Changing wheels for the Winter?

EMTX · 10-08-2007, 12:44 PM

All of you with aftermarket wheels, do you change your wheels for the winter time?
I've heard of some people putting their factories back on for the winter?
What are the pros for this?

**CUEBALL** · 10-08-2007, 05:03 PM

Well, this year will be my first here in TX... I plan on keeping my stockers in the garage for the winter, my nice rims on the car.

Depends on how much snow/salt you get in your location. Also, depends on how long you want to keep the aftermarket wheels. If you don't really care if they get pitted, keep them on. I'll just seal mine up well, and watch the road conditions here. If it gets to where the roads get salted, I'll decide then.

KWhale · 10-08-2007, 05:15 PM

I put the stockers back on for the winter, but winter is loooong up here. I put some GoodYear Comfort Treads on instead of the crap Conti's that came with the car.
The reason I use the stock rims for winter is they are crap cheap plastic coated pretend rims, so I don't mind sacrificing them to the salt and sand

EMTX · 10-08-2007, 05:32 PM

Here in Texas (Dallas) it doesnt get real bad, I would say it ice's up once a year and they dump sand at that time ,but other than that there's no exteme sanding like in other cites.
Guess it would be safe to keep them on...

fanofsteel · 10-08-2007, 06:25 PM

Living in upstate NY, we get SNOW and we like to ski. That all said, I mounted blizzaks on the factory rims and will store the 20s over the winter. I will put the snows on in mid/late Nov. I will have to calibrate the speedo for the 18s.
I think the pro of doing so is that I am making the footprint of the tire smaller so there is less glide potential because the 18s have a smaller contact patch and the tread pattern is all about moving through the snow.

Dan S. · 10-09-2007, 11:57 PM

Yeah, I kept my stock rims and put 4 snow tires on them for winter (toyo's). Great traction and I will get more use out of my summer rims & tires in the long run. I also give them a coat of Wd 40 to stop the salt from eating them away.

Rwdy No 300c · 10-11-2007, 11:33 PM

i was told by a freind that has a nissan 350z that blizzaks are the best because the tread binds with the snow and here in cleveland ohio we get alot of snow. So i have decided to get those, i will let you know how they work.

**Rambit** · 10-12-2007, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rwdy No 300c

i was told by a freind that has a nissan 350z that blizzaks are the best because the tread binds with the snow and here in cleveland ohio we get alot of snow. So i have decided to get those, i will let you know how they work.

You can't go wrong with Blizzaks IMO.

Bernie

catch · 10-12-2007, 03:23 PM

I take my wheels off and put the stocks with winter tires on. I'm in Canada, we get a lot of snow up here. Some days too much to drive no matter what wheels and tires are on the car. But day to day a set of summer tires just wont cut it. In the snow, a narrow tire is usually best, and 265 width is no where near narrow!

horton333 · 10-12-2007, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catch

I take my wheels off and put the stocks with winter tires on. I'm in Canada, we get a lot of snow up here. Some days too much to drive no matter what wheels and tires are on the car. But day to day a set of summer tires just wont cut it. In the snow, a narrow tire is usually best, and 265 width is no where near narrow!

So after 2 years getting by in the winter, in Canada, with the crap that came with the car (Continentals, worn out at 20,000 kms) I just went over to Goodyear at their sale to get some winter rims and tires. They say there is nothing other than 18" rims available for a 300C.

Has anyone tried a smaller rim for the winter, I'd prefer to have like 16", but I'm guessing either they know something (like the brakes are too large and will interfer with a small rim) or they just don't happen to stock something that will fit.

Any advise appreciated.