I see all these wheels for sale. !5, 16 and 17, what difference does it make what wheel size? with the 15 inch wheels is the car any lower to the ground? I know I can get 35 high to lower it from my 55. I have never seen so many different tire sizes for a car. What gives with the 3 different rim sizes and the many tire sizes that are for sale?

I wanted to put SNOW tires on the front for winter. I looked at many different tread profiles. I do not see what folks up in the north country call real SNOW tread. They all look like the M&S i have on it now.. Anyone know a REAL snow profile tire???

thanks ahead of time.

 

The idea with diffrent wheel diameters, your change the ratio of tire vs wheel. You keep the same overall diameter, and the car's ride height stays the same.

Here is one of the most "real" snow tire you can get,

 

Your car will have about the same ride height with any of those wheel diameters if shod with their respective OE size tires. The larger the wheel diameter, the less the tire sidewall (aspect ratio) in order to make about the same overall tire diameter and ride height.

175/65/15 = 24.0" tire diameter.
195/55/16 = 24.4" tire diameter.
205/45/17 = 24.3" tire diameter.

Oh, and get snow 4 snows; not just 2 for the front. No, I don't work for Tire Rack.

 

Regarding wheel size, the larger diameter wheel ends up with a wider tire (as OE sizes below show). For many snow situations, the recommendation is usually that narrower tires do better. So an argument for staying with smaller diameter wheels to get the narrower tires.

My personal plan, in the long run, is to put winter tires on my 15" wheels, then buy 16" wheels for a set of summer tires.

I agree with the recommendation to get 4 winter tires. Back end is important too.

Duane.
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waiting on 2012 MC SO/B