 tire mounted to a 8.0" rim. There's not much of a cost savings though.

After about a month of research I purchased a set of 225/40/18 PA4's from TireRack yesterday mounted to Sparco Assetto Gara's in silver, which were on sale. For performance winters there wasn't much else out there. The 3D was replaced with the 4D overseas 2 years ago but they've yet to import that tire to the US and the LM-60 has gotten not so hot reviews for the past 2 years. Now if you wanted to go the studless snow and ice route that's a different story. Me, I was happy to give up some snow and ice traction for better wet (slush) and dry traction, which is what I see the majority of the time living in an urban setting.

http://www.michelinman.com/tire-sele...4/tire-details

Good luck with the search!

[nchiarel]

225/45/18 will be fine with euro springs.

Michelin released the PA4 this spring which was rated best performing 'performance winter' tire by TUV. It's numbers are also much better than the PA3 when it comes to snow traction, wet/dry stopping, and wet/dry skidpad. You can't get it in 225/45/18 but you can in 225/40/18. If you are looking for more sidewall they sell the PA4 in 235/45/17. That tire mounted to a 7.5" width rim should have the same section width as a 225/40/18 tire mounted to a 8.0" rim. There's not much of a cost savings though.

After about a month of research I purchased a set of 225/40/18 PA4's from TireRack yesterday mounted to Sparco Assetto Gara's in silver, which were on sale. For performance winters there wasn't much else out there. The 3D was replaced with the 4D overseas 2 years ago but they've yet to import that tire to the US and the LM-60 has gotten not so hot reviews for the past 2 years. Now if you wanted to go the studless snow and ice route that's a different story. Me, I was happy to give up some snow and ice traction for better wet (slush) and dry traction, which is what I see the majority of the time living in an urban setting.

http://www.michelinman.com/tire-sele...4/tire-details

Good luck with the search!

Wow, that's some great info. I didn't know about the PA4 but they look excellent. Any reason you went with the 225/40 instead of 235/45? I'd be mounting them on the stock 7.5" wheels.

Thanks again

[kvv]

I downsized to 17" wheels and 205/50-17 tires since I actually drive in deep snow.
I just ordered the following items from my local Discount Tire store for a total of $940 including tax.
They beat Tire Rack's prices this time around.
General Altimax Arctic Tires - http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/tir...il.do?pc=32643
Momo Winter 2 Wheels - http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/whe...il.do?pc=69577

[webcrawlr]

Wow, that's some great info. I didn't know about the PA4 but they look excellent. Any reason you went with the 225/40 instead of 235/45? I'd be mounting them on the stock 7.5" wheels.

Thanks again

I'm still on the fence about upgrading to a BBK in the spring. If I do and I went the 235/45/17 route I'd have to sell them and get 18s. So, I was trying to future proof myself and stuck with the stock size wheels which will fit over both the BBKs I've been looking at. If I wasn't looking at brake upgrades I would have went the 17 route. Slightly cheaper and more sidewall. But if you are asking why didn't I go 235/45/18 it was due to not having the tire I wanted in that size and I'm not using 7.5" wheels.

[coniglio]

Assuming I can find some 17s to fit over my Brembo's I was going to run a 205-50-17 snow tire this coming winter.

Indeed! That is my plan as well.

[VWFORLIFE2012]

225/45 17s

Can't wait for the white stuff....

[nchiarel]

I'm still on the fence about upgrading to a BBK in the spring. If I do and I went the 235/45/17 route I'd have to sell them and get 18s. So, I was trying to future proof myself and stuck with the stock size wheels which will fit over both the BBKs I've been looking at. If I wasn't looking at brake upgrades I would have went the 17 route. Slightly cheaper and more sidewall. But if you are asking why didn't I go 235/45/18 it was due to not having the tire I wanted in that size and I'm not using 7.5" wheels.

I see. I'm on the stock wheels and am trying to decide between 225/40/18 or 235/45/18. I like the idea of more sidewall filling the wheel gap but the wider tire isn't what's needed for snow. Any other thoughts I should consider? How would the 235 width fit on the stock 7.5" wheels?

Thanks

[codewhore]

I am going with 215/45R18 which are about 0.5" taller. They are narrower too so will be better for snow/ice traction.

[webcrawlr]

I see. I'm on the stock wheels and am trying to decide between 225/40/18 or 235/45/18. I like the idea of more sidewall filling the wheel gap but the wider tire isn't what's needed for snow. Any other thoughts I should consider? How would the 235 width fit on the stock 7.5" wheels?

Thanks

If you were staying on the stock rim and wanted more sidewall and less section width I'd look at 215/45/18 like codewhore mentioned.

[nchiarel]

If you were staying on the stock rim and wanted more sidewall and less section width I'd look at 215/45/18 like codewhore mentioned.

The PA4's aren't offered in that size unfortunately. I really want to try them now, I'll probably go with the 225/40/18's as stock.

Thanks guys

[Rebellionelite]

Gots generals here as well! Love'em.

[webcrawlr]

The PA4's aren't offered in that size unfortunately. I really want to try them now, I'll probably go with the 225/40/18's as stock.

Thanks guys

Welcome to my dilemma. I found the tire I wanted first which pretty much dictated my tire size and is how I ended up with 225/40/18.

They arrived today. Here's a couple of pics of the PA4, X-Ice Xi2 and my summer 5Ps. The PA4s really do have a good amount of sipes compared to the outgoing model, almost as much as the Xi2. Looking forward to winter!

PA4


PA4 on left, Xi2 on right


PA4 on left, 5P on right

[nchiarel]

Awesome, thanks for the pics!

What was your reason for going with the 5P over Michelin Pilot Super Sports?

What were the Xi2's on?

[webcrawlr]

Awesome, thanks for the pics!

What was your reason for going with the 5P over Michelin Pilot Super Sports?

What were the Xi2's on?

I went with the 5Ps based on a recommendation from another member who had both (TLud) and from other reviews I had read that compared them to the PSS. Dry grip is supposed to be similar, wet better, road manners are better and noise is lower. They also weigh 3-4lbs less per tire. Figured I'd try them out and I have been very happy with them so far. TLud as well. That said they come in very limited sizes. In fact, the R01 "Audi" tire might only come in 235/35/19.

That set is off a Civic. Boring car to drive and the squishy Xi2's didn't help but the grip in deep snow and ice was insane! After feeling the difference between the stock tires and the 5Ps I knew I was going with performance winters on the R. Squishy be gone!

[nchiarel]

I went with the 5Ps based on a recommendation from another member who had both (TLud) and from other reviews I had read that compared them to the PSS. Dry grip is supposed to be similar, wet better, road manners are better and noise is lower. They also weigh 3-4lbs less per tire. Figured I'd try them out and I have been very happy with them so far. TLud as well. That said they come in very limited sizes. In fact, the R01 "Audi" tire might only come in 235/35/19.

That set is off a Civic. Boring car to drive and the squishy Xi2's didn't help but the grip in deep snow and ice was insane! After feeling the difference between the stock tires and the 5Ps I knew I was going with performance winters on the R. Squishy be gone!

Awesome, thanks. I thought I had read TLud say he liked the PSS better but I could very well be wrong and I can't remember where that was.

Now my decision will be harder...

[b-R-ad]

Assuming I can find some 17s to fit over my Brembo's I was going to run a 205-50-17 snow tire this coming winter.

This is what I have for my winter set up. 205-50-17. I found some cheap MOMO wheels at discount tire that fit fine and drove a long test run on it last spring.

Narrow tires are best for winter driving.

[webcrawlr]

This is what I have for my winter set up. 205-50-17. I found some cheap MOMO wheels at discount tire that fit fine and drove a long test run on it last spring.

Narrow tires are best for winter driving.

Narrow tires give better snow traction while a wider tire will do better in pretty much every other aspect. Like everything else it's a give and take and should be adjusted to what you plan on driving in the most or what's most important to you.

[b-R-ad]

Narrow tires give better snow traction while a wider tire will do better in pretty much every other aspect. Like everything else it's a give and take and should be adjusted to what you plan on driving in the most or what's most important to you.

I live in Michigan, so snow driving is important to me. Also, if you are going through the trouble of winter wheels and tires, then you are addressing winter driving. Lastly, winter tires aren't intended for performance driving really, thus a wider tire isn't needed.

But you are right, it all depends on conditions and what you need to meet those conditions. I would still very strongly suggest anyone getting a winter set up go for a thinner tire. Thin to win!

[webcrawlr]

I live in Michigan, so snow driving is important to me. Also, if you are going through the trouble of winter wheels and tires, then you are addressing winter driving. Lastly, winter tires aren't intended for performance driving really, thus a wider tire isn't needed.

There's a lot more to winter driving than snow. The majority of us in the snowbelt and in urban areas deal more with ice/black ice, water/slush and cold clear concreate/asphalt than we do with snow deeper than an inch. Have you seen how studless snow and ice tires perform in dry and wet stopping in temps under freezing compared to an all season? In wet expect to need about 35 additional feet to stop from 60. In dry expect about 30. That's when comparing same size section width tires. Go more narrow and expect those numbers to get worse. That puts you at a pretty significant disadvantage compared to others during winter months on clear roads when it comes to the most important thing a tire can do for you, stop the car.

That discussion could be taken even further to say why not run performance winters as they end up closely matching an all season on wet/dry but do give a little on snow and ice traction to achieve it. That's a whole different topic though.

[JuttyB]

I'm trying to avoid making a thread, but I'm looking for new wheels, my tred is extremely bald. I'm also considering lowering my car, and I spoke to a couple people and they said to not get bigger tires it will affect the handling.. My car has completely stock rims and tires.

[kvv]

VWFORLIFE2012, Can you tell me the width of the VW wheels pictured? Thanks.

225/45 17s

Can't wait for the white stuff....

[Rebellionelite]

VWFORLIFE2012, Can you tell me the width of the VW wheels pictured? Thanks.

Look at the top of the picture...

[xalfa]

I have a set of 215/45-18 Blizzak LM-60s mounted with TPMS on stock VW R32 Omantys wheels (18x7.5 ET51) for sale in the San Francisco Bay Area if anyone is interested. Tires have less then 2000 miles on them and wheels are near perfect.

My R32 was unstoppable in Sierra storms last spring with this set up.

PM me if you are local and interested.

[Atl-Atl]

Look at the top of the picture...

He said wheels, not tires.

[speeedfrk]

am i the only one who is going to wait and see how the dunlop a/s tires perform in the snow before i spend $ on temp wheels? ive had snows on my R32 for a couple years and snows on many a civics in the past (winter specific cars) so im not opposed to it at all. i just wouldnt mind saving my $ for a nice summer set up and leave the stockers for winter.

good info on this thread though if i do end up going winter tire.

[Rebellionelite]

He said wheels, not tires.

My Bad... the wheels are VW Goals which are a 7.5 inch wheel.

[VWFORLIFE2012]

VWFORLIFE2012, Can you tell me the width of the VW wheels pictured? Thanks.

My Bad... the wheels are VW Goals which are a 7.5 inch wheel.

^^^^What he said...

[xalfa]

215-45-18 Blizzak LM-60s on 7.5x18 R32 Omantys. For sale in 5x112 classifieds.

PM me if interested.

[Rinoboy']

what will be your winter setup? can't decide witch brand and model... i plan about 1100$ total for winter rubber, so what is best quality/price? and what to avoid (model and brand)

also, is 215/50/r18 fit on stock suspension?

thx!