Summer and Winter - Options

[RevvdMedia]

Since I plan to drive my new GT in both summer and winter, I have been floating options on how I'd like to equip the car. Just kind of floating this idea to see what people think, but I know it will really come down to what I choose anyway. I will NOT be getting the performance pack. I WANT summer performance tires for summer, and winters for winter. Here is what I've worked out:

1)
-Base 18" wheels w/ All Seasons. Drive on all seasons in summer til worn out.
-Winter tires that I swap onto the 18's.
Cost = $900-1200 depending on tire, TPMS, plus cost of switching twice a year.
Pros: Cheap
Cons: No summer tires for summer. Having to switch tires over the same set of wheels twice a year.

2)
-19" wheels for 50th Anv. appearance, comes with summer only tires. Cost = $1700
-18" wheels from tire shop with cheap 18" rims. Cost = $2000
Cost = $3700
Pros: Summer tires, separate rims for winter.
Cons: Cost. I don't like losing the fang grill for 50th anniv. either.

3)
- Factory 18" wheels. Remove A/S tire, sell tire, replace with winters. Cost = estimated $600-$700
- Aftermarket 19" wheels, 255/40/19 Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. Cost = $3000
Total cost = $3700
Pros: The tires I want. Wheel selection. Dedicated winters + wheels.
Cons: Cost


I can afford whatever option I need. Option 3 is "stressful" since I should get the rims/tires ordered before I take delivery so I can put them on right away so I can strip off the factory 18" tires and sell them "like new" to get the most for them (assuming I get $100 a tire on the low side).

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[xlover]

Since I plan to drive my new GT in both summer and winter, I have been floating options on how I'd like to equip the car. Just kind of floating this idea to see what people think, but I know it will really come down to what I choose anyway. I will NOT be getting the performance pack. I WANT summer performance tires for summer, and winters for winter. Here is what I've worked out:

1)
-Base 18" wheels w/ All Seasons. Drive on all seasons in summer til worn out.
-Winter tires that I swap onto the 18's.
Cost = $900-1200 depending on tire, TPMS, plus cost of switching twice a year.
Pros: Cheap
Cons: No summer tires for summer. Having to switch tires over the same set of wheels twice a year.

2)
-19" wheels for 50th Anv. appearance, comes with summer only tires. Cost = $1700
-18" wheels from tire shop with cheap 18" rims. Cost = $2000
Cost = $3700
Pros: Summer tires, separate rims for winter.
Cons: Cost. I don't like losing the fang grill for 50th anniv. either.

3)
- Factory 18" wheels. Remove A/S tire, sell tire, replace with winters. Cost = estimated $600-$700
- Aftermarket 19" wheels, 255/40/19 Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. Cost = $3000
Total cost = $3700
Pros: The tires I want. Wheel selection. Dedicated winters + wheels.
Cons: Cost


I can afford whatever option I need. Option 3 is "stressful" since I should get the rims/tires ordered before I take delivery so I can put them on right away so I can strip off the factory 18" tires and sell them "like new" to get the most for them (assuming I get $100 a tire on the low side).

Not sure if you considered just getting the 20s which already come with summers (and look amazing!)

Then Just grab a cheap set of 18s with winters. Or takeoff factory 18s.

 

[RevvdMedia]

I guess I should have mentioned although the 20's do look great, I don't want them.

 

[xlover]

I guess I should have mentioned although the 20's do look great, I don't want them.

Just curious.... Any special reason? Seems like you think they look good and it would simplify your situation

 

[RevvdMedia]

Just curious.... Any special reason? Seems like you think they look good and it would simplify your situation

They cost more than the 19" options, replacement tires will be more expensive, I can't get the tires I really want on them, and I don't think they'll be as "balanced" on the car for handling since the PP comes with 19", I'd think Ford used that size as they offer the best balance in performance. Also, bigger rims are heavier, more unsprung weight means slower 0-60 and a bitch to carry up the stairs to swap every spring/fall (they're currently stored in the basement).

 

[stretch]

In southern Kentucky, not Canada. Typical winters here are shorter and milder with only a few nasty days. OEM all-season tires will handle it fine.

My plan is to order the car with the good-looking and easy-clean Foundry Black 5-spoke 18-inch wheels and run those during the winter months. For the remainder of the year, switch out to my favorite aftermarket wheels and summer tires.

 

[Nitro]

I'm in a similar situation as you.

I think I have finally decided just to get the PP and in the winter swap a square 245 winter tire package onto the PP wheels. I'll swap tires until I eventually get a new set of wheels for the stock tire sizes.

My second choice was to get the 20" wheels and in the winter get a cheap set of 18's with snow tires.

 

[RevvdMedia]

I may be thinking even though expensive, the 18" winters on stock wheels (selling the stock all seasons) and then a separate set of 19" wheels for the summer with 255/40/19 tires might be my best bet. I've wanted Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires for a long time since they were so well regarded, and their price isn't bad. Unless there is something better out there now?

 

[Dannyho]

I'm getting the EB with performance pack. so a good set of summer tires, but a set of wheels of which I am not a fan. So, my plan is to put winters on the stock black rims pretty much even before I drive it off the lot (which is very depressing in and of itself), and then once springs rolls around buy some summer rims and put the stock summer tires on them. in the long run it may cost a little more running 19 inch winters but how much more will only be determined by how much wear I get in a season. time will tell.

 

[Spartan]

Yah Dannyho I agree the EB PP rims suck in black. They are gorgeous in gunmetal. I can't believe FORD didn't make the gunmetal options.

 

[Sc00ter]

Yah Dannyho I agree the EB PP rims suck in black. They are gorgeous in gunmetal. I can't believe FORD didn't make the gunmetal options.

Ditto on the gunmetal wheels - they look amazing on all the pre-production cars. So amazing, as a matter of fact, that I ordered a triple yellow GT and didn't upgrade to GT-option 19s because I thought I could find the much better looking gunmetal EB PP wheel/tire takeoffs on ebay.

Now I see they only come in gloss black: PlastiKote time, I guess.

 

[Sc00ter]

Question for everyone (including Ford reps, hint-hint). I'll be driving my 2015 GT all winter in Pennsylvania snowstorms, so for an optimal contact patch for snow traction, I need the tallest, narrowest snow tires & wheels I can get. So: the 2015 GTs have a 5x114.3 bolt pattern, same as 2014 'stangs. Will last year's 17" wheels fit over the standard GT brakes?
Or, better yet, will 16" or 17" Crown Vic steel wheels fit over the 2015 GT standard brakes for snow wheels?

 

[DeColores]

I was thinking of asking our salesman, to trade our AS for winter, since OEM cost more to replace than the snowtires so it could be a win win, then in the spring get summer tires. I could work as estimated arrival has been pushed back to end of November.

My hesitation is getting caught in early or late storm, at least with AS I might get home, no way to get home with summer tires in storm. Well I will have chains, maybe this could work.

Nice thread,

DeColores

 

[GiddyUp15]

Since I plan to drive my new GT in both summer and winter, I have been floating options on how I'd like to equip the car. Just kind of floating this idea to see what people think, but I know it will really come down to what I choose anyway. I will NOT be getting the performance pack. I WANT summer performance tires for summer, and winters for winter. Here is what I've worked out:

1)
-Base 18" wheels w/ All Seasons. Drive on all seasons in summer til worn out.
-Winter tires that I swap onto the 18's.
Cost = $900-1200 depending on tire, TPMS, plus cost of switching twice a year.
Pros: Cheap
Cons: No summer tires for summer. Having to switch tires over the same set of wheels twice a year.

2)
-19" wheels for 50th Anv. appearance, comes with summer only tires. Cost = $1700
-18" wheels from tire shop with cheap 18" rims. Cost = $2000
Cost = $3700
Pros: Summer tires, separate rims for winter.
Cons: Cost. I don't like losing the fang grill for 50th anniv. either.

3)
- Factory 18" wheels. Remove A/S tire, sell tire, replace with winters. Cost = estimated $600-$700
- Aftermarket 19" wheels, 255/40/19 Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. Cost = $3000
Total cost = $3700
Pros: The tires I want. Wheel selection. Dedicated winters + wheels.
Cons: Cost


I can afford whatever option I need. Option 3 is "stressful" since I should get the rims/tires ordered before I take delivery so I can put them on right away so I can strip off the factory 18" tires and sell them "like new" to get the most for them (assuming I get $100 a tire on the low side).

One thing to note, the 50th AP wheels only come with A/S tires, not Summer tires as you have noted in Option 2. Something to keep in mind that might change your mind

I'm in a sort of similar situation, although I don't really want to or plan to drive this car when the weather is below 40, I may have to. I was originally going to get the 18" foundry wheels as I like the way they look, but down the line get some nice lightweight forged wheels and summer tires. I'll wear out the stock A/S tires by that point and put winter tires on the stockers and keep in the garage just in case. Then I was thinking about it, I plan to upgrade the front brakes to the Brembo 6-pots down the line (I saw FR is already selling it as a kit), since I cannot get PP on GT Convertibles (thanks a lot, Ford!)

With the future brake upgrade in mind and seeing more photos of the 20s and saw them in person a couple of weeks ago, I'm now leaning towards getting the factory 20s, maybe even using them as winter wheels down the road when the summers are wore out, who knows. I'm not sure when the boss (wife) will let me buy the forged wheels (probably 19", maybe 20") I want as that'll be dropping probably $4-5k!

Has anyone confirmed that the stock 20's will fit over the Brembos? I figured they would. I'm also considering the optional 19" wheels (no the AP or PP wheels), but the price difference isn't that much and with the 20s I get summer tires which is what I would rather have at least initially. Those 19s look great too though! Anyone know if those 19s will clear the Brembos?

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

You can always use chains:

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