Let me start by saying I have used the search button and have not found everything I am looking for. Let me start by saying I have a Base 2003 sedan with 17's. I am trying to get a safe winter setup for the Michigan winter without breaking the bank. Here are my questions:

1. Can I buy 15 rims and make up for the diameter difference with a taller tire? Someone told me 15's may not clear the rotors. 15 tires and wheels seem much cheaper than 17's.
2. Can I reuse my all seasons come spring if I have them taken off my current rims and put 17 inch snows on my current rims. If so I would buy new rims for my all seasons in the spring and leave them on there.....or can I keep switching them back and forth from the same rim?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. After getting stuck last year on a slight incline I don't want that to happen with my 13 month old son in the car.

 

Can't help you there, I don't know if they'll clear.

Certainly you can reuse them in spring. Store them in a dry place, in tire bags if you can, stacked no higher than 4 and they should be in the same condition that they were before you stashed them away.

You can swap them back and forth as often as you like. I suppose there' s a small risk of scratching a rim or marring/cutting a tire each time you swap, but it's pretty darn low if the mechanic knows what he's doing.

 

Thanks for your help. I think I will just use the stock rim for both seasons. The rims are not in perfect condition anyway. Thanks again.

 

Tirerack's preferred winter tire package for my 03 sedan is 16's. They recommend the cheap steel rims and 205/65/16 Blizzaks. These should clear my stock rotors if they recommend them..yes?

 

16s will clear, some 15s may, i tried my old ford 15's, didn't fit because of the way the wheels were made (the corners of the folded square in the center had about 1/16th of an inch interference with the caliper.)

 

I use 16s with Blizzaks on my 03 sedan. I paid an extra $25/wheel to get their cheapest alloy wheels rather than use steel. They work great.

 

I may add that it doesn't hurt to have an extra half inch of sidewall you get with the 16s when driving around in a Detroit winter. We used them for 2 years in the northern suburbs (Troy/Auburn Hills) and didn't worry about any of the potholes.

 

Are you suggesting I go 205/70/16, instead of the recommended size (205/65/16) from tirerack? I looked up that size and only found one winter tire....and the category is light truck.

 

You might be able to pick up a good used set from someone on here (or Ebay) that's trying to get rid of there's. I got my 16" rims + Blizzak tires from a G35 driver off eBay for $500 shipped and have used them happily through 2 winters. This will be the third...

 

I just meant the 16" rims will give you 0.5" extra side wall vs. a 17" for the same outer diameter.

The tires I ordered were 205/65R16 Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 ($90ea) mounted on 16x7 Silver Painted Sport Edition F2 ($75ea) in the fall of 2005.

 

Inflation is a biotch. Now the cheapest rim is $93. I think I will stick with the steel wheels at that price. I just need to switch my 235/50/17 Kumho Ecsta ASX when the snow falls. Stupid me thought just becuase they are all season I would be fine. Not to mention I went wider than stock. Well...you live and you learn. Now I just want something with some good traction. Another thing learned...if I get another RWD car I will make sure it has LSD....versus the one wheel drive I have.

Thanks for the help.

 

Well.....I decided to go with the Blizzak 205/65/16 with the steel wheels. Tirerack's price is $708 mounted and shipped , plus if you order before Oct 12th you get a $50 debit card from Amex. So I figure $658 for 4 good winter tires and cheap rims is a descent deal. Thanks for the help.

 

Hi.. I also have a Infiniti G35 2005 Coupe (no brembo). Do I have to buy the 17" winter wheels and tires? Can I use 16" tires with steel rims because they're cheaper? Any recommendation? I do not know anything about wheels and tires. Just know that my front is 225/50R17 and my rear is 235/50R17..
Thanks for your help

 

I went on Tirerack and searched for your car and they did not say 16's will fit. I assumed you had the base model (vs. sport or performance pkg). They recommended 17's....235/50/17.